28/10/2026
🚢📦 FCL, LCL, GROUPAGE… WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
International moving comes with its fair share of jargon — and these are three terms you're likely to hear when discussing shipping options.
So let's make them simple.
🚢 FCL — Full Container Load
You have an entire shipping container allocated to your move, usually a 20ft or 40ft container.
Typically suited to larger household moves where the volume justifies having your own container.
📦 LCL — Less than Container Load
Your belongings don't require a complete container, so you effectively pay for the space your shipment occupies within a shared freight environment.
👥 GROUPAGE — Shared Container Service
Several customers' household-goods shipments travelling towards the same destination are consolidated together into one container.
This can be particularly cost-effective for smaller and medium-sized moves because you're only paying for the space you use.
The trade-off is usually time.
A groupage container needs sufficient consignments before it can be consolidated and dispatched, so departure and transit times can be less predictable than with an exclusive-use container.
So which should you choose?
That depends on:
📏 How much you're moving
💰 Your budget
⏱️ Your timeframe
🌍 Your destination
At Worldwide Move Management, we'll explain the options without drowning you in shipping terminology — and recommend the solution that actually makes sense for your move.
🌍 Your move. Our expertise. Worldwide.