Less Than Container Load

Less Than Container Load refers to a shipment that does not fill an entire shipping container and is therefore consolidated with cargo from other shippers into a shared container. LCL is the preferred option for smaller shipments where paying for a full container would be uneconomical. Rates are typically quoted per cubic meter or per weight, whichever is greater.

In Freight Forwarding

LCL shipments require additional handling at both origin and destination. At the origin, a consolidator (often the freight forwarder) groups multiple LCL shipments into one container at a Container Freight Station (CFS). At the destination, the container is deconsolidated and individual consignments are separated for delivery. This extra handling adds transit time — usually 3 to 7 days — compared to FCL.

How CargoGen Handles It

CargoGen supports LCL as a load type on ocean shipments, with house bills per consignment linked to the master bill of the consolidated container. Each consignment keeps its own shipment record, documents and charges.