1. Four Key Terms
| Abbreviation | Full Term | Meaning |
| FCL | Full Container Load | Cargo inside one container belongs entirely to a single shipper |
| LCL | Less than Container Load | Cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated inside one container |
| CY | Container Yard | A facility within a terminal for storing and handing over containers |
| CFS | Container Freight Station | A facility where devanning, stuffing, and consolidation operations take place |
2. Four Handover Methods
| Method | Handover Model | Origin Operation | Destination Operation | Applicable Scenario |
| FCL/FCL | Port-to-Port (CY-CY) / Door-to-Port (Door-CY) / Port-to-Door (CY-Door) / Door-to-Door | Shipper stuffs container and delivers it to origin CY (models with inland trucking include door pickup) | Consignee picks up container at destination CY and devans it themselves (models with inland trucking include door delivery) | Full container direct delivery; the most common method |
| FCL/LCL | Door-to-CFS | Shipper stuffs at their factory | Cargo separated after devanning at destination | Multiple consignees |
| LCL/LCL | CFS-to-CFS | Shipper delivers to CFS | Cargo separated after devanning at destination | Small-volume consolidated shipments |
| LCL/FCL | CFS-to-Door | Shipper delivers to CFS | Consignee picks up the full container | Multi-shipper consolidated dispatch |
3. Division of Responsibility
| Handover Method | Stuffing By | Devanning By | Inland Transport By | Risk Transfer Point |
| FCL/FCL | Shipper | Consignee | Shipper / Consignee (each handles their own side) | Based on handover scope: CY-CY (Port-to-Port) / Door-CY / CY-Door / Door-Door |
| FCL/LCL | Shipper | Freight Forwarder / Carrier | Split responsibility per leg | CY-CFS |
| LCL/LCL | Freight Forwarder / Carrier | Freight Forwarder / Carrier | Split responsibility per leg | CFS-CFS |
| LCL/FCL | Freight Forwarder / Carrier | Consignee | Split responsibility per leg | CFS-CY |
📖 Further Reading:Data Note: Handover method definitions are based on general international shipping terminology (relevant INCOTERMS 2020 clauses). Data current as of July 2026.
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