Knowing whether to choose between FCL vs LCL shipping starts with being clear about their differences. FCL stands for ‘full container load.’ It means that your freight is the only freight in the container, whether or not the container is full. In more practical terms, it means you are paying to ship the entire container.
LCL stands for ‘less than container load.’ It means your freight shares a container with freight from other shippers.
Differences Between FCL and LCL
Sometimes choosing between LCL and FCL is easy. If your shipments are large enough to occupy an entire shipping container, then you have your answer. Similarly, if your shipment is significantly less than a container load, and doesn’t need special handling or scheduling, your choice is also clear.
FCL and LCL Loads
There are many factors that shippers must consider in choosing between LCL and FCL. The volume of the cargo is perhaps the most basic.
LCL shipments are possible for shipments down to one CBM (cubic metre) in size. You may ship smaller volumes, but the minimum payment is for one CBM. FCL shipments are limited by the size and payload capacity of the container.
Basic container capacities are generally as follows, but there may be other restrictions:
- 20’ container – 33 CBM and 18.6 tons
- 40’ container – 67.5 CBM and 28.6 tons
- 40’ HC container – 76 CBM and 28.6 tons
Choosing Between FCL and LCL
In basic terms, and if your decision can rest solely on shipping volume, LCL is the least costly option for shipments of less than 15 CBM. FCL is the way to go for shipments of more than 15 CBM.
Other Factors to Consider
As we said, there are many factors to consider when choosing between FCL and LCL shipping. Here are just a few.
Shipment Weight
Regardless of the volume of your shipment, if its weight exceeds the maximum container payloads, the excess must be moved to another container.
Delivery Schedule
LCL shipments generally take longer than FCL shipments because of the requirements of gathering, handling and distributing freight from different shippers. If your cargo must be delivered by a certain time, you may need to use FCL, even for shipments of less than 15 CBM.
Shipment Damage & Security
LCL shipments generally require more handling. For example, if one shipment on an LCL container is selected for customs inspections, other shipments on the container may need to be unloaded. The extra handling increases the risk of damage and theft.
To learn more about making the right choices for all your shipping needs, please Contact Us here at GEO Express International
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