Start with the packing profile
Record total CBM, gross weight, longest package, stackability and loading restrictions. FCL uses a dedicated container; LCL shares container space with other shipments. Volume is one input: unusual dimensions or fragile packing may change which arrangements are feasible.
Compare the same endpoints
Request both options from the same collection point to the same handover point. Itemise origin handling, main transport, destination handling and final delivery. A lower main-freight figure is not enough to choose if local charges or unloading remain outside the proposal.
Map handling and release stages
For LCL, ask where consolidation and destination separation take place and who confirms cargo availability. For FCL, establish container collection, unloading and return arrangements. Request the applicable free-time and additional-charge terms in writing; do not infer them from a sailing estimate.
Make a shipment-specific decision
Compare total scope, handling exposure and delivery requirements alongside price. There is no universal CBM threshold that makes FCL cheaper. If stock is urgent, ask whether a partial dispatch and a later consolidated shipment are worth comparing before committing all orders.
Apply this to your shipment
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE
Two shipments have the same CBM, but one contains stackable cartons and the other contains long, fragile crates. They may need different handling and loading plans. Send the largest package dimensions, weight and stacking limits with the total volume. Compare feasible options on complete service scope rather than choosing from CBM alone.
Check before the next step
- Declare non-stackable, fragile or oversized packages before comparison.
- Separate origin, international and destination charges in each proposal.
- Ask what happens if the final measured shipment differs from the estimate.
Terms in plain language
- CBM / cubic metre
- A unit of volume. One cubic metre is a cube measuring one metre on each side; it is not a weight or a price.
- Service scope
- The tasks and endpoints explicitly included in a proposal. Name the party responsible for anything excluded.
NEXT STEP
Ocean freight
FCL or LCL. A sea freight plan built around your volume, destination and delivery priorities.
