FCL Ocean Freight Shipping
What is FCL ocean freight?
FCL (Full Container Load) means your cargo occupies a dedicated shipping container from origin to destination. You pay for the whole box regardless of how much you fill it — in exchange you get lower per-unit rates, faster port handling, and no co-loading risk. FCL is the right choice for shipments above roughly 15 CBM or 10 tonnes, and for any cargo that can't share a container (hazmat, high-value, perishable).
At Holo Cargo, FCL quotes come back fast. Our AI-assisted operations team keeps pricing sharp and errors rare — with a named operator owning every shipment from booking to delivery.
Container types and specifications
| 20GP — 20ft General Purpose | Max 28,200 kg | 33.2 CBM |
|---|---|
| 40GP — 40ft General Purpose | Max 28,750 kg | 67.7 CBM |
| 40HC — 40ft High Cube | Max 28,600 kg | 76.4 CBM |
| 45HC — 45ft High Cube | Max 27,600 kg | 86.0 CBM |
| 20RF — 20ft Reefer | Max 27,400 kg | 28.3 CBM |
| 40RF — 40ft Reefer | Max 29,100 kg | 59.3 CBM |
| 20OT — 20ft Open Top | Max 28,100 kg | 32.5 CBM |
| 40OT — 40ft Open Top | Max 28,600 kg | 66.7 CBM |
| 20FR — 20ft Flat Rack | Max 28,200 kg | 32.7 CBM |
| 40FR — 40ft Flat Rack | Max 28,400 kg | 62.4 CBM |
Need reefer, open-top, or flat-rack? See special cargo for temperature-controlled, out-of-gauge, and hazmat moves.
What's included in an FCL quote
Every Holo FCL quote is itemised across three sections — origin, ocean, and destination — so you know exactly what you're paying for:
| Section | Charge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean | OFR — Ocean Freight Rate | Per-container, the main freight cost |
| Ocean | BAF — Bunker Adjustment Factor | Fuel surcharge, varies by trade lane |
| Origin/Destination | THC — Terminal Handling Charge | Port terminal fee, both ends |
| Origin/Destination | BL Fee | Bill of Lading issuance |
| Origin/Destination | VGM | Verified Gross Mass certification |
Customs brokerage, inland drayage, and cargo insurance are quoted separately. See customs brokerage and cargo insurance.
Indicative transit times
Transit times are indicative and confirmed at booking.
| Route distance | Typical ocean transit |
|---|---|
| Short-haul (less than 2,000 km) | ~7 days |
| Medium (less than 8,000 km) | ~21 days |
| Long (less than 16,000 km) | ~35 days |
| Ultra-long | up to ~45 days |
When FCL beats LCL
- Volume above 15 CBM — per-unit cost drops below LCL consolidation fees
- Weight-sensitive cargo — no weight/measure arbitrage; you own the box
- Time-sensitive shipments — FCL skips the CFS consolidation step
- Security and compliance — no co-loading means no third-party contamination risk
- Fragile or high-value goods — less handling, less risk
For smaller shipments, LCL ocean freight shares a container with other shippers and bills per CBM — often cheaper under 10–12 CBM.
Move types supported
Holo Cargo offers FCL on all four move types: door-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-door, and port-to-port. The right choice depends on your Incoterm — see Incoterms explained for who covers which leg.
Popular FCL lanes
Indicative distance, transit, and routing for high-volume corridors: Shanghai → Los Angeles, Shenzhen → Hamburg, Ningbo → Long Beach. Browse the full coverage network or change the ports in any lane URL.