Your Professional LCL Freight Forwarder Agent in China

LCL Freight | The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Introduction

Cargo interior specifications and LCL freight consolidation facilities enter the minds of all shippers at some time.

They’ve come to terms with the fact that LCL shipping may be the best option for them.

Learn more about LCL shipping if you have fewer freight shipments.

You’ll find out how much it charges, how long the journey is, and more in our guide.

Exporting your items is now a lot easier.

Table of Contents

1. What Is LCL Freight?
2. What Is The LCL Freight Shipping Process?
3. How Long Does LCL Freight Take?
4. Is There Any Variety Of LCL Freight?
5. Which Are The Paperworks I Need To Submit For A LCL Freight?
6. Who Provides The Essential LCL Freight Papers?
7. Which Incoterm Should I Choose For A LCL Freight Quote?
8. Why Should I Prefer LCL Freight Quote Shipping?
9. Is There Any Disadvantage Of LCL Freight Quote Shipping?
10. Are There Any Key Differences Between FCL And LCL Freight Quote?
11. Is LCL Fee Economical?
12. How Can I Calculate My LCL Fees?
13. What Determines The Cost Of LCL Fee?
14. Where Can I Find A List Of Typical LCL Fees?
15. Are There Any Additional Expenses For LCL Quotes?
16. In LCL Quote Shipping, Who Is Responsible For Customs Clearance?
17. In LCL Quote Shipping, Who Is Charged For Clearing Customs?
18. Where Can I Find A List Of The Different Types Of LCL Freight Quote Containers?
19. In Shipping, How Can I Lower LCL Freight Quotes?
20. Why Do FCL and LCL Freight Quotes To The Same Location Have Differing Transit Times?
21. Can I Have An LCL Freight Quote That Is Insured?
22. Is There Any Prohibition On Imports On The LCL Freight Quote?
23. Is LCL Freight Quote Trackable?

1. What Is LCL Freight?

In maritime transportation, the term “LCL freight” refers to cargo loads that aren’t large enough to fill a standard 20- or 40-foot shipping container.

Because LCL shipments don’t fill a whole shipping container, they are packaged with other cargo.

For this, LCL exports are regarded as groupage shipments.

It’s possible to confuse an LCL (palletized) cargo for a loose delivery.

Packages like this can’t fit in a shipping crate since they don’t require palletizing.

Products that have not yet been palletized are referred to as loose cargo.

Almost often, carriers insist on palletization as a means of protecting the contents and making loading and unloading easier.

2. What Is The LCL Freight Shipping Process?

This is how it all works with LCL

LCL is a shipping term for a collection of consignment items transported together in a single container.

As a container component, it’s a little trickier to manage and demands a higher level of coordination and efficiency.

Place an order with LCL

It is mandatory that you disclose the dimensions and weight of your shipment with your carrier if you opt to ship LCL.

Additionally, the strategy, current account, and package list all need to be finished.

Additional selections may be necessary based on the delivery method and final destination.

Preparation is the Key

Weekly or biweekly deliveries of LCL goods are common.

The group warehouse is where the LCL product is packaged and kept.

This is perhaps the most common task that the freight carrier may perform for you. In the group’s warehouse, you may also store your own freight.

Remember that your shipment must reach the warehouse on time, regardless of the option you select.

The requirements for your group storage rate are normally seven days before your departure date if the payment is at the port of departure.

This varies depending on where you are.

Due to the time, it takes to get the container to the port, the deadline in the houses is sooner.

You may rest certain that your LCL container will be carried to the port of departure after it has been packed and prepped.

There are normally three days before a ship’s scheduled departure for the containers to be filled.

It is the shipping company’s responsibility to deliver a consolidated shipment when it arrives at the port.

Packaging

LCL goods shipped to a secondary port may either be transferred to another container.

Or maybe stacked on top of the one already in transit to its final destination before it is delivered.

Getting to Your Final Destination

Once the LCL shipment reaches its final destination, the term “transit” is used to describe the process.

