FCLOcean Freight & Shipping

Full Container Load

Definition: An ocean freight shipment where an entire shipping container is booked exclusively by a single shipper for their cargo.

Detailed Freight Guide & Operational Context

Full Container Load (FCL) describes an ocean shipment where a customer books an entire container (standard 20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC, or reefer) for their exclusive cargo use.

With FCL, the container is loaded and sealed at the shipper's warehouse or factory, transported intact via road/rail to the port, and delivered with original seal intact to the destination consignee.

FCL offers faster transit times and lower risk of cargo damage compared to LCL because the container is not handled or opened at intermediate consolidation stations.

Real-World Example in Practice

A furniture manufacturer loads 55 CBM of sofas into a 40ft High Cube container, seals it with an ISO 17712 bolt seal, and books it as an FCL shipment directly to Los Angeles.

Frequently Asked Questions about FCL

What is FCL shipping?

FCL is Full Container Load shipping, where a single shipper rents an entire container for their exclusive cargo.

Is FCL cheaper than LCL?

For volumes exceeding approximately 13 to 15 cubic meters, booking a dedicated 20ft FCL container is typically cheaper per unit volume than paying LCL consolidation fees.

Recommended Tool

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Related Shipping Terms

Less than Container Load

LCL

Container Yard

Container Freight Station

CFS

Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit

TEU

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