LCL (Less than Container Load)

What is LCL?

LCL (less than container load) is a mode of shipping via ocean. If you don’t have enough cargo to fill up an entire container, consider shipping LCL.

An LCL shipment will be consolidated with other LCL shipments into one container.

Two trucks compared: FCL container filled entirely with one shipper's cargo (red); LCL container mixing red, blue and gray blocks from multiple importers' shipments.

An LCL shipment will be consolidated at a CFS (container freight station) before gating in at the CY (container yard) at origin, and deconsolidated at destination:

Horizontal LCL shipment flow with icons and labels: Supplier factory, Origin CFS warehouse, Origin CY crane and ship, Destination CY crane, Destination CFS warehouse, Destination building.

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