Groupage Cargo –
LCL Shipment

It is obvious that no shipping solution is perfect, and LCL shipping also has some drawbacks:

• It makes shipping timing longer as LCL shipments need to be loaded and unloaded from containers.
• LCL shipments are more expensive per cubic meter than FCL – in some cases it can be twice as much.
• There might be possible delays at the customs, if the other shipments from your container will face any problems, such as incorrectly presented commercial documentation.
• LCL goods are can be damaged or in rare situations lost as the cargo is handled more often.

Approximate cost range of LCL cargo

LCL cost is usually calculated by volume in cubic meters (CBM). Thus, the more space your cargo occupies, the more you need to pay. Weight also influences the cost of the LCL shipping, but it is less significant for the overall cost, as container ships can handle huge amounts of weight.

Price quotations from freight forwarders end up calculating the costs of the following LCL shipment stages:

• Pickup stage – covers the cost of picking up from the place of origin.
• Origin stage — covers the services for LCL consolidation at the CFS or loading to LCL container.
• Main leg means the cost of the ocean transportation. It’s surprising, but this might not be the most expensive part of the shipping. Sometimes services at the CFS cost more as they require manpower.
• Destination stage – covers the services for unloading or deconsolidation at the place of destination.
• Delivery stage – covers the cost of trucking your goods to the destination warehouse.

You can find out how much it costs to transport LCL instantly with the Agora Freight Calculator. It is available 24/7 and provides instant quotes for your ocean shipping. Agora Freight clever algorithms, our worldwide agency network, API integrations and a simply designed interface help us give you real-time prices.
If you need to find out about additional sea freight services, contact us directly.

Samples of LCL freight quotations:

Groupage cargo transportation is a relatively fast and cost-effective way of cargo transportation.

LCL freight means that goods of varying dimensions and weights are placed in one vehicle or container for further delivery to the final destination.

The main advantages of groupage cargo delivery are:

• Customers only pay for the weight and volume that the cargo occupies in the container or truck
• Groupage delivery is not tied to a specific transport: the cargo can be moved by sea or/and rail or road
• Optimal cost of transportation positively reduces the total cost of the merchandise

An important requirement for this type of transport is the outer packing – it must be sufficient to protect the cargo during loading, carriage, unloading. Palletization is required in the vast majority of cases.

The Agora Freight system shows various routes and transit times for LCL transport according to the cargo parameters and freight quotations online.

No need to wait for responses from several forwarders to find the best deal for your LCL shipment. You can also book customs clearance and cargo insurance services online just in a few clicks.