Ocean freight.
Full containers & shared loads.
VelFreight arranges FCL and LCL ocean freight from China, including supplier collection, warehouse preparation, export coordination and final delivery. U.S. ocean shipments use Matson regular scheduled sailings, with the actual sailing, space, routing and charges confirmed for each booking.
Get a quoteIs this the right fit?
FCL and LCL. Managed from pickup to delivery.
Full container loads
We arrange dedicated-container shipments, including equipment selection, pickup or factory loading, export coordination and delivery. We check container fit, cargo weight, loading access and unloading arrangements.
Less-than-container loads
We consolidate eligible smaller shipments into shared container space and arrange destination release and delivery. Our quote separates origin, ocean and destination charges so you can compare the complete cost.
Planned inventory & equipment
We ship stock replenishment, commercial equipment and project materials around your readiness and receiving dates. We coordinate document cut-offs, loading, clearance and the final delivery stage.
Our FCL and LCL ocean services
We handle both dedicated-container and shared-container ocean shipments. We can arrange the full journey or a defined port-to-port scope, with collection, customs and final delivery responsibilities confirmed in your quotation.
| Service request | What we check with you | What we arrange |
|---|---|---|
| FCL: a dedicated container | Container type, loading layout, cargo weight, factory access and unloading method | Equipment choice, collection or loading arrangement, sailing option and container return responsibilities |
| LCL: shared container space | Each package’s dimensions, weight, stackability and handling restrictions | Consolidation warehouse, receiving cut-off, chargeable volume or weight basis, and destination release costs |
| Port-to-port transport | Named ports, terminal responsibilities, shipper and consignee arrangements | A clearly bounded ocean service with excluded inland and customs activities identified |
| Door collection or final delivery | Full addresses, truck access, loading facilities, appointment and unloading time | Included road legs, delivery equipment and any waiting or special-access charges |
Our container quote states what we arrange before loading and after discharge. A low ocean rate alone cannot establish the cost of getting goods into the recipient’s warehouse.
What we do for your shipment
- Arrange supplier pickup, factory loading or delivery into the nominated consolidation warehouse.
- Review packing lists, invoices, cargo measurements, container fit and loading requirements.
- Book FCL or LCL carriage and coordinate export customs, shipping instructions and required weight submissions.
- Coordinate destination customs clearance, terminal release or LCL unpacking arrangements.
- Arrange final delivery and follow arrival, release, unloading and container-return milestones as applicable.
20 ft, 40 ft and high-cube container dimensions
The following are Hapag-Lloyd fleet examples. Inside dimensions describe the space; door dimensions describe the opening your packed cargo must pass through. Equipment varies by manufacturer, so check the allocated container and loading method before committing a close-fitting shipment.
| Dry container | Inside L × W × H | Door W × H | Nominal capacity | Example payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft standard | 5,900 × 2,352 × 2,395 mm | 2,340 × 2,292 mm | 33.2 m³ | 28,130 kg |
| 40 ft standard | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,395 mm | 2,340 × 2,292 mm | 67.7 m³ | 28,750 kg |
| 40 ft high cube | 12,032 × 2,350 × 2,700 mm | 2,340 × 2,597 mm | 76.3 m³ | 28,600 kg |
Source: individual Hapag-Lloyd equipment pages, checked 17 October 2026. These are equipment examples, not the permitted cargo weight for every shipment. Road, terminal, route and loading constraints can impose a lower limit.
For example, an upright crate 2,350 mm high fits below the example standard container’s internal roof but exceeds its 2,292 mm door height. Its volume is therefore not enough to prove that it can be loaded. Confirm the required clearance, handling equipment, load distribution and securing space. Cargo volume also leaves out gaps between packages and unusable space.
A practical FCL-versus-LCL comparison
Worked example: eight pallets of planned stock
Assume eight non-stackable pallets, each 120 × 100 × 140 cm and 350 kg. The shipment totals 13.44 m³ and 2,800 kg. These measurements make LCL worth assessing, but they do not establish a universal “best mode” or a fixed FCL break-even point.
