Freight Class for Frozen Food
Cased frozen food usually rates freight class 60 to 70: a full pallet of 90 cases of Banquet frozen meals measures about 20 lb/ft³, class 70. The class is the smaller issue. Frozen food has to stay at 0 °F or below, the shipper must give the carrier the temperature in writing under FDA rules, and standard dry LTL, such as FedEx Freight, does not accept food that needs temperature control.
Case and pallet density
Conagra Foodservice publishes case specs for its frozen lines. A case of twelve Banquet Salisbury steak meals weighs 10.84 lb in 0.467 cubic feet, about 23 lb/ft³, class 65, and ships 90 cases to a pallet (15 per layer, 6 high). A case of 72 stuffed-crust pizzas weighs 24.59 lb in 1.53 cubic feet, about 16 lb/ft³, class 70.
Built into a full pallet, the Banquet meals come to about 20 lb/ft³, class 70. Dense items such as a four-tray case of 6 lb lasagnas, at 32 lb/ft³, rate class 60.
Worked examples
Case sizes, weights and pallet patterns come from Conagra Foodservice product pages; the pallet deck is a standard 48 × 40 GMA pallet.
Pallet of frozen meals — class 70
90 cases of Banquet Salisbury steak meals (10.84 lb each), 6 layers of 6.81 in on a 37 lb pallet: about 45.6 inches high, 1,013 lb.
48 × 40 × 45.63 = 87,606 in³ ÷ 1,728 = 50.7 ft³. Density = 1,013 lb ÷ 50.7 ft³.
20.0 lb/ft³ → class 70.
Case of frozen lasagna — class 60
Healthy Choice vegetable lasagna, 4 × 6 lb trays: 26.88 lb in 0.838 cubic feet.
Density = 26.88 lb ÷ 0.838 ft³.
32.1 lb/ft³ → class 60.
Temperature: 0 °F and below
FDA advises keeping a freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C). Conagra lists 0 to 20 °F for the Banquet meals and prints "Keep frozen. Do not thaw." on the label. A load that warms in transit can be refused.
Under FDA's sanitary transportation rule, the shipper of food that needs temperature control must give the carrier the operating temperature in writing (21 CFR 1.908). The carrier takes on the sanitary duties only when a written agreement says so, and shippers must keep these records for 12 months after the agreement ends.
Not every LTL carrier takes frozen food
Standard LTL trailers are not refrigerated. FedEx Freight's tariff (Item 770) accepts only food that needs no environmental or temperature control for safety, so frozen food is outside it.
Book frozen loads with a temperature-controlled LTL or reefer carrier, give the set point in writing, and ask for the temperature record on delivery. The freight class still sets part of the rate, but the service costs more than dry freight.
Check your frozen pallet
Enter the pallet's size from the floor and the total weight. The class sets part of the rate; the temperature service is priced on top.
Density-based estimate. Some commodities carry a fixed NMFC class — check our freight class by commodity pages.
Estimated Freight Class
Density
32.49
lb/ft³
Volume
53.33
ft³
Weight
1,733
lb
30–35 lb/ft³ → Class 60
NMFC density scale (Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025)
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.
Frequently asked questions
What freight class is frozen food?
Usually class 60 to 70. A full pallet of frozen meals measures about 20 lb/ft³ (class 70), and dense items such as cased lasagna about 32 lb/ft³ (class 60).
What temperature does frozen food ship at?
0 °F (−18 °C) or colder, per FDA guidance. Conagra lists 0 to 20 °F for its frozen meals and labels them "Keep frozen. Do not thaw."
Can frozen food ship LTL?
Yes, with a temperature-controlled LTL or reefer carrier. Standard dry LTL may refuse it: FedEx Freight's tariff accepts only food that needs no temperature control.
What does the FDA require for shipping frozen food?
Under 21 CFR 1.908, the shipper must give the carrier the operating temperature in writing, and under 1.912 must keep records of it for 12 months after the agreement ends.