Ocean or overseas shipping can be used for all types of cargo. This includes commercial and industrial materials, as well as personal goods such as, furniture, house goods, and automobiles. Container size, weight, necessary documentation, and transportation to and from the port of entry determine rates. Contact our Freight Agent at FreightForwarding.com to initiate your rate quote for your specific cargo.

Less Than Container Load is Known as LCL

This is a method of shipping when you do not have enough cargo to utilize a complete container. Your cargo will be shipped in one (1) container with other people's shipments. It is a shared space. You must pay attention to the packaging of your goods for this method since it will be handled in the consolidation warehouse for packing of the container. The weight and dimensions of your shipment are necessary as ocean pricing is based on volume (per cubic meter/or cubic foot, not to exceed 45 pounds per square foot). Weight and classification is used to figure the trucking transportation to the port. The cargo is then taken to a consolidation warehouse to ready for departure.

Full Container Load is Known as FCL

This is a method of shipping when you have enough cargo to utilize the complete container. Even though you have a full container load, 45 pounds per square foot up to a maximum of 40,000 pounds is per container, must be followed. You cannot load a container at a port. You will incur an intermodal trucking charge to you to have a container brought to where you can load your cargo and the driver will wait until you have packed the container. Usually you have 2 to 3 hours to load your cargo and then it is returned to the port for shipping. There are other arrangements that can be made for packing and your Freight Agent at FreightForwarding.com can consult with you regarding this aspect.

The advantage of being able to use a full container load (FCL) is that the container is sealed after you finish loading and no one will touch your cargo until you reopen it at it's destination. Customs is the only one who might open the container to inspect for clearance. The originator of the cargo is responsible to know that the cargo can be legally accepted and taxes have to be paid at that appropriate destination.

General Information For Decision Making

The most common containers used in ocean freight are the 20 foot and 40 foot standard containers. They are used for shipping by road and by ocean. The standard container is used because they can be easily stacked. These containers offer the lowest cost to business and the consumer in shipping large quantities or high weight content cargo. The interior dimensions of each 20 foot or 40 foot container is:

20-ft standard container: 19'5" long x 7'8" wide x 7'9" high

40-ft standard container: 39'6" long x 7'8" wide x 7'9" high

"All services are affected by weather and the ability of the carrier to perform their duty."