FCL Versus LCL in Efficiency

FCL is abbreviation from Full Container Load, when the shipment with using FCL term there are only the goods to be loaded only from one shipper. When a shipper has some goods to be shipped out to another country he or she has to calculate its CBM or volume to decide what size container will be suitable and used up. Various container size you can use for your goods commonly consisting 20 feet, 40 feet, 40 feet in high cube, and 45 feet. The following list you will find out the details interior measurements for each container:

• Container with the size 20 feet : the length 6.058 meters, width 2.438 meter and the height 2.591 meters.
• Container with the size 40 feet : the length 12.192 meters, width 2.438 meter and the height 2.591 meter.
• Container with the size 40 feet HC: the length 12.192 meters, width 2.438 meter and the height 2.896 meters.
• Container with the size 45 feet : the length 13.716 meters, width 2.438 meter and the height 2.896 meters. 

The thing has to be considered is you have to check your package measurements of the length, wide, and its height. Then calculate how many cartons can fill in a container in width line , length line and height line. By this way you can easily decide a container to be used up with no doubt anymore.

LCL is abbreviation from Less Container Load is choosing when the total volume of the goods to be loaded to a container is in low amount. Some goods from different shipper are combined  into one container . The loading or stuffing will do at consolidator warehouse. Shippers usually send their goods or cargos to the consolidator warehouse by their selves or using a third party or trucking company. Therefore, they has to calculate all costs will coming up involve transportation to the consolidator warehouse and some handling charges at the consolidator warehouse to be considered.

Meanwhile, a shipper has to compare between FCL and LCL when they are willing to export their goods. By this way they will decide what is the cheaper between LCL and FCL to protect the costs safety.

You can compare between FCL and LCL by calculating the CBM or volume and each cost in using both FCL and LCL. The FCL shipment of export has costs THC or terminal handling cost, B/L fee, trucking or transport to terminal container, and sea freight in case freight paid by shipper or in C&F term shipment. LCL has costs that usually involves trucking or transport to consolidator warehouse, CFS or container freight station charges that calculated each volume. B/L fee, and sea freight cost or fee which the rate is calculated per volume or CBM.

Some importers who putted their orders to us has decided if a shipment has the CBM or volume 12 over it should be arranged on FCL, of course, after they have compared the costs between FCL and LCL. There are also some buyers want firstly to know the volume of their shipment prior to shipment arranging, then they will send us their approval of details shipping instruction to be followed.

In my country LCL shipment only available on the last day in every week or the boarding date it commonly  on Sunday or Monday. Unlike LCL , the FCL shipment schedule is always provided on mid week or end week vessel schedule.

Occasionally, there are some buyers insist to ask us to arrange their shipment by using FCL although the volume of the cargo is less then ten cubic meters. This is because they want the container opened in their warehouse or at a specific place instead of  in forwarder or customs place. Hopefully, their goods will protect from any damage while handling.