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Stability and certainty mattersTrust in our end-to-end LCL shipping services
In ocean freight forwarding, LCL (or Less-than-Container Load) is a method of shipping goods by sea for customers and shippers who do not have enough stock to make up a full-container load (FCL). LCL is commonly used by a wide variety of customers who have small shipments from many origins and/or to many destinations that cannot be consolidated due to lead time requirements. It is also used to reduce inventory costs or meet seasonal market demands where the shipment sizes vary. With LCL shipping, our customers can enjoy this flexibility without paying a premium for the speed of airfreight. This reduces costs associated with waiting for enough stock to fill an FCL, and on the mode of transportation.
When shipping with LCL, costs are calculated per CBM (cubic metre) or tonne for the actual shipment. The freight forwarder then consolidates this LCL shipment, along with many other LCL shipments onto a full container. This is sometimes done with different consignees to maximise container utilisation.
Comprehensive LCL ocean freight solutions
Do you have many suppliers, each of them shipping LCL? Consider the benefits from our Buyer’s Consolidation (BCN) service. Through our global network of ocean freight forwarding experts, we offer our consolidation services to help you with cost-effective and efficient cargo movements.
Our other ocean capabilities include Vessel Charter, Breakbulk Solutions and Intermodal and Multimodal Solutions. We offer flexible service for all types of container equipment, including dry-box, open top, flat rack, reefer (refrigerated), Flexitank and Isotank.
Global end-to-end LCL services
TVS SCS has a dedicated freight forwarding network with local offices and expertise in key logistics hubs and markets around the world in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Oceania and India. We have weekly consolidations and sailings between main trade lanes, allowing us to offer you reliable and consistent LCL shipments.
We go the extra mile for you and offer value-add warehousing services such as container unpacking, palletising, storage, and more. This ensures our customers experience a simplified, single touchpoint with end-to-end service coverage. More importantly, by shipping with our LCL consolidations, your goods are handled exclusively by us, creating a quicker wharf to warehouse turnaround. LCL shipping allows goods to move on a more flexible schedule, providing greater agility to reduce warehouse and storage costs.
From local pickup at origin to delivery at the destination, you have full visibility of the movement of your goods via e-Connect, our online tracking platform 24/7.
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1300
Global forwarding professionals
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45
Global forwarding operating locations
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140K+
TEU p.a. ocean freight volume
More benefits of shipping LCL with TVS SCS:
- Speed - Boost your speed-to-market while maintaining cost control
- Frequency - Weekly LCL shipment consolidations between main trade lanes in key markets
- Agile - Multiple weekly sailings for shorter routes for even more agile solutions
- Alternative to Air - The perfect solution for when your goods are too big and heavy for airfreight
- Inventory management - Improve product availability to end customers through flexible sailing options
- Global footprint - Our own offices and staff in key logistics hubs and markets
- In control - We control both consolidation and de-consolidation at origin and destination
- Quicker turnaround - Fewer days from the wharf to the warehouse with our own CFS service
- Compliant - Dedicated in-house licensed customs clearance brokers to help avoid costly delays
- Multi-modal - Combine ocean and airfreight services to reduce transit times further while still maintaining affordability
- Peak season - Space protection – relationships with Tier 1 carriers
Why TVS SCS?
Years Of Excellence In Trading And Technology
Pivotal Supply Chain Solutions To Top Companies In The World
Warehouse Space, Labour & Technology Anywhere It’s Needed
Customised Solutions With AI Integrations And Machine Learning
FAQs
Does TVS Supply Chain Solutions offer LCL shipping in all geographies where you have offices?
We have 45 dedicated freight forwarding offices in 15 countries, and work with trusted and reliable agents across the world to deliver global freight forwarding capabilities.
How do you determine LCL rates?
There are many variables, such as the type of commodity, size and weight of the LCL shipment. Generally, the rates are quoted based on dimension, but can also be based on weight if the shipment is heavier than 1 metric tonne/CBM.
Do you provide LCL shipping for both import and export from your offices?
We offer comprehensive freight forwarding and management services. Not only can we handle your import and export needs, but we also provide customs clearance and other freight solutions.
What is consolidation in LCL shipping?
To offer our customers competitive pricing and efficient freight forwarding, we group several smaller consignments (deliveries), sometimes from multiple different customers, into a larger consignment. Not only does it create efficiency in space utilisation, but it also gives us the ability to leverage much better pricing from the carriers on behalf of our customers.
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