How does consolidation work?
The forwarder collects consignments from various customers along a shared route, sorts them at the transhipment facility (the depot) and loads a lorry optimally. At the destination depot they are deconsolidated: the consignments are separated by consignee and transferred to distribution vehicles. This process typically adds 12–48 hours to the pure driving time.
Consolidation vs direct transport
Consolidated groupage transport is 30–60 % cheaper than direct transport, but 1–3 days slower. Direct runs suit time-critical or sensitive goods. For standard consignments with no tight time window, consolidated transport is the most economical choice.
LTL vs LCL: consolidation by road and sea
LTL (less than truck load) is consolidation in road transport. LCL (less than container load) is consolidation in a sea freight container. Both follow the same logic: bundling small consignments, sharing the cost and accepting longer transit times than direct transport (FTL/FCL).
