FCL / LCL Loads
Full container and consolidated freight solutions for every cargo volume
Whether you are shipping enough goods to fill an entire container or need to move a smaller consignment cost-effectively, ICExpress offers both Full Container Load (FCL) and Less-than-Container Load (LCL) solutions. We tailor the approach to your cargo volume, budget and timeline, ensuring you never pay for space you do not use.
Full Container Load (FCL)
What is FCL?
A Full Container Load means the entire container is exclusively allocated to your cargo. No other shipper’s goods share the space. The container is sealed at your premises (or our depot) and remains sealed until it reaches the destination, providing maximum security and reduced handling.
20ft Container
Internal dimensions approximately 5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m. Suitable for heavier, denser cargo up to approximately 28,000KG. Ideal for machinery, raw materials and dense packaged goods.
40ft Container
Internal dimensions approximately 12.0m x 2.35m x 2.39m. Double the length of a 20ft unit. Perfect for voluminous cargo, furniture, large equipment and high-volume stock transfers.
40ft High Cube
Same footprint as a standard 40ft with an extra 30cm of height (approximately 2.69m internal). Ideal for lightweight, bulky items that need the additional vertical clearance.
Advantages of FCL
- Exclusive use — Your cargo travels alone, eliminating cross-contamination and reducing damage risk.
- Reduced handling — The container is loaded once and offloaded once, minimising touchpoints.
- Security — Containers are sealed with tamper-evident seals for the duration of transit.
- Cost-effective at volume — When you have enough cargo to fill (or nearly fill) a container, FCL is typically more economical per unit than LCL.
Less-than-Container Load (LCL)
What is LCL?
Less-than-Container Load allows you to share container space with other shippers. You pay only for the volume your cargo occupies — measured in cubic metres (CBM) — rather than for an entire container. This makes LCL the ideal solution when your consignment is too large for parcel courier but not enough to justify a full container.
Advantages of LCL
- Pay for what you use — Charges are based on the actual volume (CBM) or weight of your cargo, whichever is greater.
- Lower minimum cost — Ship smaller consignments without the expense of reserving an entire container.
- Regular sailings — LCL consolidation services operate on fixed schedules to major trade routes.
- Scalable — As your shipment volumes grow, you can easily transition from LCL to FCL.
FCL vs LCL: Which is Right for You?
Choose FCL when: your cargo fills at least half a container, you need maximum security and minimal handling, or your goods are sensitive to contamination from co-loaded freight.
Choose LCL when: your consignment is below 15 CBM, you want to manage cash flow by paying only for space used, or you are shipping trial orders or samples.
Road Freight Consolidation
For domestic consignments that fall between parcel size and a full truckload, our Economy Road Freight service offers consolidated road transport at competitive rates. This is the inland equivalent of LCL — your goods share vehicle space with other consignments heading to the same region.
Request an FCL or LCL Quote
Share your cargo details and destination, and our freight team will recommend the most cost-effective loading option for your consignment.
Get a Quote Contact Us