You’ve found a supplier in China, approved the product sample, and are ready to place your order and arrange to ship to Nigeria. But what if the goods you need to order are too small to fit into a shipping container?
Fortunately, SEND has launched a new shipping service to address this issue: Less than Container Load (LCL) shipping
What is LCL?
LCL refers to a shipment that does not fit inside a typical 20 or 40ft container. Instead, the container is loaded with cargo from multiple consignees. When the products arrive at the destination port, they are sorted for distribution to the consignees.
What is scheduled LCL?
This is a Less than container load service that departs at a fixed schedule and is not dependent on how full the container is.
How does your LCL shipping work?
Your shipments are combined into a container with the shipments of other consignees. This means you are able to make smaller shipments at a lower cost than paying for a whole container or using air freight.
LCL also allows you to send shipments whenever you need to, rather than waiting until you have enough goods to fill an entire container (Full Container Load).
What are the benefits of the scheduled LCL service to my business?
The scheduled LCL offers many benefits;
- Reliability & Predictability
- No customs delay
- Predictability in your supply chain
- Fixed pricing
- A technology platform that allows full tracking and visibility of your shipments
- Option to take delivery from the warehouse or have first/last-mile transportation
When does the Scheduled LCL start?
Our scheduled LCL shipping service will be launched on the 3rd of April with imports from China to Nigeria. Exports will also be launched at the beginning of April.
How much does the scheduled LCL cost?
Our scheduled LCL cost is calculated primarily by volume, in cubic meters (CBM). The more space you need, the more you pay.
Visit app.trysend.com/guest-quote to receive an instant LCL quote.
How often will the vessel depart?
For Imports, vessels will depart twice a month on Fridays.
For Exports, vessels will depart monthly on the last Friday of every month.
How can I book LCL?
You can book all your LCL shipments by visiting www.trysend.com
How will my goods be routed?
For Imports, routing is via Shenzhen to Lagos ports (Apapa/Tin-can)
For Exports, routing is from Lagos ports (Apapa/Tin-can) to Houston
How can I keep track of my cargo while in transit?
You can keep track of cargo via tracking updates on your SEND dashboard, visit www.trysend.com to get started.
What is the transit time for LCL?
Transit time from China to Nigeria is +/- 30 days
Transit time from Nigeria to USA is +/- 30 days
How do I ensure I meet the schedule?
To meet the schedule, all cargo has to be at the warehouse at least 7 days before the targeted departure date. The shipments will leave at the scheduled date whether or not they are full, hence it is critical to stick to this timeline.
Any cargo received after this deadline will be moved to the next scheduled departure.
What documents are required from me?
- Parking list
- Commercial Invoice
- MSDS / Test Report/Certificate of ocean freight transportation (Dangerous goods)
Are there any exceptions to the type of Cargo that can be shipped?
The following cargo are exempted from ;
- Refrigerated products
- Perishables
- Dangerous Cargo and Chemicals
- Contraband products for the target markets
I am interested, how do I contact SEND?
If you need to speak to us about shipping, you can easily reach out to us via
Email:care@send.ng
Telephone:+234 909 862 0543
