When booking space, freight forwarders often ask two questions: "Is this shipment full container or less than container?" "Are you delivering to the container yard, or should we pick it up from your door?"—These two questions are actually asking the same thing: the handover method for containerized cargo. The handover method determines at which location and by which party the container is handed over to which other party, and also determines who is responsible for stuffing, stripping, and inland transport at both ends. This article explains the four basic abbreviations, four combinations, three types of handover locations, and the division of responsibility all at once.
Four basic abbreviations
The handover method is formed by cross-combining two sets of concepts: the form of the cargo inside the container (FCL or LCL) and the handover location (container yard, container freight station, or door). Once you know the four abbreviations, the combinations later become obvious.
| Abbreviation | Full name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| FCL | Full Container Load | Full container load — the cargo in one container belongs to the same shipper |
| LCL | Less than Container Load | Less than container load — cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated in one container |
| CY | Container Yard | Container yard — an area within the terminal for storing and handing over containers |
| CFS | Container Freight Station | Container freight station — a facility for stuffing, stripping, and consolidating cargo |
Four handover methods
By pairing the cargo form inside the container with the handover locations at both ends, you get four standard notations. Before the slash is the cargo form at the origin end; after the slash is the cargo form at the destination end.
| Method | Handover point | Origin operations | Destination operations | Typical scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCL/FCL | CY-CY, Door-CY, CY-Door, Door-Door | Shipper stuffs the container itself and delivers it to the origin port container yard; if door pickup is included, the carrier arranges a truck to the factory | Consignee picks up the container at the destination port container yard and strips it itself; if delivery is included, the carrier delivers it to the consignee's factory | Direct full-container movement, the most common combination |
| FCL/LCL | CY-CFS | Shipper stuffs at the factory and delivers to the container yard | After devanning at the destination port, cargo is distributed by consignee | One shipper, multiple consignees |
| LCL/LCL | CFS-CFS | Shipper delivers to the origin port freight station for consolidation | After devanning at the destination port, cargo is distributed by consignee | Small-volume cargo exported by LCL consolidation |
| LCL/FCL | CFS-CY | Shipper delivers to the origin port freight station for consolidation | Consignee picks up as a full container | Multiple shippers, one consignee |
Three types of handover locations: CY, CFS, and Door
Terms such as "door-to-door" and "port-to-port" refer to handover locations, not handover methods. For the same FCL/FCL, different locations at the two ends mean a different handover scope, and costs and responsibilities change accordingly.
| Handover location | Full name | Location | Who hands over the container here |
|---|---|---|---|
| CY (yard) | Container Yard | Container yard within the terminal | Shipper/consignee arranges its own truck to deliver or pick up |
| CFS (station) | Container Freight Station | Freight station near the terminal or inland | Freight forwarder or carrier is responsible for stuffing and stripping |
| Door | Door / factory, warehouse | Shipper's or consignee's factory/warehouse | Carrier arranges inland truck to the door |
Therefore, the common "port-to-port" corresponds to CY-CY, "door-to-port" to Door-CY, "port-to-door" to CY-Door, and "door-to-door" to Door-Door. The difference among the four lies mainly in who arranges and pays for the collection/distribution transport at both ends (inland trucking).
Door delivery service note: International ocean and air freight are mainly port-to-port or airport-to-airport; whether trucks at both ends can go directly to the door depends on the route, destination country, and local delivery conditions, and must be confirmed per shipment; some routes can be arranged. Hong Kong/Macau dedicated lines and domestic ocean freight can directly provide door-to-door service.