Carry the container to a warehouse known as the deconsolidation warehouse, where it will be consolidated.

There, the container’s goods are broken up into separate LCL shipments.

Acceptance of Your Products

Afterward, the receiver may pick up the goods at a nearby warehouse.

Alternatively, you can ask the agencies to take care of the recipient’s delivery.

A deconsolidation store at the destination store receives your items and sends them to your final destination.

Longer than Expected LCL Delivery Times

If all goes according to plan, transmitting LCL will be no slower than sending FCL. Getting a last-minute spot for your load will speed things up even more.

Containers are shared, and so is the responsibility.

Other shippers may have to reinforce their goods before you are ready.

In addition, customs can hold the entire container if there are document misalignments.

As much as you despise someone else’s blunder, you must ensure that your delivery is on time and that all of the necessary paperwork is in order.

Additional Connections

Sending to less-frequented ports may also cause a lag.

There are a lot of worldwide firms that offer regular and pre-scheduled transport services.

Secondary ports require more time for local cargo handling equipment than primary ports.

And require a few extra days before your next departure date, so shipping your stuff there first means waiting even longer for your next departure.

Intermodal and Transportation

Delays are typical when freight is transshipped and transported via several modes of transportation.

Your cargo may have to be emptied and relocated to another container.

Or it may have to wait for other commodities to be placed into the container before it can be reloaded.

The deconsolidation port must be connected to the interior terminal and beyond in multimodal transit, necessitating additional logistics.

3. How Long Does LCL Freight Take?

Totally depends between your exporting and importing countries’ distance and ease of shipping mode.

Sea shipment might take anywhere from six to ten weeks.

Due to the consolidation and deconsolidation processes, LCL requires a little longer than FCL.

4. Is There Any Variety Of LCL Freight?

Here are the types of LCL freight –

• Express LCL – It follows a strict time frame to ship from China to your destination. Even if the consolidation is not done, it departs for the destination.
• Regular LCL – It doesn’t follow a certain time frame. It is slightly time-consuming if compared to express LCL.

5. Which Are The Paperworks I Need To Submit For A LCL Freight?

Here is a list of major documents involved in an LCL freight –

• Freight Quote
• Bill of Lading (Sea Waybill)
• Certificate of Origin
• Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED)
• Packing List
• Commercial Invoice
• Certificate of Inspection

6. Who Provides The Essential LCL Freight Papers?

The shipping company and the freight forwarders issue most of the major LCL freight documents.

7. Which Incoterm Should I Choose For A LCL Freight Quote?

EXW, FOB, CFR, and DDP are the most often used terms for LCL container transportation. Incoterms

However, the buyer’s needs are taken into account when it comes to FOB and EXW.

You have the option of selecting your own car sponsor if you so want.

In contrast, CFR and DDP are in the opposite scenario.

Because of this, the seller decides to deal with the forwarder, who then handles all of the logistics for them.

EXW and FOB are more pricey than CFR and DDP, but they allow you to better organize transportation and scheduling.

8. Why Should I Prefer LCL Freight Quote Shipping?

Here is a list of pros of LCL freight quote shipping

• LCL shipping is more cost-effective than FCL shipping since you simply pay for the volume of goods you send.
• When fewer goods are shipped out more frequently, less larger storage space is needed.
• While air freight and expedited shipment might be expensive, LCL shipping is an option if you have more time to wait.
• There are instances when finding LCL is more straightforward and faster, such as during peak shipping periods or when shipping traffic is particularly heavy.

9. Is There Any Disadvantage Of LCL Freight Quote Shipping?

Of course, there is no perfect delivery solution.

The following are some of the most significant downsides of shipping LCL:

• Stacking and discharging LCL cargo from containers adds a few more days to the transit time.
• Sending LCL shipments costs more per cubic meter than sending FCL shipments, which might cost up to two times as much per cubic meter as the former.
• Customs delays for other shipments might cause delays for your package.
• LCL items are more susceptible to damage or loss since they are handled more often.

