LCL aka Less than container Load is a shipping term used to describe container loads which are filled by multiple orders or goods. When shipping a small volume of stock by container ship, it’s more economical to combine your delivery with other orders. This is termed as ‘Less than container Load’.
LCL is an international ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) term; the container load contains numerous consignees or importers.
What is a Less-than-container Load?
A group of items (form a single shipper or multiple shippers) to fill a container called LCL - Less than container load.
The four most common container sizes are:
8ft shipping container – 8ft (2.43m) length x 7ft (2.20m) width x 7ft 6in (2.27m) height
10ft shipping container – 9ft 10in (2.99 m) length x 8ft (2.44m) width x 8ft 6in (2.59m) height
20ft shipping container – 20ft (6.06m) length x 8ft (2.44m) width x 8ft 6in (2.6m) height
40ft shipping container – 40ft (12.2m) length x 8ft (2.44m) width x 8ft 6in (2.6m) height
But in general, we are using 20', 40' and 40' HC or HQ (High Cube - which is more height than the 40' container) containers only for the international trade.
Let's see benefits of an LCL
- Good for shipping small loads – early on, a business might want to ship lower volumes of goods initially before ramping up volumes, LCL is a good option to start off when trading
- Lower sourcing risk – if you’re sourcing goods from numerous suppliers to test stock, using LCL can prevent ordering a bulk volume of goods as your first test run
- Shorter delivery time – because you won’t need to wait until you need sufficient volume to send a whole container of goods, the goods ordered would arrive to your destination faster
- Less inventory management – as the volume of goods are lower than that for a full container, inventory management in the warehouse will be minimal
Like the advantages in an LCL, some disadvantages also there. We need to understand the key risks for Less-than-container Load deliveries.
As a groupage combines freight from numerous suppliers, there is a higher risk of contamination, spillage, logistical issues (items getting sent to the wrong buyer) and damage of goods.
Per unit, the costs of LCL are normally at a premium due to the additional logistics and management involved with shipping multiple goods in one container.
Meraki Carriers is supporting all your LCL cargoes for both import and as well as export across the globe with their great network. With much competitive rates, we can offer the best services for your LCL requirements. Being one of the best freight forwarder in Chennai, we can able to provide you the complete solution of your both imports and exports in terms of LCL shipments.
