Less than Container Load (LCL)

When goods are shipped by container (see above), a shipper may not have enough cargo to fill a container. Less than Container Load (or LCL) services are operated by carriers or forwarders to cater for such shippers. LCL operators will receive small shipments from multiple shippers at receiving depots in the country of export, and consolidate them into cost—effective full container shipments, charging each shipper for the weight or volume of cargo shipped, and issuing a transport document (usually a Bill of lading) to each client. On arrival in the destination country, goods will be deconsolidated from containers at a freight depot, for transfer or delivery to the client. Similar services can also apply when goods are transported by road or air; in such cases they are typically known as ’groupage’ or ’consolidation’ services respectively.