National Motor Freight Traffic Association

What National Motor Freight Traffic Association does

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), founded in 1956 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a non-profit membership-based trade association that sets authoritative standards for the less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier industry in North America. Its core function is the maintenance and evolution of the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), the industry-standard classification system that determines shipping rates and standardized commodity descriptions; the Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC), used to identify transportation carriers; and the Standard Point Location Code (SPLC), used to assign unique geographic identifiers to freight origins and destinations. In December 2025, NMFTA executed the largest NMFC reclassification since trucking deregulation in 1980, reclassifying more than 2,000 items from an 11-tier system to a 13-subprovision density scale, and launched ClassIT+ as a digital classification platform to modernize how carriers and shippers look up freight classifications.

NMFTA's product portfolio extends beyond classification into digital standards, cybersecurity, and freight fraud prevention. The Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC), established in December 2024, unifies LTL and FTL API standards with participation from Nordstrom, Uber Freight, J.B. Hunt, and C.H. Robinson. The organization operates the Freight Fraud Prevention Hub (launched March 2026), the Threat Report Portal (May 2026), the SCAC Verified program, and a suite of cybersecurity frameworks covering AI Governance, Vendor Risk Assessment, Cargo Crime Reduction, and Ransomware response, addressing an industry threat environment where cargo theft rose 27% year-over-year in 2024 with losses estimated up to $35 billion and freight fraud at $6.6 billion annually.

Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues, low-fee product sales (SCAC assignments at $110-$158, NMFC Books at $321-$484, webinar registrations at $300-$465), event fees including the annual NMFTA Cybersecurity Conference, and interpretations services. Membership provides access to discounted pricing and the LTL Benchmarking Group Program. NMFTA serves LTL motor carriers as its primary segment, with secondary segments including shippers, third-party logistics providers, and packaging professionals, sold through a sales-led motion combining direct online channels (NMFTA Store, ClassIT+, SCAC portal, SPLC online), content marketing, webinars, and conferences.

Name

National Motor Freight Traffic Association

Legal name

National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.

Website

https://nmfta.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1956 that sets authoritative standards for the North American LTL motor carrier industry through the National Motor Freight Classification, SCAC, SPLC, and digital API standards, serving carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and packaging professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Standards and Classification Services

NAICS

Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services (541614)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Freight classification standards
• LTL motor carrier standards
• Carrier identification codes
• Digital freight classification
• Freight cybersecurity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of digital products, subscriptions, and publications including ClassIT+ subscriptions, NMFC books, SCAC codes, SPLC data, interpretations, and webinars
2. Membership Dues: Organizational membership fees providing discount pricing on products and services, newsletters, whitepapers, webinar discounts, and access to LTL Benchmarking Group Program
3. SCAC Assignment and Renewal: Fees for Standard Carrier Alpha Code assignment ($110 online), renewal ($104), and reinstatement services for transportation companies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NMFTA is a nonprofit standards-setting trade association that develops, publishes, and maintains the industry's authoritative freight classification (NMFC), carrier identification (SCAC), and geographic location (SPLC) standards for the North American LTL freight sector. It monetizes these standards through subscription-based digital products (ClassIT+), printed NMFC books, code assignments and renewals, expert interpretation services, educational webinars, and cybersecurity resources including the Freight Fraud Prevention Hub and Threat Report Portal. It also convenes industry via the Digital Standards Development Council to set LTL and FTL API standards.

Product overview

NMFTA operates as a standards-setting organization for the transportation industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of classification, coding, digital, and cybersecurity products and services. The core products include ClassIT+™ (a digital classification platform), the National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC)® (the industry freight classification standard), Standard Carrier Alpha Code® (SCAC)® (carrier identification codes), and Standard Point Location Code® (SPLC)® (geographic location codes). Supporting services include Interpretations (expert classification opinions), Webinars (educational programs), and the NMFC Book (hard-copy classification standard). NMFTA also provides cybersecurity solutions including the Threat Report Portal, Freight Fraud Prevention Hub, cybersecurity guidebooks, frameworks (AI Governance, Vendor Risk Assessment, Cargo Crime Reduction), and hosts the annual NMFTA Cybersecurity Conference. The Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC) oversees API standards for LTL and FTL sectors, while the Freight Classification Development Center (FCDC) manages classification governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification): The industry standard for LTL freight identification and classification.
• SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code)
• SPLC (Standard Point Location Code)
• ClassIT+
• Freight Fraud Prevention Hub
• Threat Report Portal
• DSDC (Digital Standards Development Council)
• FCDC (Freight Classification Development Center)

