Motor freight association program aims to reduce incorrect weighing

Motor freight association program aims to reduce incorrect weighing    The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, a nonprofit group of more than 1,000 motor carriers operating in interstate, intrastate and international commerce, has established a new weighing, research training and support program to help motor carriers weigh, measure and classify freight more accurately.
   The association has appointed Don Newell, formerly a freight manager with Roadway Express, to head the program. Newell cited estimates that 'as many one in four shipments transported by common carriers are described, weighed or measured incorrectly.'
   The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, based in Alexandria, Va., is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Surface Transportation Board and other agencies. On behalf of participating members, the association's national classification committee develops and maintains the National Motor Freight Classification, a pricing tool that provides a comparison of commodities moving in interstate and intrastate transport. Based on an evaluation of density, stowability, ease of handling and liability, the commodities are grouped into one of 18 classes.