FCL (Full Container Load)
A whole 20′ or 40′ container reserved for your cargo alone, at a fixed rate per container regardless of how full it is.
Definition
FCL (Full Container Load) is a whole container used only for your cargo: a 20′ (≈33 m³) or a 40′ (≈67 m³). A fixed rate is paid per container regardless of how full it is.
FCL is faster and safer than LCL — nobody else handles your goods and there is no consolidation stage — and it becomes worthwhile from about 15 m³.
How it works in practice
A full container pays off from 15 m³ and for heavy consignments: a 20-footer takes up to 21–22 t, a 40-footer up to 26 t with considerably more volume. Tranzit3 books the container with the shipping line, positions it at your premises for loading or stuffs it at our own terminal, lodges the EX1 export declaration for you and arranges the bill of lading.
Then come the sea crossing, release at the port of arrival and door delivery to your Russian customer by truck. Rates start from $1,800 per 20-foot container; transit is 22–32 days depending on the port of loading.
FCL: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 20′, 40′ and 40′HC containers?
A 20-footer holds about 33 m³ and up to 21–22 t of cargo — suited to heavy, compact consignments. A 40-footer holds about 67 m³, and a 40′ High Cube is 30 cm taller, giving about 76 m³ with the same weight limit of 26–27 t. For light, bulky goods HC is almost always the choice.
What is free time and why should the container be moved quickly?
The line grants a free period for using the container (usually 5–14 days). After that, demurrage is charged in the port and detention for the container outside the port — hundreds of dollars a day. That is why customs documents are prepared before the vessel arrives.
Should cargo in a container be insured?
A sea carrier’s liability is limited and calculated by weight, not by the value of the goods. For high-value cargo, all-risks insurance costs 0.1–0.3% of the value and closes the gap between the carrier’s limit and the actual loss.
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