It is an abbreviation for ‘Less than Container Load’. The quantity of freight which is less than that required for the application of a container load rate.Under an LCL cargo, where in a shipper does not have enough goods to accommodate in one full container, he books cargo with a consolidator to console his goods along with goods of other shippers.
This type of shipment is called LCL shipment. The said consolidator arranges a fully loaded container (FCL), and consoles the shipments of other shippers and deliver each shipment to final destination by separating each shipment at final destination.
If you’re a stakeholder of a retail, distribution or manufacturing company, you’re constantly keeping an eye on the costs and logistical expenditures related to shipping your goods. It’s important to consider all logistics options that are cost effective and still deliver products on a timely basis. Therefore, when your load is below the minimum threshold for transporting goods via a standard shipping container, you need to explore less-than-container load (LCL) shipping options.