TFTruck Freight Calculator

Weight-based LTL arithmetic

Freight Shipping Cost by Weight: CWT Calculator Guide

Calculate LTL freight from packaged pounds, a class-specific CWT rate, minimum, fuel and accessorials without inventing a market rate.

Direct answer

Weight alone cannot produce a defensible freight price. For LTL, convert pounds to hundredweight and multiply by the current class-specific lane rate, then apply the shipment minimum, fuel programme and accessorials. In the page's editable 2,000-pound example, 20 CWT × an illustrative entered $32 rate plus 28% fuel produces about $820 before added services; $32 is not a published market rate.

What changes the result?

A useful calculation starts with the physical scope and the written commercial terms. These are the factors to make explicit:

  • Final packaged weight and dimensions
  • Commodity, NMFC item and class
  • Current lane-specific CWT rate
  • Shipment minimum and fuel treatment
  • Pickup, delivery and event charges

Use one scope for every quote

Give each business the same information and ask it to resolve the same boundaries. That makes the totals more comparable and exposes work left as an allowance or exclusion.

  1. Weigh the completed handling unit
  2. Measure its maximum packaged dimensions
  3. Use the current class-specific rate
  4. Save the tariff, quote and effective terms

Convert pounds to CWT before applying the rate

Divide pounds by 100 to calculate hundredweight. A 2,000-pound shipment is 20 CWT; at the editable example rate of $32 per CWT, calculated linehaul is $640 before the minimum, fuel and services.

The worksheet compares that result with the entered minimum and uses the higher amount. Replace the example rate and minimum with the exact class-specific terms for the shipment's lane and effective date.

Weight and class cannot be separated from packaged density

The same 2,000 pounds can occupy one compact pallet or several low-density handling units. The calculator uses final packaged dimensions to calculate density and shows NMFTA's current density-class screen.

That screen is not a classification ruling. Commodity item, subprovision, packaging, handling, stowability, liability and carrier rules can change the applicable class and rate.

Add fuel and accessorials once

EIA publishes diesel-price data but does not set a universal surcharge. Use the governing carrier or contract programme and do not add fuel to an all-in rate.

Enter required liftgate, limited-access, residential, appointment, inside, detention or other charges under the written terms. Preserve the quote or rate confirmation so the calculated worksheet can be reconciled with the invoice.

Questions people ask

How is freight shipping cost calculated by weight?

For a weight-based LTL rate, divide pounds by 100, multiply CWT by the current class-specific rate, apply the minimum if higher, then add fuel and applicable services.

How much does it cost to ship 2,000 pounds of freight?

There is no universal price. The editable example totals about $820 using a hypothetical $32-per-CWT rate and 28% fuel with no extra services; replace every commercial input with current terms.

Does a heavier shipment always cost more?

Not in a simple straight line. Weight breaks, shipment minimums, density, class, lane, fuel and services can change the applicable rate and total.

Does this page provide a live freight quote?

No. It calculates from the weight, dimensions, rate, minimum, fuel and charges entered by the visitor.

Method and sources

The model is a planning tool, not a quotation. These are the published sources used for this page; read the full assumptions before relying on a range. Source review: 20 September 2026.

Review full methodology