In the system of international transportation of goods, one of the leading positions is occupied by container transportation by sea. Their main advantage lies in the ability to transport almost unlimited cargo in terms of volume, while maintaining an enviable safety record.
Features of sea transportation
Delivery of consolidated cargo is available to each client, which saves not only time, but also money. Also, during such transportation, you do not risk the goods, because the containers used for transportation provide a high level of safety.
The goods are folded into special metal boxes, which are used during loading, unloading and directly during transportation. Before shipment, the door is securely sealed, which prevents unauthorized persons from entering inside. So you don’t have to worry about the safety of your luggage, regardless of what exactly you are transporting.
Now you have a general idea of how transportation is carried out. But let’s also understand what LCL delivery and FCL are. After all, these two concepts are used most often. To choose the option that is right for you, you need to have an idea about these types of transportation.
So, when transporting FCL, you rent the entire area of the container, so only your goods will be inside. But the international delivery of groupage cargo involves the rental of only part of the container. Let’s take a closer look at these two modes of transportation to make it easier for you to make the right choice.
What is LCL transportation
This type is used when groupage cargo is transported. If you need to transport a small amount of cargo, there is no need to spend money on renting an entire container. The most rational solution would be cooperation with other customers who also have a small amount of cargo.
When consolidated cargoes are delivered, one container can be divided between two or more customers. Then each client pays only a part of cubic meters – only those that the cargo actually occupies.
So the main advantage and the reason why groupage is so popular is the significant money savings. Another plus is the ability to regularly receive goods in small batches when the need arises. So you will not spend money on storing goods in warehouses. That is why lcl transportation is so popular with medium and small businesses.
Features of FCL transportation
Now that you know what an lcl container is, let’s deal with FCL shipping. The need for such transportation arises when it is necessary to deliver goods in a large volume, when they occupy all or most of the container.
Depending on the volume of goods in question, a container of the required size is selected. Carriers, as a rule, offer customers containers of a standard size – from 20 to 40 cubic meters. So everyone can choose the optimal size of the box, which significantly saves money during transportation.
The client also saves time, because the process of unloading the container is greatly simplified, since it contains the goods of only one sender. In this regard, sending groupage cargo loses, because the analysis of boxes that contain goods from several customers takes more time.
Disadvantages of FCL and LCL transportation
We talked about the benefits of affordable modes of transportation. Now let’s discuss what disadvantages they have. This will help you make the right choice.
Firstly, in order to send a groupage cargo, you will need to take care of the correct packaging and labeling. If necessary, the goods are collected on special pallets. This prevents loss and damage to goods in transit. Naturally, proper packaging is also necessary if you choose FCL transportation, even if the container provides a high level of safety.
Secondly, when sending LCL, there is a risk of delays when clearing at customs. This is due to the fact that in one container there are cargoes of several customers at once. Therefore, in this regard, FCL transportation wins, because you save time.
But this disadvantage can also be eliminated if you cooperate with an experienced logistics company that has been working in this area for more than a year. In this case, you will save time, regardless of which type of transportation you have chosen. After all, specialists will take care of all the bureaucratic processes.
You should not deal with the choice of transportation and the organization of logistics routes on your own. After all, knowledge and skills are necessary for high-quality and safe transportation. It is better to sign a contract with a reliable company that will quickly and with a quality guarantee perform all the necessary work.
