FCL describes how the container is booked, not a promise that every metre of space or kilogram of payload can be used. Safe distribution of cargo and accurate paperwork are essential.
Choose a container for the cargo
Compare 20-foot, 40-foot and high-cube equipment with both your packed dimensions and weight, not volume alone.
Cargo stuffing is a safety decision
Check the stuffing location, seal process and the identity of the party responsible for the container before it reaches the terminal.
Review free time and local costs
The shipper must arrange the verified gross mass (VGM) for applicable packed export containers in line with SOLAS requirements.
Coordinate document and physical release
Clarify free days, terminal handling, customs work, truck collection and empty-container return requirements at destination.
Questions worth checking
- Container type and size matched to cargo
- VGM responsibility assigned
- Free-time terms checked
- Release and clearance responsibilities agreed
A dedicated container does not mean unlimited payload
A factory filling a 40-foot box with dense metal components can hit payload or axle limits before using the full geometric volume. Loading must respect door geometry, restraint and declared verified gross mass.
Compare 20-foot and 40-foot equipment against weights and layout, not a single cubic-meter threshold. Identify who is responsible for packing, sealing, VGM submission, customs and empty-container return.