Less-than-Container Load (LCL)
If your cargo is small and less than 15 CBM in volume, a freight forwarder will help you ship your cargo via LCL. This allows importers to ship smaller quantities of cargo that are not large enough to make a full container load a viable option. This means that your cargo is combined with other shipments from the same destination.
When LCL shipments arrive at the port, they can be delivered by truck or courier because of their small size and relative flexibility. lCL uses CBM (cubic meters) as the unit of measure to calculate freight rates.
Full Container Load (FCL)
FCL means that your cargo is large enough to fit into at least one container. In this case, the freight rate is calculated on a full container basis. FCL shipments will be loaded and sealed by your supplier at origin and then shipped to your final destination.