Cargo Sizes
What’s the difference between FCL and LCL? What cargo dimensions do I need for my shipment?
FCL (full container load) refers to one or more containers booked to transport your cargo. This service is commonly used when you have enough cargo to fill the whole container, making it cost effective. The most standard size equipment for moving cargo are 20′ and 40′ containers.
A 20′ container holds a volume of 33 cubic meters (1,172 cubic feet), and a cargo of up to 24,000 kg (52,910 lbs).
A 40′ container holds a volume of 67 cubic meters (2,350 cubic feet), and a cargo of up to 30,480 kg (67,200 lbs).
A 40′ High Cube (HC) container is somewhat taller vertically than a typical 40′, and holds a volume of 76 cubic meters (2,694 cubic feet), and a cargo of up to 32,500 kg (71,650 lbs).
You may find this picture helpful for estimating dimensions, volume, and capacity:
We are here to help guide you through the shipping process. If you have any questions, such as whether a container is the right choice for your shipment, please feel free to reach out to us.
LCL (less than container load) allows you to send only a few pallets in a container by combining your cargo with others going to the same destination. This enables you to send smaller volumes of cargo without having to pay for a full container.
Similar to LCL is Air Freight, which tends to be more expensive, but much faster. Unlike LCL, the chargeable weight of air freight is based on the greater of actual weight or volume weight (the cubic inches of the whole cargo, divided by 166).
RoRo (roll on, roll off) is a cargo service specifically for wheeled cargo. If your vehicle is too big for a container, we can have your vehicle driven directly onto the vessel. This is often the case for ambulances or school busses, which usually do not fit in containers.
To ship RoRo vehicles, we need to know the year, make and model of the vehicle, as well as its dimensions and weight.
If none of the above work for your shipment, we can help you find a non-standard solution. This may include barging or even chartering a vessel. As these shipments are almost always individualized and specific, we’d be happy to talk one-on-one about your specific cargo.
Reach out to us today!