Freight Classification Codes: SPLC

Whether you operate in interstate, intrastate or foreign commerce, the National Motor Freight Association (NMFTA) is the organization that regulates your freight. Implementing standards for the classification of freight is their major contribution to the moving and storage industry.

Last week, we discussed one of the two very important classification codes the NMFTA is responsible for: SCAC. This week, we’re going to talk about the second freight classification code: SPLC. When it comes to your responsibility as a mover, adhering to agreed upon standards is essential to avoiding legal claims. Although your mover’s insurance can protect you, if you fail to obey national standards, it can be hard to have a case for yourself.

The Standard Point Location Code (SPLC) is a freight classification code that is designed to identify specific points in North America that “originate and receive transportation with their geographic locations,” according to the NFTA. Similar to SCAC, the SPLC is a numeric coding system.

Here are the basics:
• SPLCs are assigned to each point originating freight
• SPLCs are assigned to each point receiving freight
• Two digits are used to identify state, county and cite
• Three digits are used to identify sub-code
• The nesting system: State-County-City-SubCode
Each point is identified with a nine-digit number. These numbers can be broken down into five unique parts:
1. Part I of the first digit identifies the region
2. Part II of the first and second digits identify the state, province or territory
3. Part III identifies the county
4. Part IV is the fifth and sixth digits, which identify the part of  the area covered by the first four digits
5. Part V has two stipulations: If the seventh, eighth and ninth digits are “000”, the point is not defined beyond a city level. If they are anything aside from that, this is the sub-code level

The SPLC codes can be found on the NMFTA’s website. But remember, your trusted agents at Wolpert Insurance are always willing to answer any of your questions. We want you to be safe and secure no matter where your moving business takes you!
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