Freight from the USA

Shipping Goods from the USA utilizing LCL freight

What Is LCL (Less than Container Load)?

If you plan to export merchandise from the USA but don't have enough to fill an entire container, consolidated ocean freight, short for Less Than Container Load, is one of the most practical and cost-effective logistics options available. It's designed for shippers who need to move cargo overseas without the high cost of booking an entire container.

With shared container shipping, you share space on a 40-foot container ship with other exporters. You only pay for the volume your load occupies, which can significantly reduce your total export costs. You can use our online ocean freight calculator to obtain accurate pricing for moving inventory from the United States.

In the context of maritime logistics, this partial load method means your items are:

Consolidated at a Container Freight Station (CFS)—a warehouse that operates under U.S. Customs supervision.
Your cargo is grouped with consignments from other customers.
It is loaded into a 40-foot container and dispatched overseas.
After being transported via a global carrier, the container is unpacked at a destination CFS, deconsolidated, and the merchandise is ready for release to the recipients (consignees).

This process is managed by a licensed NVOCC or international shipping company, a U.S. Freight Forwarder, that coordinates every step until your consignment departs from the United States. It's a professional solution used by both businesses and individuals who want to transport a load overseas without the full-container expense.

If you don't have enough volume to justify a 40-foot dry van, shared freight service is an innovative, reliable, and cost-effective option for transit. It allows you to benefit from the same sea transport infrastructure used by large-volume shippers at a fraction of the cost, making it ideal for anyone seeking cost-effective overseas delivery handled by an experienced logistics provider.

When Should You Consider Using LCL?

If you're planning to send commercial goods or move household goods and personal items from the USA overseas, consolidated shipping can be a cost-effective export option, especially if you want to avoid the costs of hiring a full-service international moving company.

Many customers considering overseas inventory transport ask: What are the pros and cons of using shared container space? While there are various methods of overseas delivery, this section focuses on sea freight logistics.

One of the first questions to consider is:

Is your shipment too small or too large for LCL?

Generally, this transport method is suitable for items larger than 0.2 to 0.3 cubic meters (approximately 7 to 10 cubic feet). If you're sending just a few small boxes, it may be better to use a parcel service like USPS, FedEx, or DHL, which is designed for packages and envelopes.

Not sure what a cubic meter looks like? It can be hard to visualize. That's why we recommend checking out the video or the picture below, which shows how many typical boxes, both small and large, can fit into one cubic meter. Seeing that space in context can help you estimate whether shared ocean freight is suitable for your cargo.

The picture below shows how many small and large boxes fit into one cubic meter.

Another common question is:

How much does it cost per pound or kilo?

The answer might surprise you: Ocean freight rates are not based on weight. When you self-deliver your load to a sea carrier's terminal (CFS), the international transport cost is based entirely on volume, not weight.

Consolidated cargo rates are calculated based on the volume, measured in cubic meters or feet. This means the weight of your consignment usually doesn't matter, unless it's exceptionally heavy or dense. That said, there is always a minimum charge, typically equal to the price to dispatch one cubic meter (roughly 35 cubic feet).

What if your shipment is significantly larger?

If your shipment can fill an entire 20- or 40-foot container, you may want to explore FCL (Full Container Load). However, please note that FCL entails additional responsibilities. The exporter is fully responsible for loading and securing all items in the container, as well as for handling the pickup and return of the container at both the origin and the destination.

In fact, steamship lines place strict rules on every stage of an FCL booking—container pickup, loading, transport, delivery, and timely return. Missing any deadline can lead to penalties, which are the consignor's responsibility.

Unless you're experienced in maritime logistics, even shipments of 20-25 cubic meters may be a better fit for Less-than-Container Load services. In those cases, you're better off working with a professional company that can handle consolidation and coordination for you, without the stress and cost of full-container operations.

So, before committing to FCL, take a moment to reassess your cargo volume. If your shipment falls below full-container levels, shared shipping may still be the more cost-effective export option, especially when shipping goods from the U.S. with a reliable global cargo provider.

Let's examine the benefits of this service for shippers.

LCL is an affordable international shipping solution.

If your load fits within a shared container, the transit cost is significantly lower than for other worldwide transportation modes.

If you dispatch from the United States in boxes, crates, or pallets and share the container with other exporters, you pay only for the space occupied by the merchandise, not for the entire container. It is significantly less expensive than sending a complete vessel unit.

Since vessels are not limited by weight but by the volume capacity of ships, then, as already mentioned above, for the overall volume, general commodities are calculated, and sea freight rates. In other words, with consolidated cargo, you may ignore the weight of the load. Maritime rates are typically based on the overall volume in cubic meters or cubic feet.

With LCL, you may save on U.S. domestic transportation. You can self-deliver your load to a seaport carrier's (CFS) terminal. All your cargo may easily fit into a rented truck. In this case, you eliminate all delivery expenses to the CFS. The costs of inland hauling within the United States are relatively high. Suppose you order a pickup for further international transit. In that case, the cost of delivery to a CFS may even exceed the price of the ocean freight in your total export cost.

LCL offers a more convenient and flexible way to ship cargo from the U.S. compared to other modes of transportation.

When you deliver your loose boxes to an ocean carrier terminal (CFS), you can request that the CFS properly palletize and shrink-wrap all or part of your items into one or more skids. Palletizing your boxes at the CFS ensures your merchandise is safe for global transit. Handling small boxes during delivery is more convenient than handling heavy pallets. You may request that CFS palletize small boxes and transport larger items loose. By separating large items from pallets, you can reduce your total transport costs by minimizing the chargeable volume related to palletizing.

