What are the drawbacks of a full container?

1. High cost:
Full container transportation usually requires the shipper to pay for the entire container, regardless of whether the container is fully utilized. This has led to high transportation costs, especially for small batches of goods or small volume enterprises, which may become a huge burden. In contrast, LCL transportation allows multiple shippers to share a container, thereby sharing transportation costs.
2. Not suitable for small-scale freight transportation:
Full container transportation is more suitable for large-scale cargo transportation, and may not be cost-effective for small-scale cargo transportation. Small scale cargo transportation is more suitable for choosing LCL transportation, which can better meet the needs of small businesses or individual operators while reducing transportation costs.
3. Insufficient flexibility:
Once the container is loaded, it is usually necessary to wait until the destination before unpacking, which may in some cases affect the timely delivery of the goods. In contrast, LCL transportation is more flexible as goods can be unloaded midway to meet the more urgent needs of customers.
4. Environmental impact:
Full container transportation usually uses large cargo ships and container ships, which consume a large amount of fuel and cause a certain degree of environmental pollution. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, this has become an increasingly concerned issue. In contrast, LCL transportation can better optimize transportation routes, reduce the use of air freight and large ships, and have relatively less impact on the environment.
5. Time uncertainty:
The schedule of FCL transportation may be affected by various factors, including weather, vessel maintenance, port congestion, etc. This may lead to a delay in the arrival of goods at the destination, especially for goods with strict delivery deadlines, which may be an undeniable defect.
6. Highly dependent on transportation companies:
Full container transportation usually requires arrangements through professional international transportation companies, which increases the dependence of shippers on these companies to a certain extent. If there are problems with the transportation company, such as strikes, bankruptcy, or decreased service quality, the shipper may be directly affected.
7. Risk management:
Due to the involvement of larger scale goods trade in FCL transportation, there may be more risks during the transportation process. Goods may be damaged, lost, or stolen during transportation, and shippers need to invest more resources to manage these risks, such as purchasing insurance.
8. Combat trade diversity:
Full container transportation typically involves long-distance international trade, which may make it difficult for some small or developing economies to participate in global supply chains. This may lead to challenges in trade diversity in some regions, exacerbating global trade imbalances.