Full Container Load (FCL)
What is a Full Container Load (FCL)?
A term that means that all goods in a container are listed on a single Bill of Lading and as such are owned by a single party. It does not matter how full the container is. Payment is made on the basis of a full container.
When using FCL, goods are usually loaded into the container and sealed at the warehouse or factory before being transported to the port or terminal. This method is generally considered to be more secure (because goods remain sealed until they reach the destination) and faster (because the goods don't get held up being consolidated before shipping and deconsolidated after, as is often the case with LCL shipments).
Related Terms
Less-than-container load (LCL)
Bill of Lading
Related FAQs
Related Content
Freight Consolidation
Get goods across borders, around the world and into your customers' hands more quickly.
Specialized Solutions
For trade shows, conventions or other unique events, our special services make sure it all goes smoothly.
Transportation Management
Our strength is getting your products where they need to be, when they need to be there.
Ready to Ship?
The UPS® Forwarding Hub
Our all-in-one customer portal lets you get and compare quotes, book and track shipments all on one modern, easy-to-navigate platform.
Stay Informed
Get weekly insights into all things freight and logistics, delivered right to your inbox.