LCL Consolidation Services
What is freight consolidation?
Consolidation combines multiple smaller shipments into a single container for ocean transport. Instead of each shipper paying for an underutilised dedicated box, the costs are shared across several cargo owners — and everyone pays only for the space they use.
Holo Cargo offers both self-consolidation (we build our own consolidated loads from customer bookings) and co-loading (we place your cargo into partner consolidator containers). You get the cost benefit either way.
How consolidation works
Self-consolidation
When Holo has enough volume on a trade lane, we consolidate multiple customers' LCL shipments into our own FCL container. Your cargo moves as part of a Holo-controlled box, which means:
- Tighter cargo control and handling standards
- Faster CFS processing because we manage the stuff-and-strip
- Cost allocation by CBM, weight/measure, or manual override for special cargo
Co-loading
When self-consolidation volume isn't available on a specific lane or departure, Holo places your cargo with a trusted consolidator partner. The economics are the same — you pay per CBM — but the container is co-managed.
Cost allocation methods
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| By CBM | Each shipper pays their proportional volume share | Standard carton/pallet cargo |
| By weight/measure (W/M) | Greater of volumetric or actual weight per tonne | Mixed density loads |
| Manual | Fixed allocation agreed at booking | Special or project cargo |
For most standard LCL shipments, CBM is the simplest and most transparent allocation method.
CFS: the consolidation hub
All LCL moves pass through a Container Freight Station (CFS) — a bonded warehouse at the port where cargo is stuffed into (origin CFS) and stripped out of (destination CFS) containers. CFS fees appear as a line item in your LCL quote. Holo's operators manage the CFS handoff at both ends.
When consolidation saves money
Consolidation is most cost-effective when:
- Your shipment is under 10–15 CBM — below this threshold, LCL consolidation beats FCL every time
- You ship frequently in small batches — book as cargo is ready rather than staging for a full container
- You're cost-sensitive on transit time — LCL adds a few days for CFS handling but is significantly cheaper per CBM than FCL at low volumes
For volumes that regularly exceed 15 CBM, a dedicated FCL container typically offers better per-unit economics and skips the CFS step.
Related services
- LCL ocean freight — per-CBM pricing, CFS charges, and transit times
- FCL ocean freight — when a dedicated box beats consolidation
- Special cargo — consolidation for temperature-controlled or sensitive cargo