Now, according to the current international practice of shipping container business, the following is a brief introduction by CIMC Equilink's supply chain team on the specific steps of international container cargo packing and handover.

1. Container Cargo Packing Method

According to the number and method of container cargo, it can be divided into two types: FCL and LCL.

International container cargo packing and handover methods

(1) FullContainerLoad (FCL). It refers to the container that is consigned in box units after the cargo party has filled the whole box with the goods by itself. This situation is usually adopted when the cargo owner has enough sources of goods to load one or several full containers. Except for some large cargo owners who have their own containers, they generally rent certain containers from the carrier or container leasing company. After the empty box is transported to the factory or warehouse, under the supervision of customs officers, the owner will put the goods into the box, lock and aluminum seal the goods, and then hand them over to the carrier and obtain the station receipt. Finally, the receipt is exchanged for the bill of lading or the waybill.

Customers who buy our container floors(shipping container floor) generally have a large demand, and they are shipped more in FullContainerLoad.

(2) LessThanContainerLoad(LCL). It means that after the carrier (or agent) accepts the small-ticket freight consigned by the consignor whose quantity is less than the whole container, it is classified according to the nature of the goods and the destination. Consolidate the goods to the same destination into a certain number and pack them into boxes. Because there are goods from different owners in one box, it is called LCL. This situation is used when the consignor's consignment is insufficient to fill the whole box. The classification, arrangement, concentration, packing (unpacking), and delivery of LCL cargo are all carried out at the carrier's terminal container freight station or inland container transfer station. We have some Australian customers who often buy container parts such as container corner castings , container locking device, lashing equipment , twist Lock , container corner post，container cross member etc. in small quantities in multiple batches. These customers are in different regions of the same country, so the LessThanContainerLoad is more common.

2. Container Cargo Delivery Method

As mentioned above, container freight is divided into two types: FCL and LCL, so the handover methods are also different. Looking at the current international practices, there are roughly the following four categories:

(1) FCL delivery, FCL pick up (FCL/FCL)

International container cargo packing and handover methods

The owner of the cargo delivers the full container to the carrier at the factory or warehouse, and the consignee receives the same full container at the destination. In other words, the carrier is responsible for handover on a FCL basis. The packing and unpacking of the goods are the responsibility of the seller. 

(2) LCL delivery and unpacking (LCL/LCL)

The consignor will hand over the consignment goods with less than FCL to the carrier at the container freight station or inland transfer station, and the carrier will be responsible for LCL and packing (Stuffing, Vanning) to the destination freight station or inland transfer station, The carrier is responsible for unpacking (Unstuffing, Devantting), and after unpacking, the consignee will receive the goods with a receipt. The packing and unpacking of the goods are the responsibility of the carrier.

(3) FCL delivery, unpacking (FCL/LCL)

The owner delivers the full container to the carrier at the factory or warehouse. After the carrier is responsible for unpacking at the destination container freight station or inland transfer station, each consignee will receive the goods with a receipt.

(4) LCL delivery, FCL delivery (LCL/FCL)

The cargo owner will hand over the small-ticket consignment less than the full container to the carrier at the container freight station or the inland transfer station. Classified and adjusted by the carrier, the goods of the same consignee are assembled into a whole box, and after being transported to the destination, the carrier will deliver it in a full box, and the consignee will receive it in a full box.

Summary: From the above various handover methods, it can be seen that FCL delivery and FCL delivery have the best effect, and can also give full play to the advantages of containers, so that the goods can arrive at the destination intact.

If you are looking for container parts or shipping containers for sale ,or you just have questions about container declaration and transportation, please visit us by email（info.equilink@cimc.com）or submit a quick quote.