Full-Container Load – FCL

Full container load (FCL) shipping from China

FCL means booking a dedicated container for a shipment. Compare FCL and LCL using the same cargo, route and delivery scope. There is no universal cargo-volume threshold at which FCL becomes cheaper.

Choosing a container

Send carton or pallet dimensions, package count, gross weight and loading requirements. Compare 20GP, 40GP and 40HQ equipment against the actual carrier specifications, payload limits and receiving facilities. Usable loading space depends on packing and stowage; confirm the load plan before booking.

Read our container selection guide for the information to prepare.

What to confirm in an FCL quote

• Pickup or supplier delivery arrangements and origin charges.
• Container loading, documentation and export clearance scope.
• Ocean freight, sailing schedule and quotation validity.
• Destination handling, import arrangements and final delivery, where included.
• Duty assumptions, exclusions, free-time rules and possible storage, detention or waiting charges.

Request an itemized quotation. Services are included only when stated in the agreed scope. For a USA shipment, use our FCL DDP quote checklist.

FCL compared with LCL

• Cost: compare the total origin, main transport and destination charges, not only the container or volume rate.
• Handling: a dedicated container can reduce consolidation handling, but inspections or operational handling may still be required.
• Timing: confirm cargo readiness, booking cutoffs, departure, arrival and delivery estimates for each option.

Planning delivery

Transit estimates depend on the port pair, carrier schedule, cargo readiness, customs processing and final delivery arrangements. Ask which stages are included and whether the estimate uses working or calendar days. Review warehouse appointments and unloading requirements before dispatch.

Documents and cargo review

Prepare cargo descriptions, a commercial invoice and packing list. Confirm transport documents and any product-specific paperwork with the appointed parties. Disclose batteries, liquids and special handling needs before booking. Send shipment details to LHD for review.

Container capacity and payload limits

Nominal dimensions are not the same as usable space. Packing pattern, pallet height, door opening and cargo density all reduce what actually fits inside the box.

• 20GP: about 33 cubic metres nominal, roughly 28 usable. Dense cargo such as tiles, machinery or bagged material usually fills it by weight before volume.
• 40GP: about 67 cubic metres nominal, roughly 58 usable. A common default for light, bulky goods.
• 40HQ: about 76 cubic metres nominal, roughly 68 to 76 usable depending on the build. The extra internal height only helps if the cargo can be stacked above about 2.4 metres.

Payload is limited by the carrier, the container tare weight and the road regulations at destination. A 20GP may be rated well above 20 tonnes at sea, yet US road weight limits frequently cap a loaded 20GP far below that once chassis and tractor weight are counted. Confirm the road-legal load with the trucker before stuffing the container.

Inspect and seal at loading

• Check the container before loading: floor, roof, doors, seals, holes, odour and residue from the previous cargo. Photograph the empty container and the sealed doors.
• Distribute weight evenly and keep the centre of gravity low. A container loaded heavily to one end is harder to handle and can be rejected at a rail ramp.
• Brace the cargo so it cannot shift in transit; shifting cargo damages goods and can make the container unsafe to open.
• Record the seal number on the bill of lading and keep the same number in your own file. A seal that does not match the document invites an inspection.
• Submit the verified gross mass (VGM) before the carrier cut-off, using either a weighing of the packed container or a documented calculation method approved under the SOLAS rules.

Demurrage, detention and delivery accessorials

Demurrage accrues while the loaded container stays inside the terminal beyond the agreed free time. Detention accrues while you hold the container outside the terminal, for example at your warehouse, beyond free time. Free time is negotiated, not automatic, and it differs between terminal, rail ramp and carrier.

Confirm before booking whether the delivery address needs a liftgate, a residential drop, an appointment window or a forklift on site. These accessorials are normally billed separately and are the most common reason a delivered quote exceeds the original estimate.