Forty-nine classification proposals and review matters up for consideration, including: plastic water softeners, paint, furnaces for home heating, ceiling fans and blackboards/corkboards/whiteboards

The National Classification Committee (NCC), an autonomous standing committee of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), is holding its quarterly meetings to consider a variety of issues affecting or relating to the provisions of the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC).

The NMFC is a pricing tool that provides a comparison of the "transportability" of commodities moving in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce. It is similar in concept to the groupings or grading systems that serve many other industries. Commodities are grouped into one of 18 classes - from a low of class 50 to a high of class 500 - based on an evaluation of four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling and liability. Together, these characteristics establish a commodity's transportability. The NMFC provides both carriers and shippers with a standard by which to begin pricing negotiations and greatly simplifies the comparative evaluation of the many thousands of products moving in today's competitive marketplace.

The NMFC also specifies minimum packaging requirements to ensure that goods are adequately protected in the motor carrier environment. It contains various rules that govern and otherwise relate to the classification and/or packaging of commodities as well as procedures for the filing and disposition of claims. And it contains the Uniform Straight Bill of Lading, including its Terms and Conditions.

The NCC will hold its general meeting on November 7. On November 8, a Panel of the NCC will meet to consider 17 proposed reclassifications and 32 classification review matters. All persons having an interest are welcomed to attend and participate in the meetings .

NCC/NMFTA staff professionals provide detailed analyses and reports to aid the Panel in its deliberations. These analyses and reports are available to the public.

To see the full agenda for the Panel meeting, or to access the staff analyses and reports as well as other public information, go to the NMFTA home page www.nmfta.org, select the Public Docket Files and then select Docket 2005-4 To ask questions or make arrangements to attend, please contact the NCC/NMFTA staff at 703-838-1810.