How do I know if my goods are FCL or LCL?

1, Understand the basic concepts of FCL and LCL cargo
Firstly, we need to clarify the basic concepts of FCL and LCL. Full container load, as the name suggests, refers to a container that only contains goods from the same shipper, which are loaded, sealed, and transported to the destination by the shipper themselves. LCL cargo refers to goods from different shippers being loaded into the same container, and logistics companies are responsible for the classification, loading, transportation, transit, unpacking, and distribution of the goods.
2, Judgment basis 1: Quantity and volume of goods
The most direct way to determine whether the goods are FCL or LCL is based on the quantity and volume of the goods. If the quantity and volume of the goods are large enough to fill or approach the capacity of a standard container (usually 20 feet or 40 feet), then these goods are usually considered as full container cargo. On the contrary, if the quantity and volume of the goods are small enough to fill a single container, then these goods need to be transported together with other goods in a consolidated container.
3, Judgment criterion 2: shipper's demand and budget
In addition to the quantity and volume of the goods themselves, the shipper's needs and budget are also important factors in determining whether the goods are FCL or LCL. If shippers pursue higher transportation efficiency and lower damage rates, and have sufficient budget, they may choose full container shipping. Because full container transportation can reduce the number of transfers and loading/unloading of goods during transportation, and lower the risk of damage to the goods. If the shipper's budget is limited or the quantity of goods is small, they may choose LCL shipping to reduce costs.
4, Communication and consultation with logistics service providers
In practical operation, many shippers may not have the professional knowledge to directly determine whether the goods are FCL or LCL. At this point, they can obtain accurate judgment results through communication and consultation with logistics service providers. Logistics service providers usually have rich transportation experience and professional knowledge, and can provide suitable transportation solutions based on the specific situation of the goods and the needs of the shipper. When communicating with logistics service providers, shippers should provide detailed information about the goods (such as quantity, volume, weight, size, etc.) as well as transportation requirements (such as time, cost, safety, etc.), so that logistics service providers can provide accurate judgments and recommendations.
5, Consider transportation costs and efficiency
When determining whether the goods are FCL or LCL, it is also necessary to consider transportation costs and efficiency comprehensively. Although full container transportation can provide better transportation efficiency and lower damage rates, the cost is usually relatively high. Although LCL transportation has lower costs, it may face problems such as multiple transfers, long transportation times, and easy damage to goods. Therefore, the shipper needs to weigh the relationship between transportation costs and efficiency based on their actual situation and needs, and make a reasonable choice.
6, Case analysis and practical experience
In order to better understand how to determine whether goods are FCL or LCL, we can refer to some practical cases and experience. For example, a foreign trade enterprise plans to export a batch of goods abroad. After communicating and consulting with logistics service providers, they learned that the quantity and volume of this batch of goods are sufficient to fill a 20 foot container, and they pursue higher transportation efficiency and lower damage rates. Therefore, they ultimately chose the full container transportation method. However, another small enterprise chose LCL transportation to reduce costs due to limited cargo volume and budget.