Category: Containers & equipment
FCL (Full Container Load)
Also known as: Full Container Load
Definition
An ocean shipment that fills (or is booked to fill) an entire container, used by a single consignee.
FCL means the shipper books a whole container — 20ft, 40ft or 40ft High Cube — rather than sharing space. The cargo does not have to physically fill the box; the buyer simply pays for exclusive use of the container.
FCL is typically cheaper per CBM than LCL once volume is high enough, avoids the consolidation/deconsolidation steps of shared shipments, and reduces handling risk because the container is sealed at origin and opened at destination.
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