Combining many small shipments into one container or air pallet.
Freight forwarders consolidate LCL cargo from several shippers to fill a container, then separate it at destination (deconsolidation).
Related terms
- LCL — Less than container load: your cargo shares a container with other shippers.
- CFS — Container freight station: a facility where LCL cargo is packed into and unpacked from containers.
- NVOCC — Non-vessel-operating common carrier: a company that sells container shipping without owning ships.