Less Than Container Load
Less Than Container Load (LCL) is one of two ocean transport services available for shippers, the other being Full Container Load (FCL). LCL services are better for anyone who does not have enough cargo to fill an entire container, as smaller shipments can be consolidated into a single container, with each shipper paying only for the space they use instead of the whole container.
The benefit of LCL is that it makes smaller shipments much more efficient and affordable. When calculating the cost of LCL shipments, carriers typically focus on cubic space. Weight may also be factored into the calculation as well in some cases.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of LCL
As well as making it easier to move smaller shipments, the benefits of LCL also include:
- Spending less on warehousing and managing a large inventory when you ship smaller quantities more frequently
- It’s cheaper than air freight when moving small shipments
- LCL may be an easier way of finding space on a vessel compared with FCL when container capacity is limited
Some of the negative aspects of LCL shipping include:
- Taking a few extra days as shipments need to be loaded into and then unloaded from containers
- LCL shipments are more expensive than FCL shipments when looking at the cost per cubic meter
- Customs delays from other shipments in the container could delay your LCL shipment