Less than Container Load (LCL) refers to a small ocean freight shipment where the shipper does not contract for a full container since the quantity of shipment is not adequate to contract for a full container.
A freight forwarder may create a “consolidation” by putting together multiple LCL shipments at a CFS (container freight station) before gating in at the CY (container yard) at the origin, and deconsolidation at the destination.
