Container transport is the transport of a certain number of single pieces of goods into a metal box of standard specifications, using the container as the transport unit. It can be applied to ocean transport, rail transport and international multimodal transport.
Container transport can be divided into Less Than Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL). Any cargo that reaches 75% of the volume of each container or 95% of the load of each container is a full container load. Any cargo that does not meet the above full container standards must be shipped as LCL.
LCL cargo is small-ticket cargo that does not fill a full container. This type of cargo is usually collected by the carrier separately and concentrated at the container freight station or inland freight station, and then more than two tickets of goods are assembled in one container, and they must also be unpacked and delivered separately at the container freight station or inland station at the destination. For this type of cargo, the carrier has to bear the loading and unpacking operations, and the loading and unpacking costs are still charged to the shipper. The carrier’s responsibility for LCL cargo is basically the same as traditional general cargo transportation.
FCL cargo refers to the container that the shipper fills with goods and then ships in units of containers. This situation is usually adopted when the owner has enough goods to load one or several full containers. Except for some large owners who have their own containers, they usually rent certain containers from carriers or container leasing companies. After the empty container is transported to the factory or warehouse, under the supervision of customs personnel, the owner loads the goods into the container, locks it, seals it with aluminum, and then hands it over to the carrier and obtains the terminal receipt. Finally, the receipt is exchanged for the bill of lading or waybill.