TGF Service
FCL Shipping Thailand
Full Container Load ocean freight — one shipper, one sealed container, no cargo sharing.
Quick Answer
FCL (Full Container Load) means a shipper books an entire container — commonly a 20-foot or 40-foot standard, or a 40-foot high-cube — and it is sealed at the point of loading and not opened again until it reaches the consignee, unless customs selects it for inspection. Because the container isn't shared, FCL avoids the consolidation and deconsolidation steps that LCL requires, generally meaning fewer handling touchpoints and lower risk of damage or mix-up. FCL tends to make economic sense once cargo volume is large enough to reasonably fill a container; below that threshold, LCL or a part-container arrangement is usually more cost-efficient. TGF helps shippers decide which container size fits their cargo, books space with ocean carriers, and coordinates loading, unloading, and the trucking leg on both ends.
Ideal For
- Full or near-full container cargo volumes
- Cargo needing exclusive handling with no consolidation
- Sensitive or high-value goods where shared containers add risk
- Regular shippers with recurring volume
Features
- Container size guidance — 20ft, 40ft, or 40ft high-cube
- Carrier rate comparison
- Container tracking
- Seal verification support
- Dedicated loading and unloading coordination
How It Works
How It Works
- 1
Cargo volume & container size assessment
Cargo dimensions and volume are reviewed to recommend the right container size.
- 2
Carrier & schedule booking
Space is booked with the selected ocean carrier.
- 3
Container delivery for loading
An empty container is delivered to the shipper's facility, or cargo is trucked to the port for loading.
- 4
Port handling & vessel loading
The sealed container moves through port handling and is loaded onto the vessel.
- 5
Arrival & final delivery
The container is unloaded, cleared through customs, and trucked to final delivery.
Documents
Documents
Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading
Container/seal number confirmation
Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
Cost Factors
- Container size selected
- Whether cargo underutilizes the container's capacity
- Origin and destination port handling charges
- Cost of positioning the empty container to the loading point
- Carrier surcharges
Risks to Plan Around
- Choosing a container size that leaves significant unused capacity
- Overloading a container beyond safe or legal weight limits
- Seal integrity issues in transit
- Demurrage or detention charges from delays in returning containers
Frequently Asked Questions
What container sizes are typically available?
The common standard sizes are 20-foot, 40-foot, and 40-foot high-cube, with the right choice depending on cargo volume, weight, and how it stacks or palletizes.
What happens if my cargo doesn't fill the container?
The shipper still pays for the full container booked, so it's worth comparing against LCL if cargo volume is well below a container's capacity.
What is demurrage and detention?
These are charges applied when a container isn't picked up from the port or returned to the carrier within the allowed free time — worth planning pickup/return logistics around to avoid.
Can multiple cargo types share one FCL container?
Yes, as long as it belongs to the same shipper and consignee and is compatible for co-loading — for example, not mixing goods that require different handling or temperature conditions.
Freight Forwarder Thailand
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