10. Are There Any Key Differences Between FCL And LCL Freight Quote?

Even if you just have a few items to ship, LCL is an excellent option for modest shipments.

However, there are occasions when paying for a whole container is preferable.

Why?

Because LCL is more expensive per cubic meter than FCL.

In that case, shipping a complete container may be the more cost-effective option.

When shipping FCL, you’ll gain the advantages of shorter travel times and less damages for a higher price point.

When delivering to an Amazon warehouse, it’s easier to arrange an appointment for LCL shipments.

Consequently, even if you cut money by delivering FCL, you may be liable for additional demurrage and detention fees owing to delays in the warehouse.

So, how do we know when we’ve crossed a threshold?

As volume approaches 10 CBM, you may want to start looking at FCL.

This may vary depending on the size of your cargo.

To know more, watch this –

11. Is LCL Fee Economical?

LCL allows customers to ship lesser volumes, but the freight, such as the local costs, is generally more than FCL when evaluating the per CBM rate for LCL shipments.

Whenever the CBM is significant enough, it is usually a good idea to compare LCL and FCL prices.

Assess with your freight forwarding business for LCL and FCL rates and analyze the freight cost, transit duration, and other possible costs.

This may arise as part of the logistics process if your shipment is over 15 CBM.

Shipping basics and a reliable freight forwarder are essential for each customer when deciding on the best way of transportation for their goods.

Watch this for more –

12. How Can I Calculate My LCL Fees?

In the case of LCL, the cost is mostly determined by volume, which is often expressed in cubic meters (CBM).

Costs increase with the amount of area required.

LCL shipping charges are more closely tied to volume than weight since container ships can transport such a large amount of cargo.

Price of LCL The following are examples of freight forwarder quotes:

Costs of LCL Shipping

• Picking up your package from a warehouse or factory is an additional charge.
• At a Container Terminal, LCL shipments must be placed in containers with other cargoes, or combined.
  The term “container stuffing” is occasionally used to describe this practice.
• The expense of taking a nautical voyage.
  Even though it’s the most important portion of the shipping, it’s not the most expensive.
  Costs at the CFS can be considerable in some cases because of the large amounts of equipment and personnel required.
• LCL cargoes must stop at a CFS upon arrival in the destination country for deconsolidation, or unstuffing.
• Expenses associated with transporting your items to a new warehouse

13. What Determines The Cost Of LCL Fee?

The costs of LCL shipments are influenced by the following variables:

• Structure and length of the package
• The package’s actual size and volumetric weight
• Shipment date
• Product’s worth
• Product category
• Distance to the final destination.

Choose HART Worldwide as your logistics company provider if you want to save money and get the finest service.

14. Where Can I Find A List Of Typical LCL Fees?

Here are some common LCL fees provided here –

Amazon Distributors’ Tagging and Batching

You must label and palletize your items in accordance with Amazon’s specifications if you are delivering them to an Amazon FBA facility.

Palletizing at the plant is often less than at the settlement center, and labeling your boxes there will save you time and money.

Make sure your supplier is aware of Amazon’s standards and criteria before having them palletized so that you don’t incur additional LCL expenses.

Bonds for Customs

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) needs a customs bond for all imports which serves as insurance in the event that your firm fails to make a payment.

Choose a single-entry bond if you ship regularly. A yearly bond may be worthwhile for shippers who use their services frequently.

Taxes and Levies

It is possible to get an idea of how much you will owe in taxes and duties before your products reach the port.

And you may use this information to determine your LCL fees more precisely.

15. Are There Any Additional Expenses For LCL Quotes?

Indeed, there must be.

Additional fees may be incurred when sending LCL shipments.

Such sorts of maritime freight fees include fuel surcharges, surveillance costs, etc.

LCL shipping rates can contain extra expenditures that also involve conveyance from port to port.

16. In LCL Quote Shipping, Who Is Responsible For Customs Clearance?

Normally, the recipient of the shipment is liable for clearing the customs in LCL quote shipping.

But, there is always an option through your freight forwarder, who can do it for you while charging some extra penny.

