LCL Transport
Sea groupage freight. For companies shipping smaller volumes that do not need a whole container - you pay only for the space you use.
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LCL (Less than Container Load) is a form of sea freight in which the cargo occupies part of a container shared with other shippers. The charge is calculated on the occupied volume or weight - whichever is greater. Cartrag organises LCL transport for imports from Asia and exports to North America - from booking space in a consolidation container, through consolidation at the origin port and deconsolidation in Gdynia, to domestic delivery to the final address. Over 100 countries served, a dedicated forwarding contact for every shipment.
When LCL pays off - sea groupage, LCL vs FCL
LCL transport pays off when:
- The consignment does not fill a whole container - for loads below approx. 12 tonnes or approx. 15 m³.
- The company needs regular, smaller deliveries - more frequent smaller shipments instead of one large container once a quarter.
- Delivery deadlines are flexible - consolidation at the origin port and deconsolidation at the destination port extend transit compared to FCL.
- The cargo does not require a dedicated container - the goods can travel alongside other consignments without risk of damage or contamination.
Unlike FCL, LCL transport has its limitations - longer transit times and more handling operations - which Cartrag points out at the quoting stage when LCL is not the best choice for a given cargo.
LCL vs FCL comparison
| Criteria | LCL (groupage) | FCL (full container) |
|---|---|---|
| Consignment size | Smaller lots that do not fill a container (approx. below 12 t / 15 m³) | Larger volumes, cargo filling the container |
| Delivery time | Longer - consolidation and deconsolidation are added | Shorter and more predictable |
| Shared cargo | Container shared with other consignments | None - a single shipment only |
| Cost | Charge for the occupied volume (m³) | Flat rate per container |
| Handling operations and damage risk | More handling operations: consolidation, deconsolidation, warehouse transfers | Fewer transhipments, cargo in one container from loading to unloading |
| Flexibility and delivery regularity | Frequent smaller shipments possible without gathering a full container | A full container only cost-effective at sufficient volume |
| When to choose | Small lots, no time pressure, low sensitivity to shared cargo, need for regular deliveries | Full consignment, sensitive cargo, urgent delivery, need for full control of the container |
LCL, i.e. sea groupage, works well for smaller lots for which hiring a full container (FCL) would be uneconomical.
Cargo consolidation in LCL
Consolidation in LCL transport means combining cargo from different shippers in one sea container. An economical solution, but it requires understanding a few constraints.
- Each shipment gets its own House B/L number - tracked and collected individually, despite the shared container.
- The goods must reach the consolidation warehouse (CFS) at the origin port 5-7 business days before the vessel's departure (cut-off) - being late means the next sailing.
- Documentation delays by another shipper do not hold up collection of the remaining cargo after deconsolidation.
What cannot be consolidated in LCL
Not all cargo suits groupage transport. Excluded from consolidation are:
- dangerous goods (ADR classes)
- out-of-gauge cargo (OOG)
- cargo with a special customs status
- particularly sensitive goods (FCL recommended)
How much LCL costs - the weight/measure charge
The LCL freight rate is calculated on a weight/measure (W/M) basis - the greater of two values: the actual weight of the cargo in tonnes or the volume in cubic metres (CBM), at a conversion of 1 m³ = 1,000 kg.
Examples
| Cargo | Weight / volume | Freight basis |
|---|---|---|
| Steel bearings | 1.8 t / 0.8 m³ | 1.8 W/M (weight wins) |
| Clothing in cartons | 0.4 t / 3.2 m³ | 3.2 W/M (volume wins) |
| Wooden furniture | 2.5 t / 2.5 m³ | 2.5 W/M (equal) |
In groupage transport the freight rate is quoted per W/M unit. The greater of the two values is used to calculate freight - the actual weight in tonnes or the volume in cubic metres.
What affects the price
- Cargo volume or weight: the greater of the two under the W/M rule.
- Route: origin port, destination port, availability of consolidation services.
- Fuel and currency surcharges: variable depending on market conditions.
- Port and warehouse charges: consolidation at the origin port, deconsolidation in Gdynia.
- Customs clearance and domestic delivery: when the client orders full door-to-door handling from Cartrag.
How long LCL transport from China to Poland takes
LCL transport from China to Gdańsk or Gdynia usually takes 45-60 days from delivery of the cargo to the consolidation warehouse to collection after deconsolidation in Poland - on average 10-15 days longer than full container (FCL) transport on the same route. The difference comes from two additional operations: consolidation at the origin port (cut-off before sailing) and deconsolidation at the destination port.
LCL import to Gdańsk / Gdynia
| Route | LCL transit time |
|---|---|
| China - Shanghai → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~45-60 days |
| China - Ningbo → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~45-60 days |
| China - Shenzhen / Yantian → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~47-57 days |
| China - Qingdao → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~48-58 days |
| Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~50-60 days |
| Malaysia - Port Klang → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~48-58 days |
| Singapore → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~47-57 days |
| Korea - Busan → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~50-60 days |
| India - Nhava Sheva / Mundra → Gdańsk / Gdynia | ~43-53 days |
LCL export from Gdańsk / Gdynia
| Route | LCL transit time |
|---|---|
| Gdańsk/Gdynia → USA (New York / Newark) | ~35-45 days |
| Gdańsk/Gdynia → Canada (Montreal) | ~37-47 days |
Cartrag confirms the specific transit time with each enquiry - it depends on the consolidator's current schedule, the season and the situation in the ports. For clients with regular deliveries, Cartrag reserves space on regular consolidation services, which shortens the cut-off and provides date predictability.
