What is full container load ordering?

Full container load ordering is the practice of building a purchase order so that its total volume or weight fills a shipping container, typically a 20-foot, 40-foot or 40-foot high cube, rather than ordering each product independently and shipping whatever results.

It sits at the boundary between purchasing and logistics, but it is fundamentally a planning decision, because filling the container means deciding which products to buy earlier or in larger quantities than their immediate need.

Done well, it starts from the net requirement of every product, rounds each line to cartons and supplier rules, converts the result to cubic metres, and then fills the remaining space with the products most at risk of running out before the next shipment. Done badly, it fills the box with whatever is easiest to add, which keeps freight costs low but quietly builds excess stock and still leaves the fast movers short.