LCL (Less than Container Load)
LCL is a shipment too small to fill a container, so a forwarder or NVOCC consolidates it with other shippers' cargo at a container freight station (CFS). Freight is charged per W/M, the greater of cubic metres and metric tonnes (1 m³ counts as 1,000 kg), often with a 1 m³ minimum. LCL saves money on small volumes but takes longer and involves more handling, so packaging and shipping marks must be robust and clear.
Related terms
- FCL (Full Container Load)
FCL means one shipper books a whole container, however much cargo is inside.
- Container Freight Station (CFS)
A container freight station is the warehouse where LCL cargo from many shippers is consolidated into one container, or stripped and sorted again at destination.
- CBM (Cubic Metre)
CBM, the cubic metre, is the volume unit for cargo: length × width × height in metres, times the number of packages.
- NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier)
An NVOCC is a carrier that operates no ships of its own but buys space from shipping lines and resells it to shippers under its own house B/L.
Covered in these guides
LCL vs FCL: Cost, Transit Time, Risk and the Break-Even Point
What LCL and FCL mean, how W/M pricing works, the role of the CFS, cost components, a break-even example with hypothetical rates and when to choose each.
5 min read Export-importHow to Export from Indonesia: A Step-by-Step Guide for SMEs
Export steps for Indonesian SMEs, from an OSS business ID, HS code and Incoterms to FOB pricing, packing, forwarders, the PEB, payment risk and small shipments.
6 min read