Choosing the right method of transportation when shipping goods can be a very difficult task. There are many different ways that your goods can be shipped, including FCL and LCL shipping. In order to make the right decision, there are a few factors that need to be considered such as transit times. Read all about the difference in transit times when using FCL and LCL shipping:
FCL
FCL stands for full container load. What this means is that the container will only be filled with goods from a single client and the packing is usually done at the client’s premises. Once the container is packed, it is not unpacked or reworked anywhere along the journey until it gets to the port of discharge. What this means is that the FCL shipment is likely to get to its destination quicker than an LCL shipment would.
LCL
An LCL shipment is generally used when individuals do not have enough goods to fill the container and would rather split the costs with others. The goods within the ship will belong to various clients. These goods will be packed at the freight station and, as they travel along their route, they will be unpacked and reworked a few times. The shipment may be at any of the ports for a while, waiting for the container to be filled with goods going to the same destination. This is why LCL shipments take longer – though they are the less expensive option.
