A full container load (FCL) refers to a shipment that occupies the entire space of a container. In an FCL shipment, the shipper exclusively uses the container and pays for the whole container, regardless of whether it is fully loaded. Less-than-container load (LCL) refers to a shipment that does not require a full container. In an LCL shipment, multiple shipments from different shippers are consolidated into a single container, and each shipper pays for the space they occupy within the container.