Division of responsibility and transfer of risk
Once the handover method is specified, it will be written into the booking note, dock receipt, and bill of lading as the basis for allocating responsibility and collecting freight. The comparison table below explains who is responsible for stuffing, stripping, and inland transport at both ends under the four methods.
| Method | Stuffing | Stripping | Inland transport at both ends | Risk transfer point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCL/FCL | Shipper | Consignee | Shipper and consignee each responsible | Determined by the agreed handover scope, i.e., the agreed point among CY, CFS, or Door |
| FCL/LCL | Shipper | Freight forwarder or carrier | Origin end shipper and destination end carrier responsible by segment | Handover of container at origin port container yard; pick up cargo at destination port freight station |
| LCL/LCL | Freight forwarder or carrier | Freight forwarder or carrier | Both ends carrier responsible station-to-station | Handover at origin port freight station; pick up at destination port freight station |
| LCL/FCL | Freight forwarder or carrier | Consignee | Origin carrier and destination consignee responsible by segment | Handover at origin port freight station; pick up container at destination port container yard |
Note: Under FCL handover, the shipper is responsible for loading and counting the cargo inside the container, and the carrier generally handles the number of packages and contents inside the container according to the shipper's declaration. Therefore, making a good inventory count and photographic record inside the container during stuffing is the most direct evidence if a cargo damage dispute arises later. For stuffing operation standards, refer to Container Stuffing Operation Standards: Loading Sequence, Center of Gravity Control, and Securing and Lashing.
Handover methods and trade terms are two separate systems
Incoterms define the risk and cost boundaries between buyer and seller, while handover methods define the container handover between cargo owner and carrier. The two work together but cannot replace each other: the same buyer and seller can agree to trade on FOB terms while choosing CY-CY or Door-CY when booking with the carrier. In practice, treating "door-to-door" as a trade term can make it hard to identify the responsible party when a loss occurs; specifying the exact handover point on the booking note is a more prudent approach.
How to choose: three dimensions for judgment
- See whether both ends have loading/unloading conditions: If the factory has a loading dock, forklift, and stuffing capability, it can stuff the container itself and deliver it to the container yard; if conditions are not available, it is easier to have the freight station handle stuffing.
- See the number of consignees: For one shipper to multiple consignees, the destination end usually uses LCL stripping and distribution; for multiple shippers to one consignee, the origin end uses LCL consolidation.
- See trucking costs and connections at both ends: CY-CY leaves the inland leg for the shipper and consignee to arrange themselves, usually saving cost; door-to-door gives both ends to the carrier, making connections worry-free but adding more cost items.
Data note: Definitions of handover methods and handover locations cite common terminology in the international shipping industry; each carrier's scope of responsibility for cargo inside the container is subject to the bill of lading terms.
Further reading
- Container Freight Cost Composition: Breakdown of Cost Items Under Different Handover Methods: Which cost segments are included in each of the nine combinations
- The Full Container Flow Process: The Complete Lifecycle from Picking Up an Empty Container to Returning an Empty Container
- Terminal Operation Process: The Full Process of Port Entry, Storage, Loading, Unloading, and Container Pickup
- Weight Limit Regulations: Weight Limit Policies and Overweight Fees by Country/Carrier
- Container Dimensions and Specifications: Internal and External Dimensions and Weight Limits for 20GP/40GP/40HQ/45HQ
FAQ
Does FCL mean door-to-door?
No. FCL indicates that the cargo inside the container belongs to the same cargo owner and has nothing to do with where it is handed over. FCL can move CY-CY (port-to-port) or Door-Door (door-to-door), and the stuffing, stripping, and trucking arrangements at both ends are completely different. To determine whether a shipment is door-to-door, look at the handover location, not whether it is FCL or LCL.
Where does the cost difference between CY-CY and Door-Door lie?
The difference lies in the collection/distribution transport at both ends, namely the two inland trucking legs from origin to container yard and from destination port to consignee. CY-CY does not include these two legs; the shipper and consignee arrange them themselves. Door-Door includes both legs within the carrier's scope of responsibility and will price them separately. In addition, under door-to-door handover, the carrier usually needs to verify operating conditions at both ends (road access, loading/unloading equipment) and accepts the booking only after confirmation.
To confirm the handover mode, the trucking arrangement at either end or the weight limit for a specific route, submit an enquiry online and the Bofeng Logistics team will assess it against your actual cargo and trade lane.
This article was prepared by the Bofeng Logistics team and reviewed in October 2026. Handover modes, free time, weight limits and terminal practice change with carrier and terminal policy; refer to the booking confirmation, bill of lading terms and current terminal rules for specifics.
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