Request two quotes to the same warehouse: LCL with consolidation, destination unpacking and delivery; and FCL with container loading, haulage, unloading and empty return. Confirm whether the eight pallet footprints can be loaded in the proposed container with the required clearances, and whether cargo needs side access or a specific loading sequence.
Compare total known charges, unpriced arrival items, handling stages and delivery deadlines. If only one pallet is urgently needed, price that urgent quantity separately by air or express, then evaluate the rest by ocean. Extra documents and duplicate destination costs belong in that comparison.
Use the detailed FCL and LCL comparison and arrival-cost worksheet to record the decision.
Packaging, documentation and loading requirements
- Each handling unit: final dimensions, gross weight, package number, photographs and stackability. Mark any lifting points, upright-only requirement or concentrated load.
- Protection: choose packaging for repeated handling, vibration and the cargo’s moisture sensitivity. A pallet base must support the packed load; stretch wrap does not replace restraint.
- Documents: matching commercial invoice and packing list, shipper and consignee details, goods descriptions, shipping marks and product-specific import records where applicable.
- FCL loading information: cargo layout, securing plan, container details and the verified gross mass information required for the booked movement. Confirm submission method and cut-off with the provider.
- LCL receiving: confirm warehouse booking, labels, permitted cargo, delivery appointment and whether the warehouse accepts the actual dimensions and handling needs.
See the pallet checklist and ocean cut-off planning guide.
Charges and deadlines to make visible
Separate pickup, export formalities, origin terminal or consolidation charges, ocean freight, destination handling, import formalities and final delivery. Record currency, charging unit, minimums, payer and quote validity. Duties and taxes need their own treatment.
For FCL, confirm which terminal storage, demurrage, detention and empty-return conditions apply. For LCL, confirm destination unpacking, release and storage conditions. Ask when each free period starts and ends, who books collection, and what happens if customs or the consignee is not ready. This is where a complete transport plan prevents an inexpensive freight rate from becoming an expensive arrival.
Our transparent quotation identifies the main charge lines and foreseeable exceptions, including special packing, inspection, destination-port charges, storage, truck waiting and changed delivery requirements. If measurements, the loading plan or booking conditions change, we explain the effect on scope, schedule and price and record the revised instructions.
Approved VIP customers may apply for payment after signed receipt, subject to credit approval, an agreed limit, contract and confirmed payment terms. This facility does not remove carrier, customs or terminal release conditions; we agree how third-party charges are funded before the cargo moves.
China ports and U.S. Matson sailings
We can arrange departures from the ports listed below, among other major Chinese ports. We compare the supplier’s location, inland collection, cargo-ready date, consolidation or loading plan and available sailings before selecting the origin port.
Chinese departure ports and locations
| Port | City / location |
|---|---|
| Port of Shanghai | Shanghai |
| Ningbo-Zhoushan Port | Ningbo and Zhoushan, Zhejiang |
| Port of Shenzhen | Shenzhen, Guangdong |
| Port of Guangzhou | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| Port of Qingdao | Qingdao, Shandong |
| Port of Tianjin | Tianjin |
| Port of Xiamen | Xiamen, Fujian |
The specific port, sailing, space and charges are confirmed for the shipment. These origin options do not imply that every listed port offers the same carrier product or a direct sailing to every destination.
U.S. ocean freight with Matson regular scheduled sailings
For U.S. ocean freight, VelFreight uses Matson regular scheduled sailings. The booking confirmation identifies the specific sailing, allocated space, cargo and document cut-offs, routing, transit estimate and charges. The confirmed booking identifies the Matson service and any connecting stages; direct calls depend on the booked ports.
| Decision | What we establish | Customer confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier to origin port | Pickup address, suitable vehicle or container arrangement, and road/warehouse handover before the receiving cut-off. | Cargo-ready date, loading access, package list and party responsible for loading. |
| Sailing and booked routing | Named departure and arrival points, the confirmed Matson sailing for the U.S. ocean movement and any connecting stages. | Required delivery milestone and acceptance of the actual routing, schedule assumptions and service scope. |
| FCL or LCL handling | Factory or warehouse loading for FCL; receiving, consolidation and destination unpacking for LCL. | Final dimensions, weights, stackability, packing approval and any special handling requirements. |
| Arrival to receiving address | Destination clearance coordination, release, road delivery, appointment and unloading arrangements. | Importer, duty/tax payer, final postcode, receiving equipment and access limits. |
Other countries and destinations are confirmed by route. A published sailing schedule is a planning input; available space, accepted cargo and the booked terms must still be confirmed for the order.
