When shipping goods using LCL, how are loads managed?

When shipping goods using Less than Container Load (LCL), the primary method of managing loads involves combining individual shipments from multiple shippers into a single shipping container. This process allows multiple small shipments to collectively fill a container efficiently, optimizing space and reducing costs for each sender. It is particularly beneficial for businesses that do not have enough goods to fill a full container but still need an economical way to ship their products internationally.

In contrast, other options do not align with the LCL shipping method. Full container shipments pertain to Full Container Load (FCL) arrangements, where one shipper sends enough cargo to fill an entire container. Air freight is typically more expensive than ocean freight and does not generally involve LCL practices, while the requirement for a specific ship size does not pertain to LCL since the shipments are consolidated in a container rather than depending on the size of the vessel. Thus, combining goods from several suppliers is the essence of LCL management.