Container Consolidation Explained: How LCL Cargo Groupage Works

Container consolidation — also called LCL (less than container load) or groupage — is the practice of combining shipments from multiple customers into a single shared container. You pay only for the cubic meters you use.

When consolidation makes sense

If your shipment is between 1 and 15 cubic meters, consolidation is almost always cheaper than renting an empty 20ft container (33 CBM capacity). Common use cases: a single vehicle, a few pallets of inventory, diaspora household effects, or one room of furniture.

1. You book space on our next consolidation departure to your destination. 2. You drop off or we pick up your cargo at our Montreal warehouse. 3. We photograph, weigh and label everything, then issue a receipt. 4. On the container closing date, we load all customers' cargo into a single container with proper bracing. 5. The container sails on the next vessel. 6. On arrival, our destination partner clears the goods and notifies each customer for pickup or delivery.

Consolidation is billed per cubic meter (CBM) or per revenue ton (whichever is greater). Typical rates from Montreal to West Africa: CAD 250-450 per CBM, plus destination charges (USD 80-200 per CBM).

Consolidation transit times are slightly longer than FCL because you wait for the container to fill. We publish container closing dates in advance so you can plan. The cost savings — typically 50-70% versus renting an empty container — usually outweigh the extra week.

If you are planning to ship to Africa, VELOX Logistics offers full container shipping, cargo consolidation, vehicle export and warehousing from Montreal. Contact us today on WhatsApp at +1 514-718-0282 or request a free quote.