Express your views to the National Classification Committee

By Ray Bohman -- Logistics Management, 3/1/2006

Classification descriptions and ratings (classes), rules, and packaging requirements published in the trucking industry's National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) are far from static. Proposals for additions, revisions, and cancellations of provisions in the NMFC appear in every quarterly docket issued by the National Classification Committee (NCC), which is responsible for keeping the NMFC current.

The proposals that appear in each docket generally get there in one of three ways:

1. As a result of the filing of an application by a shipper or group of shippers

2. As a result of the filing of an application by a carrier or group of carriers

3. As a result of a vote taken by the previous NCC Classification Panel to place a formal proposal on that docket.

The NCC Classification Panel, which comprises one-quarter of the 100 members of the full National Classification Committee, hears reports at each of its quarterly meetings from the NCC's full-time professional staff. Staff members report on the preliminary findings or the final results of research projects they have been conducting. Among the topics they typically research are transportation characteristics of specified articles, tariff rules, and packaging requirements.

After considering each of these reports (which the NCC refers to as “Review Matters”) and listening to comments from any interested parties who may be present, the Classification Panel votes to do one of the following:

Similarly, when formal proposals are included in the NCC docket, the Classification Panel hears staff reports on the proposals and comments from any interested parties present. The panel then votes whether to (1) approve the proposal as docketed, (2) approve the proposal as modified, or (3) disapprove the proposal.

Any party of record that is not satisfied with the action taken by a Classification Panel is entitled to either seek neutral arbitration of the matter or, seek reconsideration by the full National Classification Committee, which also meets quarterly. Requests for arbitration or reconsideration must be received at the NCC's offices no later than 30 days after the relevant panel meeting. If the interested party is not satisfied with the vote taken by the full NCC on reconsideration, it is free to file a timely petition for suspension and investigation with the Surface Transportation Board.

More information on the NCC's classification decision-making procedures can be found online at www.nmfta.org.

If a Review Matter or formal proposal that would adversely affect your company's interests is docketed, it is important that you attend the open meetings of the Classification Panels or the full NCC and express your views. Without any input from your side, chances are the panel or full NCC will go ahead with the proposal and approve it as docketed. And don't pass up an opportunity to attend open meetings where a Review Matter will be considered. It is at that stage where you may be able to influence how a formal proposal will be structured.