Need to ship freight, but don’t have a full container load? We have a solution to save you time and money without sacrificing safety or quality. Cargo consolidation is much like it seems. LCL shipping or less-than-container-load shipping means your cargo is shipped in a secure container, but it’s combined with other shipments. LCL Shipping allows you to use all the benefits of container shipping while splitting the costs with other customers.

HOW CONTAINER SHIPPING WORKS

Container shipping is priced by a flat rate, meaning the cost is per container instead of cargo. The smallest container is 20-feet long- which is much too large for smaller loads.

To combat the higher prices, cargo consolidation allows shippers with smaller loads to move their cargo at an affordable rate.

When using less than container shipping, the consolidator pays for the shipper’s container fee. Goods are then priced by how much space they will take up in the consolidated container.

LCL shipments not only help out customers, but it also helps cargo ship operators who need to fill space.

 3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT LCL LOADS

• It will most likely take longer — Full containers are loaded, sealed, then taken to the cargo ship.  With LCL loads, your freight is first taken to the consolidator. Your cargo is then loaded with other shipments from customers. Once the ship arrives, it must be unloaded before each item is sent to its destination. The process can take several extra days.
• Pricing Varies — As we discussed above, pricing is based on how large your item is. For example, a vehicle will cost more than just shipping the engine of the vehicle. Keep in mind that although pricing varies, it will still be less expensive than shipping a dedicated container with one item.
• Increased Handling — Cargo consolidation is secure and safe, but it does require more handling than shipping a dedicated container. Crews will load and unload the cargo when it arrives at the destination.