Shipping Modes
FCL (Full Container Load)
A container booked exclusively for one shipper cargo. Common sizes are 20ft and 40ft standard or high-cube. Cost-effective when cargo fills most of a container.
In depth
FCL means the shipper books an entire container rather than sharing space. The container is normally stuffed at the shipper's premises, sealed, and moves to the destination without the cargo being handled again, which is why FCL is faster and lower-risk than consolidated alternatives. Pricing is per container rather than per cubic metre, so cost per unit falls sharply as the container fills. FCL usually becomes cheaper than LCL somewhere around 13–15 cubic metres, though the exact crossover depends on the lane and the rates of the day. Note that "full" refers to the booking, not the load — a half-empty container booked FCL still pays the full container rate.
Key points
- Exclusive use of a container; priced per container, not per volume
- Typically cheaper than LCL above roughly 13–15 CBM
- Less handling means lower damage and pilferage risk
- Booking the container is what makes it FCL, not filling it