TGF Service
LCL Shipping Thailand
Less than Container Load ocean freight — shared container space billed by volume, ideal for smaller shipments.
Quick Answer
LCL (Less than Container Load) lets a shipper book only the volume they need in a container shared with other shippers' cargo, consolidated at an origin CFS (container freight station) and deconsolidated at destination. It's priced by CBM (cubic meter) rather than by the whole container, which makes it cost-efficient for shipments too small to justify a full container. The tradeoff is more handling touchpoints — cargo is loaded, consolidated, transported, then deconsolidated and sorted again at destination — which adds time compared to FCL and slightly increases the chance of handling damage or delay while waiting for other shippers' cargo to arrive at the CFS. TGF calculates chargeable CBM, finds consolidation options that match the shipper's timeline, and manages the CFS-to-final-delivery handoff.
Ideal For
- Small-volume shippers
- Businesses testing a new supplier or market with lower volume
- Buyers who order frequently in smaller batches
- Startups or SMEs not yet at full-container volume
Features
- CBM-based pricing with transparent calculation
- CFS consolidation/deconsolidation coordination
- Shared-container schedule matching
- Palletization/crating advice for shared handling
- Cargo insurance guidance for shared containers
How It Works
How It Works
- 1
Cargo volume/CBM assessment
Cargo dimensions are measured to calculate chargeable CBM.
- 2
CFS booking & consolidation schedule
A consolidation slot matching the shipper's timeline is booked.
- 3
Cargo delivery to CFS
Cargo is delivered to the container freight station for consolidation.
- 4
Consolidation & vessel loading
Cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated into a shared container and loaded onto the vessel.
- 5
Arrival, deconsolidation & final delivery
The shared container is unloaded, cargo is deconsolidated and sorted, then delivered to each consignee.
Documents
Documents
Commercial Invoice
Packing List
House Bill of Lading
Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
CFS receiving note
Cost Factors
- CBM (volume), or chargeable weight if cargo is dense
- CFS handling charges at both ends
- Consolidation schedule/frequency on the chosen route
- Packaging type — palletized cargo may be priced differently than loose cartons
Risks to Plan Around
- Delays waiting for a consolidation to fill before departure
- Handling damage from more touchpoints than FCL
- Miscalculated CBM leading to invoice disputes
- Cargo mixing or mislabeling risk in a shared container if packaging/marking is inadequate
Frequently Asked Questions
How is LCL priced compared to FCL?
LCL is priced by the volume (CBM) actually used, while FCL is priced for the whole container regardless of how full it is — LCL is typically more cost-efficient below a certain volume threshold.
How is CBM calculated?
CBM is calculated from a cargo's length, width, and height in meters, multiplied together — TGF's CBM calculator tool can help estimate this before booking.
Why does LCL take longer than FCL?
LCL cargo waits for a consolidation to fill before departure, and goes through extra deconsolidation and sorting steps at destination, both of which add time compared to a sealed FCL container.
Is LCL riskier for fragile or high-value cargo?
LCL involves more handling touchpoints than FCL, so packaging and cargo insurance are worth considering more carefully for fragile or high-value items moving via LCL.
Freight Forwarder Thailand
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