What makes up LCL transit time (door-to-CFS in Gdynia, three phases)
- Cut-off and consolidation at the origin port: 5-7 business days to deliver the cargo to the CFS, complete the container and load it.
- Sea voyage: from approx. 28 days (India) to approx. 45 days (Korea) depending on the route.
- Deconsolidation and clearance at the port: 2-4 days of deconsolidation + 7-10 days of formalities and customs clearance.
FCL transit time on the same routes is 10-15 days shorter.
Consolidators and carriers in LCL transport
In LCL transport Cartrag works with two groups of partners: LCL operators (consolidators) who run CFS warehouses and compose consolidation containers, and carriers who perform the sea voyage.
LCL operators
Cartrag works with proven operators serving the ports of Gdańsk and Gdynia:
- ECU Worldwide - world leader in LCL consolidation, present in Gdynia since 2005.
- Vanguard Logistics - own team in the Port of Gdynia, global network.
- Shipco Transport - strong presence on Asian routes.
Carriers
Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE (Ocean Network Express), Evergreen, COSCO, Yang Ming, HMM. For niche routes Cartrag also cooperates with regional intra-Asia carriers.
Cartrag selects the specific operator and carrier for the route and schedule. The client receives this information at the quoting stage along with cut-off and departure dates.
How to order LCL transport
Ordering LCL transport takes five steps - from submitting cargo data to delivery to the consignee's address.
- Enquiry - dimensions and weight of each pallet or carton, origin port, delivery address, deadline.
- Quote - free and non-binding, within 4-6 business hours of submitting pallet dimensions and weight.
- Booking - space reservation in a consolidation container with an LCL operator, cut-off set at the origin port.
- Transport and tracking - delivery of cargo to the CFS, consolidation, voyage, deconsolidation in Gdynia. The client receives status at every stage.
- Door-to-door delivery - customs clearance in Gdynia and domestic transport to the indicated address.
The whole process is supervised by a dedicated forwarding contact - from first contact to delivery to the address. All Cartrag forwarding services are provided under the Polish General Forwarding Conditions 2022 (OPWS 2022).
Industries Cartrag serves in LCL transport
LCL transport handles smaller lots of goods from industries typical of global supply chains - electronics, home appliances, clothing, furniture, cosmetics, e-commerce, spare parts. Cartrag organises sea groupage for companies importing from Asia and exporting to North America.
- Home appliances and household equipment
- Consumer electronics
- Clothing and textiles
- Furniture and interior furnishings
- E-commerce and small commercial imports
- Spare parts and accessories
- FMCG and cosmetics
LCL FAQ - documents, customs, insurance
The basic documents for LCL import are: commercial invoice (issued by the seller, with a description of the goods, quantity, price and Incoterms), packing list (with dimensions and weight of each pallet/carton), House B/L (forwarder's bill of lading, issued by the LCL operator), certificate of origin (if required for customs preferences) and the customs declaration (prepared during port clearance). Cartrag coordinates the preparation of documentation and carries out customs clearance as part of a single process.
Yes, but to a limited extent. The LCL operator's liability insurance usually covers damage up to the freight value, not the cargo value. For full protection Cartrag recommends additional cargo insurance - especially for valuable or sensitive goods. Cartrag helps select a policy adequate to the risk of a given transport.
A Master B/L is a bill of lading issued by the carrier for the whole consolidation container. A House B/L is a bill of lading issued by the LCL operator for a single shipment in the container. In LCL transport the client receives the House B/L as the document identifying their cargo - the Master B/L is an internal document between the operator and the carrier.
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are international rules determining who - seller or buyer - is responsible for transport, insurance, customs clearance and the risk of cargo loss at each stage. In LCL transport, five variants are most common:
| Term | Meaning | Who is responsible for transport |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Ex Works - collection from the seller's warehouse | Buyer - from the moment of collection |
| FOB | Free On Board - loaded on the vessel at the port of departure | Buyer - from loading on the vessel |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance & Freight - freight and insurance to the destination port | Seller - sea freight and insurance; buyer - from unloading |
| DAP | Delivered At Place - delivered to the indicated location | Seller - to the place of delivery (excluding import clearance) |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid - delivered with duty paid | Seller - all transport, clearance and duty |
The choice depends on the scope of responsibility the seller wants to take versus the buyer. Cartrag advises which variant fits a given transaction.
The minimum freight charge in LCL is usually 1 W/M (1 tonne or 1 m³). Below that, the rate is still charged as 1 W/M. LCL pays off from just a few cartons, but for very small shipments (up to 50-100 kg) an air courier is worth considering.
Yes. Cartrag handles both one-off shipments and ongoing cooperation - no minimum volume above 1 W/M and no long-term contract required to start.
In LCL transport each shipment is cleared separately, based on its individual House B/L. Documentation delays by one shipper do not hold up collection of the remaining cargo after deconsolidation.
Cartrag coordinates customs clearance as part of one transport process - from booking, through document preparation, to declaration and duty settlement. The client can also designate their own customs agency - in that case Cartrag hands over the documents once the container arrives.
LCL is cheaper but slower: 45-60 days door-to-door from China vs 5-7 days by air courier. A courier pays off for very small shipments (up to 50-100 kg) or when time matters more than cost. LCL works for lots from a few cartons to a few pallets, where the price difference versus a courier is significant.
YOUR LCL CONTACT
Kasia | forwarding at Cartrag
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