Estes Density Calculator
Find the density and freight class of an Estes LTL shipment before you book. The calculator is independent of Estes. Below it are the rules in Estes' own tariff that most often change the bill, including a cubic capacity rule that starts at 350 cubic feet.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
6.56
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
350
lb
6–8 lb/ft³ → Class 125
NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025)
Pre-July-2025 table: class 150. Use it only if your carrier contract still prices on the old table.
Free PDF includes a watermark. Pro removes it & adds your brand.
Estimates only — verify freight class/NMFC and chargeable weight with your carrier.
Uses the 13-tier NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1). See the full freight class chart.
How Estes rates light, bulky freight
Estes' rules tariff (EXLA 105, effective January 2, 2026) sets a minimum charge for any shipment over 350 cubic feet: 6 lb per cubic foot at your class 125 rate. That line is lower than the 750 cubic feet in the TForce, R+L and FedEx Freight tariffs, so it reaches smaller light shipments. The minimum only matters when your freight is light. If your contract has no class 125 rate, the minimum is 211% of the base rate.
The Estes cubic capacity rule, worked through
Take 5 pallets, each 48 × 40 × 60 inches and 180 lb (900 lb in total). As built, each pallet is 66.7 cubic feet, 333 in total, just under the 350 line. Now mark them “do not stack”. Estes then counts the height as 84 inches: 93.3 cubic feet each, 467 in total. That is over 350, so the minimum becomes 2,800 lb at your class 125 rate. The label that protects the load also moved it into the rule.
Capacity loads and the lineal foot charge
Estes treats a shipment as a capacity load when it fills 20 or more linear feet of a trailer or weighs 20,000 lb or more. A lineal foot charge applies when the freight is at least 20 feet long, 49 inches wide and 51 inches high. The rate is 15 cents per lineal foot per mile under 750 miles, falling to 9 cents at 1,800 miles and up, plus fuel surcharge.
Estes fees for wrong weights and descriptions
If Estes reweighs and finds 100 lb or more above your bill of lading, it adds a $25 weight adjustment fee. A missing or wrong weight costs a $20 weighing charge, and a vague or missing commodity description costs a $20 inspection charge. An accurate weight, size and NMFC description on the bill avoid all three.
Estes Freight Class and Density Calculator
Estes offers its own Freight Class and Density Calculator as a My Estes shipping tool. Run the numbers in either one. If the shipment is large, ask Estes whether a volume or partial-load quote beats the class-based LTL rate.
Open the official Estes Freight Class and Density Calculator ↗
Frequently asked questions
What is the Estes cubic capacity rule?
Item 615 of the Estes rules tariff: any shipment over 350 cubic feet has a minimum charge of 6 lb per cubic foot at your class 125 rate. Freight marked do-not-stack is measured at 84 inches high.
Does Estes charge for reweighing my shipment?
Yes, when the weight goes up by 100 lb or more: a $25 weight adjustment fee plus the charges on the new weight. If the bill of lading has no weight or a wrong one, weighing costs $20.
Does Estes handle volume shipments?
Yes. Estes' tariff has volume (VOL) and truckload rates alongside LTL. For a large load, ask for a volume quote and compare it with the class-based LTL rate.