What is LCL?

Less than container load (LCL) shipments are an ocean transportation solution for sellers shipping a quantity of cargo smaller than what would fit in a 20’ container. The seller (or their representative Shipper) delivers cargo to an origin consolidation warehouse, also known as a container freight station or CFS. The origin warehouse team measures and weighs the cargo, then loads it into a container with other sellers’ cargo to ship to a Walmart fulfillment center together.

How it works

WCB’s LCL program currently supports shipping from Yantian, China, with more ports being added in the future. Here’s how to ship LCL with Walmart Cross Border: 

1 - Enroll in Walmart Cross Border Imports

Enrollment is the same process whether you will be sending LCL or FCL shipments. Review all the steps in this Walmart Cross Border - Imports: How to enroll guide.

2 - Walmart's designated customs broker

You may choose to use your own customs broker, but customs broker service fees are included for every LCL shipment when using Walmart’s designated broker. Using Walmart’s designated broker allows you to get updates on customs clearance status right in Seller Center.

Select sellers can use Walmart’s duty outlay service through Walmart’s designated broker. The duty outlay service covers the cost of customs clearance duties, taxes and fees at the point of customs clearance for a 2% service fee. Find more information about using duty outlay in the Walmart Cross Border – Imports: Duty outlay service Marketplace Learn guide.

3 - Estimate price and book a shipment

Most of the process for getting a price estimate and adding items to your inbound order is the same for LCL and FCL shipments. However, there are a few differences when shipping LCL vs. FCL. 

We suggest first reviewing the general process for FCL shipments in the Walmart Cross Border - Imports: Estimate pricing and book a shipment guide if you haven’t already. Then, review what’s different when shipping LCL. 

LCL-specific details: 

• Booking timeline
• We recommend that you book at least 15 calendar days before vessel departure.

• Estimated price

• For LCL shipments your estimate for a shipment is based on the weight or volume of the cargo. Make sure you add the most accurate weight and volume you can when booking your shipment in Seller Center. The actual final cost will be provided when your inventory is weighed and measured at the origin consolidation warehouse, also known as a container freight station (CFS), before shipping. 

• Charge calculation

• Minimum charge: The minimum charge is 1 cubic meter (cbm).

• Charge rate calculation: Your LCL charge is based on whichever is greater, weight or volume. This is shown as "Weight or measure" on your Negotiated Rate Arrangement (NRA). Remember that your final cost is determined after the origin warehouse confirms your cargo’s weight and volume. If your cargo’s confirmed weight or volume differs from the amount provided during booking by more or less than the minimum charge unit, your cargo may be repriced using the other measurement. 

• Communication

• You will receive the same emails and notifications as you would with FCL.  Additionally, you will receive for LCL:

• An email for cargo drop-off appointment coordination.

• An email from the origin consolidation warehouse, if the measurements differ from what you provided during booking, to confirm the cargo weight and volume measurements. You must confirm these weight and volume measurements via email reply before we load your cargo. 

4 - Shipping charges

Shipping charges incurred by both FCL and LCL can be found in the Walmart Cross Border - Imports: Shipping charges, billing and payment  guide. LCL shipments are subject to the same charges applied in the same way as FCL, EXCEPT for the following differences.

LCL-specific shipping charges: 

In the case of any differences, this chart supersedes the fee charts in Walmart Cross Border - Imports: Shipping charges, billing and payment for all LCL shipments. 

5 - Prepare your shipment

Learn how to prepare your inventory for shipment in the Walmart Cross Border - Imports: Prepare an international inbound shipment guide. 

What’s different for LCL:

• Hazmat, regulated goods and dangerous goods are not currently permitted to ship via LCL. Seller Center will not allow you to add hazmat or regulated items to an LCL shipment.
• The maximum weight and volume for LCL shipments is 20,000 kg and 65 cbm. However, if your inventory is likely to fill more than half the container, FCL may offer a better rate. 
• Regardless of whether you are using Walmart’s designated broker or your own broker, you must upload your Commercial Invoice (CI) in Seller Center for any LCL booking within 24 hours of cargo drop-off at the origin consolidation warehouse.
• We collect the CI on behalf of our destination operator in case they must transport an LCL container on a bonded truck to a bonded warehouse for deconsolidation.
• To upload, go to the Shipments page and select the International tab to find your LCL booking. Select the three dots, then select Documents, then upload the CI. Not providing this document on time could result in shipment delays and additional costs. 

6 - Deliver your cargo

FCL shippers deliver containers directly to the port, but the cargo delivery process is different for an LCL shipment. 

LCL-specific delivery process: 

1. The shipper delivers the cargo to the origin consolidation warehouse, also known as a container freight station (CFS). 

2. The origin team weighs and measures the cargo. 

3. You’ll receive an email directly from the CFS if there are any discrepancies beyond the minimum charge unit between the weight or volume provided at booking and the measured weight or volume. 

4. The origin CFS team packs your goods into the container and delivers the container to the port. 

5. From here, the transit, tracking, destination activity, WFS receiving, and billing are the same as FCL. The typical estimated delivery time is 39 days for an LCL shipment. That includes 15 days from booking date to departure from origin, 16-18 days on the water, 7 days from the port of discharge to arrival at a WFS fulfillment center.

7 - Edit or cancel your shipment

After submitting your inbound order, you will receive a confirmed cargo drop-off range based on your requested cargo drop-off date.  

• You may edit your involved parties within 24 hours of booking submission. 

• You may edit your items to send or cargo details until 1 day before your cargo drop-off date. 

If you need to edit or cancel your shipment after the cargo drop-off date, select the Help button in the Seller Center menu bar to contact Support. Rather than describing your issue, select Issue categories, then select these links: Walmart Cross Border > Walmart Imports. After selecting your specific issue category from the Walmart Imports list, select Get in touch with us.

Reasons to use LCL shipments

• Test a new product. Start with a smaller order to gauge customer interest. 

• Ship a small amount of a different size item than you normally ship. For example, you could ship bed frames with FCL but want to include several boxes of bedsheets as an LCL shipment.

• Save money over typical air freight costs.