If your load fits into a 40-foot container that forklifts can handle, you can export boxes, crates, and pallets of any size or shape. If you send freight from the U.S. with consolidated ocean service, then pay attention to the internal dimensions of a standard 40-foot dry container, which are: Length - 39'5" = 12 meters, Width - 7'5" = 2.35 meters, Height - 7'10" = 2.39 meters.

If you are involved in global trade, you must consider restrictions on wood packaging materials (ISPM 15). Cardboard boxes comply with the ISPM15 regulations. Then you can pack and ship your goods in cardboard boxes purchased from Walmart, U-Haul, Office Depot, etc. You may shop around for heavy-duty cardboard boxes to protect your commodities. For ocean-going transit from the USA, we recommend heavy-duty cardboard boxes, but they are not required. You will palletize your boxes on ISPM15-certified or plastic pallets.

Suppose you deliver your loose cardboard boxes to a CFS. In that case, the CFS should properly palletize and shrink-wrap the boxes for the fee of $35-50 per pallet, including the cost of certified pallets. Use this opportunity. Do not palletize boxes by yourself. Just deliver the easy-to-move boxes to the CFS and leave the palletizing to professionals. In addition to the fact that loose boxes are much easier to handle, the most important thing is that you're shifting all responsibility for ISPM15 compliance to the CFS company. Your shipment should not encounter any ISPM 15-related issues during maritime transit from the U.S. to the destination. Suppose you ship cargo to Oceania, particularly to Australia or New Zealand. In that case, you must read about fumigation requirements for exporting from the USA to Australia and New Zealand.

ISPM15 pallets

However, there are restrictions on LCL. Certain conditions apply to all freight, regardless of mode of global cargo transportation, while others are specific to the LCL service.

These are the most common restrictions in LCL that shippers should be aware of:

Avoid food products, wine, or drugs. Exporting food products from the United States, including wine, liquor, pharmaceuticals, edible animal byproducts, and supplements, is subject to special regulations in the U.S. and destination countries. Violations of such rules may result in detention, confiscation, or destruction. Additionally, it may result in fines and even criminal charges. Consigners and consignees are responsible for providing proper documentation, permits, and any other necessary information. The consigner and consignee cover all incurred costs.

To simplify the process, when packing your goods for transportation from the U.S., avoid including any items considered dangerous or prohibited when sending a parcel to your local USPS office. Just stay away from the following items:

Perishable food products and alcohol
Live animals, plants, and seeds
Any medicines and drugs
Dangerous and Hazardous Goods are restricted and subject to approval and special procedures.
Aerosols and liquids
Cash, Money orders, credit, and debit cards
Passports and other confidential documents
Valuable jewelry, art, and antiques
Weapons of all kinds
Sipping Dangerous and Hazardous goods is restricted and subject to approval and special procedures.

If you pack in used boxes, remove all labels and markings, especially those indicating dangerous goods or hazardous materials.

With LCL, you cannot ship motor vehicles requiring DMV registration.

We continuously review inquiries to send various types of motor vehicles overseas from the USA by LCL. Unfortunately, any motorized vehicle requiring DMV (U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles) registration, such as automobiles, motorcycles, mopeds, ATVs, jet skis, etc., cannot ship from the USA with LCL. This is because U.S. Customs does not recognize ocean carriers' container freight stations (CFS) as examination sites for motor vehicle inspections.

If you want to ship a motorized vehicle from the States overseas by sea, you should consider exporting it in a 20- or 40-foot container (FCL) or by RO-RO, but not by LCL.

However, with LCL, you can pack and ship any vehicle that does not require DMV registration, such as mini choppers, snowmobiles, golf carts, self-propelled wheelchairs, specialized construction equipment, specialized mobile equipment, and forklifts. Always check with the DMV before shipping any vehicle from the USA overseas, regardless of the mode of transport.

Fortunately, any legal motor parts can be shipped from the United States using less-than-container-load (LCL). The typical exception is the export of used tires from the USA.

If you ship from the U.S., motor parts containing fluids (such as engines and gas tanks) must be completely drained. Large and heavy pieces must be crated or securely attached to pallets.

Remember: if your shipment contains a battery (including a dry battery), the entire load may be classified as dangerous goods. Additional documentation for dangerous goods is required, and hazardous surcharges will apply. Transportation of dangerous goods requires approval when booking. The shipper should be aware of any additional requirements and charges before scheduling an international shipment from the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About LCL

1. What is LCL freight?

LCL (Less than Container Load) allows multiple shippers to share space in a single container. It’s a cost-effective solution for businesses and individuals who don't have enough goods to fill a full container, making it a wise choice for affordable international shipping.

2. How does LCL reduce prices?

With LCL, you pay only for the space your load occupies, not the entire container. This results in a significantly lower price compared to booking a full container, especially for smaller shipments.

3. Is LCL commonly used?

Most global transportation companies that ship goods by sea offer LCL services. It’s one of the most popular methods for delivering small to medium-sized loads overseas, whether commercial commodities or household goods.

4. When is LCL the most affordable international shipping option?

LCL is the most affordable international transportation option when your total cargo volume is less than 15 cubic meters. Instead of paying for unused space in a full container, you split the container with others and pay only for your share.

5. What factors affect the price of LCL shipments?

Several factors influence your international shipping costs for LCL shipments, including the shipment's overall chargeable volume, the destination port, and the services requested (e.g., pickup or delivery options).

6. Are there size limits for LCL shipments with global shipping companies?

Most international shipping companies accept LCL shipments up to a particular volume or weight before recommending a full container (FCL). Booking a full container may be more economical if your cargo is 15–18 cubic meters.