Products and services

• ClassIT+ Digital classification platform that enables LTL freight industry users to determine freight classifications and access NMFC item descriptions and provisions through an intuitive interface.
• National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) Industry-standard classification system for LTL freight providing standardized commodity descriptions and classification guidance used to determine shipping rates across interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce.
• Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) Coding system used to identify transportation companies operating in North America for shipment processing and carrier identification.
• Standard Point Location Code (SPLC) System that assigns each transportation origin and destination point in North America a unique code number matched with its geographic location for use in shipment routing and documentation.
• Interpretations Expert opinion service that lets users submit commodity-specific information and receive guidance on which NMFC item number and description applies to their shipment.
• Freight Fraud Prevention Hub Centralized platform providing practical tools, real-world insights, and guidance for the freight industry to combat cargo theft and freight fraud, including a quarterly webinar series.
• Threat Report Portal Free, anonymous reporting platform enabling transportation and logistics organizations to report freight fraud, cargo crime, and cyber threats while gaining visibility into industry-wide incidents.
• NMFTA Cybersecurity Conference Annual cybersecurity event dedicated to the trucking industry that brings together experts to explore insights, research, innovations, and best practices to protect against trucking cybercrime.
• Webinars Expert-led educational webinar series covering freight classification, packaging, cybersecurity, and industry trends for carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and packaging professionals, available live and on-demand.
• NMFTA Cybersecurity Best Practices Guidebook – Owner Operator and Small Fleet Comprehensive cybersecurity guide providing low-cost solutions, step-by-step guidance, and controls specific to owner operators and small fleets for protecting operations from cyber threats.
• NMFTA Cybersecurity Best Practices Guidebook – Mid-Sized Fleet Guidebook tailored for mid-sized fleets of 50 to 3,000 power units providing cybersecurity guidance that fleet owners and security personnel can adapt to their organization's specific requirements.
• NMFTA Core Cybersecurity Controls Checklist Checklist resource providing essential cybersecurity controls for fleet protection and organizational security.
• NMFTA Cybersecurity Cargo Crime Reduction Framework Practical framework designed to help organizations proactively reduce theft risk through integrated security practices and supply chain collaboration.
• NMFTA Cybersecurity AI Governance Framework Framework providing guidance on responsible AI adoption, risk management, and strategic decision-making for AI implementation in trucking and transportation.
• NMFTA Vendor Risk Assessment Framework Structured evaluation tool designed to assess the cybersecurity and operational risk of third-party vendors in the supply chain.
• Ransomware Playbook Playbook providing practical guidance for responding to ransomware attacks in the transportation industry.
• Guide to NMFC's Minimum LTL Packaging Requirements Comprehensive guide on complying with NMFC minimum LTL packaging requirements, covering packaging types, functions, density impacts, and liability issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 NMFC items reclassified in density-based transition, representing biggest shift in LTL sector since 1980 deregulation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Geotab Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Geotab joined the Freight Fraud Prevention Hub, an industry initiative brought together by NMFTA, to advance freight fraud awareness and supply chain integrity education across North America. Geotab provides technology solutions including real-time asset tracking, AI-powered dash cameras, and geofencing to help fleets reduce risk and improve visibility.
• Freight Fraud Prevention Hub MemberscoreOthersThe Freight Fraud Prevention Hub is an industry initiative by NMFTA that brings together carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and technology providers to combat rising cargo theft and freight fraud estimated at $6.6 billion annually.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Geotab: Telematics and fleet management technology provider that joined NMFTA's Freight Fraud Prevention Hub in 2026. Geotab is a strategic partner and adjacent ecosystem player providing the underlying fleet technology that complements NMFTA's standards and threat intelligence work.
• DAT Freight & Analytics: Freight data, analytics, and marketplace provider serving carriers, brokers, and shippers. DAT is an adjacent ecosystem player serving the same LTL/FTL customer base that NMFTA serves, though it operates commercially rather than as a standards body.

Broad incumbents

• ASTM International: International standards organization developing technical standards for materials, products, and systems. ASTM is comparable to NMFTA as a consensus-based SDO that publishes industry standards, though ASTM serves multiple industries beyond freight.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization): The world's largest developer of voluntary international standards across industries. ISO is comparable to NMFTA as a global standards development organization, though ISO operates at much larger scope and scale across all sectors.
• ANSI (American National Standards Institute): The U.S. national standards body coordinating voluntary standards and conformity assessment across all industries. ANSI is comparable to NMFTA as an overarching standards oversight organization, though NMFTA operates one tier below as a sector-specific SDO.

Direct peers

• American Trucking Associations: The largest national trade association for the U.S. trucking industry, representing motor carriers on advocacy, safety, and policy. ATA is the most direct peer to NMFTA as both are membership-based trade associations serving the trucking ecosystem with overlapping carrier members.
• National Private Truck Council: Trade association representing private fleet operators that run their own trucking operations. NPTC is directly comparable to NMFTA as a membership organization focused on U.S. trucking with educational programs and industry advocacy.
• Transportation Intermediaries Association: Trade association for third-party logistics providers, freight brokers, and transportation intermediaries. TIA is comparable to NMFTA as a membership organization serving adjacent segments of the freight ecosystem with educational and standards-adjacent offerings.
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals: Professional association for supply chain management practitioners offering education, research, and networking. CSCMP is comparable to NMFTA as a membership-based industry organization serving logistics professionals with conferences, publications, and credentialing.
• Intermodal Association of North America: Trade association representing the intermodal freight industry across ocean, rail, and truck providers. IANA is comparable as a North American freight standards and advocacy organization with similar membership, conference, and research models to NMFTA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nmfta
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NMFTA-Inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/NMFTA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-motor-freight-traffic-association-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/nmftanews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Motor Freight Traffic Association