FCL – full container load for shipping goods
FCL or “Full Container Load” is an abbreviation for Import and Export cargo. FCL is used to describe a sea freight service that is designed for ocean freight shipments of cargo where shipper has exclusive use of sea freight multimodal container. In general sea freight containers are loaded and sealed by shipper at the shipper's facility. The cargo has to fit in the containers dimensions in order to be shipped as FCL. Once loaded and sealed the cargo is transported by ocean, rail and/or truck directly to the point of final destination. Shipping goods FCL is more cost effective and safe then using other sea freight services such Ro-Ro or Break-Bulk.
FCL usually is the best option in order to make your Import or Export shipment cost efficient.
Unlike using a service provided by International Moving Companies (most of the time when you relocate overseas), which would pack and load all your stuff in a sea freight container; when using FCL ocean freight service from an International Transportation Company (or arranged by a Freight Forwarder), the International Transportation Company will just deliver the container for the load to your door. You have to load and secure your good in the sea freight container. Trucker will wait for two hours for free. Then that sealed sea freight container will begin its international trip to the nominated destination. You (or your consignee/recipient) are held responsible to meet the ocean freight container at the destination.
If you ship a regular cargo by sea, we suggest planning your sea freight shipment by using one of these most common way of shipments for multimodal sea freight containers.
Three methods of sea freight containers stuffing:
- "Live load" - means that trucker will deliver an ocean freight container to your location and wait while you load, secure and seal the container for the international shipment. Free loading time may vary but usually is from one to two hours. If the free time is exceeded, then will be a surcharge for each additional hour of loading time average $75 per hour for.
- "Drop and pick" - means when the ocean freight container will be delivered and left your location for several days. When the cargo is loaded and ready it will be picked up , secured and sealed sea freight container company's container yard (CY) for the international trip by sea. Shipping this way the total shipping cost of you international shipment by sea, is higher then ‘Live Load” - the inland part of the shipping cost generally costs twice as much as with 'live load'. However, 'drop and pick' has the advantage that shipper can take a time on loading and securing commodity in the sea freight container.
- FCL – full container load for shipping goods - the shipper arrange and delivers loose cargo to an bonded warehouse or to a loading dock of company, which specialize in quality loading of cargo into sea freight containers. Once goods are received and accepted by the ship terminal, it will be loaded and secured in the ocean freight container. Then the sealed sea freight container will be delivered it to the ocean carrier’s Container Yard (CY) assigned for your international shipment.
