I�m looking for someone to share a container with to import goods from China. I would assume a shared container load, also known as a less than container load (LCL) is the best option for what I want to do. Who can help me get an LCL?

LCL is nothing but to load two or more shippers cargo in one container which is called less than container load for every shipper and Bill of Lading issued by Forwarding Agents to the shipper per shipment basis. So the container may have two or more shipment in the container which is called Less than Container load.

There are a lot of companies and agents that would be glad to help you out. One that I have used in the past and who has great shipping rates is UPS, as it has a service dedicated to LCL shipping that is professional and offers good prices.

Can you describe in more detail what UPS offers so I can compare?

UPS probably provides most of the services that other companies provide, but of course with differences. For one, it is a well known international company with over 1,000 facilities worldwide. Besides, the fact that UPS cargo ships sail quickly, their ships will reliably deliver your goods on schedule.

Here are the particular services UPS offers:

1. Pick up of goods at a Container Freight Station.
2. Packing of goods with similar goods from other customers in a freight container.
3. Issuance of a house bill of lading.
4. Shipment.
5. Unpacking of goods at destination and release to a certified person.

So, after UPS drops off my goods, would I have to hire a customs agent to make sure the goods get into the country without problems?

You could do that, or you simply could sign up for UPS to do it. You can hire a UPS customs broker to manage the clearance of your goods once they have been shipped.

Some other special services UPS offers that come in handy are:

● Transporting of goods to the CFS for packing.
● Freight insurance through UPS Capital.
● Transportation of shipment and delivery to a certified person after the goods have been unpacked at the destination.
● Supplier Management to manage vendors and goods before being shipped.

I am a little wary of sharing a container with goods from other companies. For example, my goods could accidentally get mixed with another company’s goods.

It is highly unlikely that your goods will get mixed with another company’s goods. Goods are packed together in a freight container, but are separated within the container. The only issue you may face is, if the company’s goods you are sharing the container with do not pass through customs. Then, the entire container has to be sent back.

That being said, I am all in favor of using LCL to ship goods. There are so many times when you may have to ship goods right away, but you don’t have enough goods to ship to fill an entire freight container. LCL is cost effective and fast.

I think it is good idea that if we can share the container charges with some one else who is also interested in importing or exporting the good to and from the specific destination.I am also an importer and import different good from China from time to time and the shipping charges are so high that the profit margin become very little after selling of the merchandise.