LCL shipping: why 'cheap' often costs you more (and the fix)

How exactly does an LCL shipment work?

With an LCL shipment, you share container space with other importers. Your goods are combined with other shipments at a warehouse (Container Freight Station) (consolidation), shipped, and split apart again on arrival (deconsolidation).

This process is efficient, but comes with two specific risks:

1. Extra handling: A full container (Full Container Load or FCL) only goes through two handling moments. An LCL shipment goes through at least double that. Rock-solid packaging, such as a sturdy pallet or crate, isn't a nice-to-have here, it's your best insurance against damage.
2. Shared risk: Is there one shipment in the container with incorrect documentation? Then there's a real chance customs holds up the entire container. Your perfectly prepared cargo can get stuck because of someone else's mistake, resulting in delays and unexpected storage costs.

You don't avoid these risks, you manage them. And that starts with the cost structure.

Costs and pitfalls of LCL freight

With LCL freight, you only pay for the space you take up. The price is calculated based on weight or volume (Weight/Measurement). The forwarder uses whichever is higher, following the rule of thumb: 1 CBM (cubic meter) = 1,000 kg.

Example: a shipment of 2 CBM weighing 500 kg. Volume is the determining factor here, so you pay for 2 CBM.

The real pitfall, however, isn't in the calculation, but in the Incoterm. Importers regularly choose CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) because the supplier's quote looks temptingly low. Often, only the bare sea freight costs are advertised.

A little later, you notice that nothing is as it seems. As soon as the container arrives, your supplier's local agent presents a hefty bill for handling. At that point, you have no negotiating position and are at the mercy of sky-high rates just to get your goods released. Your 'cheap' LCL shipment has suddenly become very expensive.

Choose certainty with FOB

A solution that's as simple as it is effective: choose the Incoterm FOB (Free On Board). With FOB, your supplier arranges transport to the port of departure. As soon as the goods are on board the vessel, you take over.

You choose your own forwarder, you negotiate the sea freight and local costs in the Netherlands, and that means you stay in control. The result? No financial surprises on arrival. You get an all-in rate from port to door, protecting your own margin.

Transparency in practice: Through Cargoplot, you book an all-in rate based on FOB. No hidden costs, no ambiguity. Even our margin is right there for you to see.

Turn LCL into your competitive advantage

An LCL shipment is the ideal solution for volumes between 2 and 20 CBM. The complexity isn't a reason to avoid it, but a reason to choose a smart partner. A partner that offsets the inherent risks for you with technology and radical transparency.

Stop gambling on your logistics. Turn a logistical challenge into a strategic advantage.