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Choosing LCL freight service to move your cargo to and from Guam comes with several advantages. Knowing the ins and outs of LCL freight shipping can help you maximize those advantages—and minimize potential challenges.
What Is LCL Freight Service?
Less-than-container load freight service allows shippers to move smaller loads that don’t require a full ocean freight container. Also known as consolidations, LCL freight shipments essentially “share” space in a shipping container headed to or from Guam via sailing vessel.
Guam LCL shipments are arranged through freight forwarders, who collect these shipments and send them either 1) on a set schedule or 2) once they assemble a full load.
Below, we’ll offer our tips for optimizing your Guam LCL freight operations to save you time—and money.
Tip #1: You Can Ship a Wide Variety of Goods & Supplies via LCL Service
All kinds of industries can benefit from using LCL freight service to and from Guam, including organizations in the retail, construction, hospitality, automotive, and medical sectors.
We’ve moved all kinds of Guam freight LCL, including:
- Consumer/retail goods, such as clothing, accessories, automotive parts, housewares, health and beauty items, paper goods, and more
- Electronics
- Small machinery
- Spare parts
- Hotel and hospitality supplies, including soft goods and guest-room amenities
- Medical supplies and smaller medical equipment
- Office equipment and supplies
- Construction supplies and materials
In short, LCL is a versatile way to move all kinds of freight to and from Guam—and it comes with a few key advantages.
Tip #2: LCL Freight Service Can Mean Lower Costs and Greater Flexibility for Guam Businesses
Choosing LCL ocean freight service for your Guam shipments can offer your business an edge in two specific ways:
Because you only pay for the space you use, LCL service can mean lower freight costs overall, as opposed to booking an entire container.
Additionally, if you’ve been shipping FCL, but only using 70-80% of the space in your container, you may be wasting space—and money.
Instead, an LCL solution for your Guam freight may prove more economical. If you ship a significant volume of freight, ask your freight forwarder to run the numbers both ways. You might discover that LCL service can save you money.
LCL freight shipping can also offer you more flexibility for your Guam cargo shipments. Rather than having to wait until you have enough cargo to fill a container, you can simply ship your goods and supplies when you’re ready.
Don’t forget to ask about your warehousing partner’s fleet. Look for a provider with a wide variety of trucks, flatbeds, vans, forklifts, etc. This way, they’ll have the equipment they need to access all locations on Guam, handle a variety of freight, and respond quickly to any requests.
Tip #3: Palletize Your Guam LCL Freight for Maximum Protection
To offer your Guam freight maximum protection during handling and transit, we recommend palletizing your freight. Palletized freight can be moved easily by forklift, which means less manual handling. (And less potential for damage!)
Guam LCL Freight Tip: Stackable Freight Gets the Best Rates
As freight forwarders assemble various’ shippers freight into a single container, they’re thinking of it like a Tetris puzzle. Their goal is to maximize their use of all the available space. That often means double-stacking pallets to the ceiling of the container.
If your pallet is stackable, you’ll likely get a better rate for your LCL shipment.
However, if nothing can be stacked on top of your freight, you’ll likely need to pay more, since your shipment will essentially take up “extra” space.
It pays to partner closely with your freight forwarder where packaging is concerned. A good forwarder can help you adjust your freight’s packaging to minimize your LCL shipping costs.
As you palletize your freight, a couple of tips for keeping your freight safe along its journey to or from Guam:
- For maximum stability, load heavier items on the bottom of pallet and lighter items on top.
- Make sure to secure your load to the pallet to prevent it from shifting in transit.
- Avoid overhang, which can mean extra charges and higher potential for damage.
- For heavy loads, reinforce with corner boards/edge protectors.
Finally, crating might be the best option for certain LCL shipments. If you’re moving a small piece of machinery, for example, a crate will offer it better protection. A crate can also make a shipment stackable, which can mean a better rate.
