FCL, which stands for full container load, means that the cargo you send is sent in a container reserved only for you without sharing the same space with any other company’s products. LCL, less then container load, means combined transport and is the case where cargo is transported in a container with other companies’ cargo.
Price
In container transportation; FCL is priced per container and LCL is priced per cubic meter. For this reason, LCL is recommended for small amounts of cargo, usually below a certain volume. However, this is not always the case. In some cases, FCL may be a better option, even for your low volume cargoes, especially when it comes to safety and contamination of the cargo. In both cases it will often be far more advantageous than air cargo. Dor Project Logistics will advise you on choosing the service for you.
Speed
Since LCL cargoes can serve many different sources, they often have to change hands, and sometimes have to be unloaded from the container and reloaded upon arrival at the port. In addition, any delays caused by the same container cargoes or any problems in customs may cause your cargo to be delayed. In this case, if you need to arrive within a certain period of time FCL is better and if you have a more flexible program LCL is better for you.
Safety
As mentioned above, there is always a risk of contamination or mixing in shared container transport. Moreover, every time the cargo is exchanged, unloaded and reloaded, there is a risk of damage. On the other hand, many differences of LCL’s structure, where the cargo is kept frequently, will minimize the damage to your cargo from a possible impact on the move.
While these three are the main factors that allow you to choose between FCL and LCL, there are many different situations that can make one of the two types of transportation more advantageous, computable or uncalculable, and Dor Project Logistics will help you choose the ideal plan for you.