National Motor Freight Traffic Association Names Members to the Commodity Classification Standards Board

ALEXANDRIA, VA – National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA) has named the members of the Commodity Classification Standards Board (CCSB) for the purpose of developing and maintaining the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC). The CCSB is an autonomous board comprised of full-time employees of the NMFTA, including a chairman appointed by the executive director of NMFTA, four members appointed by the executive director in consultation with the chairman, a counsel, a packaging consultant, and a classification coordinator. The CCSB will be effective Dec. 6.

The CCSB will be responsible for investigating, considering, and acting on classification matters, including proposals for amending the classification of commodities, commodity descriptions, classes, rules, packaging definitions, specifications and requirements, bills of lading, and any other provisions contained in the NMFC. The CCSB will operate under rules and policies that are substantially similar to the rules and policies that comprise the National Classification Committee Agreement and that were developed in accordance with directives of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Surface Transportation Board.

The Board members are as follows:

Chairman: Joel Ringer has primary responsibility for the implementation of new classification-making procedures. He is currently manager of classification development and oversees all classification activities.

Member: George Beck is presently a senior classification specialist. His focus is on classification interpretations and NMFC education seminars along with classification development.

Member: Daniel Horning has been employed at NMFTA since August 1976. He is primarily involved in the development and support of related classification-making activities.

Member: William Mascaro has more than 25 years of experience at NMFTA.

Member: Lisa Winter is a senior classification specialist and has more than 20 years of experience with NMFTA.

The Staff members are as follows:

Counsel: William Pugh is executive director and general counsel to the NMFTA, a position he has held for the past six years. Bill has been employed by NMFTA for more than 32 years and served as general counsel to NMFTA since 1975.

Packaging Consultant: Erin Topper is a packaging consultant with NMFTA, assisting participating carriers, shippers, manufacturers, and packaging professionals with the NMFC’s minimum packaging requirements and compliance, including Item (Rule) 222. She serves as the project strategist for ClassIT, NMFTA’s online version of the NMFC.

Classification Coordinator: Matthew Welsh facilitates the timely publication of the dockets, dispositions, and potential proposals to amend the NMFC and other notices. He acts as a liaison between manufacturers, trade associations, motor carriers, and individual companies having an interest in the classification process. He has been with the NMFTA for more than 30 years, primarily dealing with the interpretation of the NMFC and providing classification assistance or information to the shipping public.

For more information on NMFTA and the CCSB, call (866) 411-NMFC (6632) or visit www.nmfta.org.