Supplier collection, packing and ocean release
Pickup is available across all cities in China, including Hangzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. These five locations are examples, not a limit on national pickup coverage. We confirm the specific address, appointment, vehicle, loading/unloading conditions and collection charges for each shipment.
Supplier collection can connect several factories with the same export plan. VelFreight’s own truck fleet supports eligible pickup, consolidation and short-haul connections; vehicle assignment and coverage are confirmed for the address and cargo. Warehouse support can then prepare the goods for the selected FCL or LCL movement.
| Work requested | Available operation | Release information to agree |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt and consolidation | Count arriving packages, record visible condition and photographs, identify supplier orders and temporarily store compatible goods. | Expected versus received quantities, unresolved shortages and whether to wait, split or release the ready stock. |
| Packing and reinforcement | Arrange cartons, cushioning, corner protection, pallets, wrapping, strapping, wooden crates or frames and agreed moisture protection. | Product vulnerability, support/handling requirements, material choice, destination wood-packaging requirements and the operation fee. |
| Labels and packing records | Sort or label to instructions and reconcile the final carton, pallet or crate list after repacking. | Approved shipping marks, product quantities, final dimensions, gross weights and non-stackability. |
| Battery or other special cargo | Review the exact product, packing configuration and applicable documents against the selected ocean service. | Complete technical/test records and written acceptance; acceptance for express or air does not establish ocean eligibility. |
| Loading and handover | Coordinate the approved loading method, package count, condition record and booking/document deadlines. | Named release contact, any outstanding instructions and the final loading or warehouse handover record. |
Warehouse location, available space, storage period, packing materials, operation time and charges are confirmed for the shipment. See multi-supplier collection, warehousing and reinforcement and customs coordination.
A clear path from start to finish.
Define the load & scope
We check packed volume, individual dimensions, gross weight and handling needs, then compare suitable FCL or LCL options for your collection and delivery addresses.
Book the sailing
We arrange carrier booking and confirm the proposed routing, cargo and document cut-offs, itemised charges and the applicable terminal and container free-time conditions.
Collect, clear & load
We arrange collection or warehouse receiving, coordinate export customs and documentation, and organise loading or consolidation against the confirmed booking and cargo requirements.
Release & deliver
We coordinate destination paperwork, import-clearance arrangements, cargo release and final transport. For container deliveries, we also confirm unloading and empty-return responsibilities.
Better details.
A more useful conversation.
Send us the following information so we can check the cargo, prepare the service plan and confirm the shipment-specific document requirements.
Get a quote- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Product descriptions, materials, intended use and details needed for customs classification
- Package count, gross weight, volume and individual package dimensions
- Full shipper, consignee and notify-party details
- Handling requirements, packaging information and applicable import or product certificates
Before you ship.
Can I ship less than a full container?
Yes. We arrange LCL shipments so eligible goods can share container space. Send the destination, cargo type, individual dimensions, weight and handling needs; we confirm acceptance and quote origin, ocean and destination activities for the required scope.
How do I choose between FCL and LCL?
Compare volume, total cost, handling stages, cargo characteristics and delivery needs. A full container does not have to be completely filled to be worth considering, and LCL should not be judged by the rate per cubic metre alone. Compare complete quotes for the same delivery scope.
Why must the delivery scope be explicit?
Port-to-port, door-to-port and door-to-door arrangements cover different stages. Confirm whether collection, export clearance, destination handling, import clearance, duties, taxes and delivery are included, and clarify each party's responsibilities for the actual transaction.
How can I reduce unexpected arrival charges?
Prepare customs documents before arrival, confirm collection and delivery arrangements, and check deadlines for port storage, container use and return. Rules vary by port, shipping line and service, so use the conditions confirmed for your shipment.
Your next move starts here.
From a single sample to a full container, find a way forward that fits your business.