Tip #4: LCL Service Is Perfect for Businesses with Small Footprints
If you’re running a business with very little storage space, regular LCL shipments can be an effective way to stay stocked. Rather than overwhelming your location with a full container of cargo, receiving consistent LCL loads means less inventory to manage—and lower inventory carrying costs.
Ask your freight forwarder about setting up a regular LCL shipment for your Guam freight to keep your business supplied and minimize your storage costs.
How Long Does It Take Freight to Arrive on Guam?
Port-to-port transit time for ocean freight shipments (LCL & FCL) from Guam to Los Angeles is two weeks. Taking into account freight cut-offs, loading and unloading time, and customs clearance, you can expect to receive your freight from Los Angeles on Guam in about three weeks.
If you’re moving freight from Asia, transit times from Busan, Korea to Guam, port-to-port transit times are around 7-8 days. From Honolulu, Hawaii to Guam, expect a port-to-port transit time of ~7 days. Add a few extra days on either end to account for cut-offs, deconsolidation of the load, and delivery/pick-up.
Tip #5: Guam Freight Does Need to Clear Customs
As a U.S. territory, Guam occupies a unique position where customs are concerned:
- Freight arriving to Guam must clear through the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA), which has its own set of customs fees and restrictions. Shipments to Guam must be accompanied by a commercial invoice that includes the shipment’s value. If your shipment is subject to use tax on Guam, the commercial invoice will set the basis for the use tax calculation.
- Freight leaving Guam for the U.S. must clear U.S. customs at the first point of entry.
- Freight leaving Guam for an international destination will be subject to duties, fees, and regulations of the destination country.
For assistance with your customs paperwork, talk to your freight forwarder. They can help you assemble the documentation you need to pave the way for efficient customs clearance at your freight’s destination. In case of any hiccups along the way, your forwarder may also be able to recommend a customs broker, who can step in and expedite clearance.
Tip #6: Not All Guam LCL Providers Are the Same
When you’re shopping around for a freight forwarder to move your Guam LCL freight, it’s important to recognize the differences between providers.
Here’s what to consider as you vet freight forwarders for your Guam LCL shipments:
Look for an Asset-Based Provider
Some freight forwarders on Guam are asset-based providers, which means they own and operate their own warehouses and trucks on Guam and employ their own crews. Other freight forwarders may use agents on Guam, which essentially means that they sub-contract their freight shipments to a Guam-based provider.
Here’s the advantage of working with an asset-based provider: They have complete control over their schedules, which means you’re likely to get priority scheduling for your freight pick-ups and drop offs. This makes for simple, stress-free Guam freight operations.
Ask Your Provider About Potential Access Issues
We run into access issues on Guam with 20-30% of our freight pickups and deliveries. For these types of deliveries, we choose our equipment carefully so we can get as close as possible to the pick-up or drop-off point, minimizing the possibility for damage.
Ask your Guam freight provider how they might deal with any potential access issues, which can quickly become a headache for your business. A Guam freight provider with a versatile fleet of vehicles will have a much easier time navigating all the island’s locations.
Storage & Warehousing Can Come in Handy
If you’re managing a small footprint, ask your Guam freight provider whether they have storage space available to help you manage any freight overflow. A storage solution can come in especially handy if you’re stocking up for a busy season, like the holidays, or if you’re preparing for a large project.
Finally, if you’re looking for ways to streamline your Guam logistics flow, ask about warehousing and distribution services. By outsourcing these services, you may be able to save some money, while getting freight in the hands of your customers faster. Even if you don’t need these services today, consider whether they might be useful down the line as your business expands.
Optimizing Your Guam Freight Flow—and Costs
LCL freight service can deliver several advantages to Guam businesses, including lower costs and greater flexibility. Incorporating this mode into your logistics mix offers the opportunity to optimize your Guam supply chain, increase efficiencies, and boost your bottom line.
Looking for a Guam LCL freight shipping partner? We’ve been moving freight to and from Guam since 1983, and we can pick up and deliver freight anywhere on Guam. Reach out to our team to request a complimentary quote for your next Guam LCL shipment.