17. In LCL Quote Shipping, Who Is Charged For Clearing Customs?

You, the recipient, or the proprietor of the shipment is accountable for customs clearance in LCL quote shipping.

18. Where Can I Find A List Of The Different Types Of LCL Freight Quote Containers?

The length and breadth of shipping containers might vary.

Containers are typically 10 feet, 20 ft, or 40 ft in length, and each container is approximately 8 ft in width.

High cube containers, that are 9 feet in height, are commonly used to enhance storage capacity or improve air flow in shipping containers, which are 8 feet 6 inches in height.

The measurements and specs of shipping containers may be seen in the table underneath.

19. In Shipping, How Can I Lower LCL Freight Quotes?

Here are some steps to reduce LCL freight quotes in shipping –

• Compare prices from a number of different freight forwarders.

With many quotations, you’ll be able to find the best deal.
As a result, you’ll have a better understanding of LCL shipping prices and taxes.
To put it another way, there are situations when an LCL shipping quote will be much higher or lower than market LCL shipping rates.

• Pallet dimensions must be taken into consideration.

Always request dimensions that include pallets from your suppliers, even if they supply box dimensions.
To put it simply, you’ll be paid for the area pallets occupy in your shipping container.

• Be aware that delicate products may require more storage space and hence cost more.

To make the most of the available container capacity for LCL shipments, pallets are often stacked.
There is no need to put anything on top of a flat-screen TV while shipping it.
As a result, you might expect to pay more because your shipment takes up less space in the container.

• By arranging port-to-door or door-to-door transportation with your freight forwarder, you may avoid additional LCL costs and fees that may be imposed by the shipping company.

You may one day receive an LCL quotation that appears to be a bargain.
What’s the worst that might happen?
Perhaps the LCL costs you believed were included in the quote we’re really not part of it all.
Scheduling port-to-door or door-to-door transportation for LCL is the best way to avoid this.
If door-to-door service isn’t included, the savings you receive at the beginning may be countered by excessive expenses at the destination.
A price that includes door-to-door service ensures that all costs are included in the initial estimate.

• Recognize the container’s internal dimensions.

Inside a 20ft container, it’s not truly 20 feet long.
Keep in mind the container’s inside dimensions so that you can determine if LCL or FCL shipping is the best option for your needs.

• Make sure you’re familiar with Amazon’s warehouse policies if you’re an FBA shipper.

Amazon FBA’s warehouse rules might change at any time, so it’s important to keep an eye on them.
With a little advance planning, you can typically have your provider take care of the needs, saving you money.

20. Why Do FCL and LCL Freight Quotes To The Same Location Have Differing Transit Times?

In FCL they maintain a strict schedule, that’s why it delivers faster.

On the other hand, LCL freight quotes wait until the cargo is filled.

Besides, they carry consolidated goods.

So, they need to load and unload the goods at multiple destinations.

This is the reason for the non-identical shipping duration between FCL and LCL freight quotes.

21. Can I Have An LCL Freight Quote That Is Insured?

Mostly, they are.

The majority of shippers in LCL freight quotes provide partial or complete insurance for the goods.

22. Is There Any Prohibition On Imports On The LCL Freight Quote?

Of course, there are some restrictions on imports over LCL freight quotes.

Here is a list of major restricted items of LCL freight quotes –

• Acids and hazardous chemicals
• Firearms
• Perishable foods
• Batteries
• Narcotics
• Fake currencies
• Drugs and so on.

23. Is LCL Freight Quote Trackable?

Yes.

Tracking details for your package should be provided to you by your freight service.

To keep tabs on the status of your order, click on the provided internet link.

Final Words

We really hope that our FAQ has answered all of your questions.

Shipping LCL deliveries to numerous locations throughout the world is HART’s specialty.

HART can ship your products to anywhere in the world using LCL cargos.

HART Worldwide offers a cutting-edge monitoring solution for LCL shipments to guarantee the cargo’s safe arrival.

Aside from that, you may get in touch with the company’s customer support team if you have any concerns or issues.