ALEXANDRIA, VA – In response to the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) termination of antitrust immunity for the NCC’s classification-making activities, National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.’s (NMFTA) members voted to adopt a new organizational structure and set of operating procedures. The new Procedures allow for the continued development and maintenance of the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) without the need for antitrust immunity while facilitating continued input from carriers, shippers, and third parties. NMFTA’s adoption of the procedures will be effective Dec. 6.

NMFTA created two new organizations to implement the procedures. They are the Classification Resource Committee (CRC) and the Commodity Classification Standards Board (CCSB). The CRC is comprised of the elected representatives selected by NMFC participating motor carriers in North America and serves to provide advice, information, and resources to the CCSB.

The CCSB is the new autonomous classification-making board. It is comprised of full-time employees of NMFTA. It includes a chairman, appointed by the executive director of NMFTA, four members, a counsel, a packaging consultant, and a classification docket coordinator. 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 NCC Agreement and that were developed in accordance with directives of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and the STB. Under the new rules and policies, proposals for amending the NMFC may be made by any party having an interest in the contents of the NMFC and will be addressed by the CCSB through a formalized, transparent decision-making process in which all interested parties can participate.

Proposals will be docketed for consideration at public meeting of the CCSB, and all interested parties will be given notice of the meetings and the proposals to be considered. Information in the CCSB’s possession related to docketed proposals will be made publicly available, and all interested parties will be permitted to present their views on any proposals under consideration in writing and/or orally at public meetings of the CCSB. The CCSB’s decision with respect to any docketed proposal will be made in public meetings and may be appealed to a neutral arbitrator by any party of record to that proposal.

The CCSB’s decisions regarding the assignment of classes to commodities will be determined by consideration of the commodity’s density, stowability, handling, and liability characteristics — the same criteria that have governed the evolution of the NMFC since they were specified by the ICC in 1983.

The procedures incorporate numerous safeguards to prevent collusion, manipulation, or other misuse of the classification process. They also make clear that no motor carrier or shipper is bound to use or abide by the NMFC’s provisions by expressly providing that the “CCSB may not interfere with a carrier’s free and unrestrained right of independent action.”

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