Guaranteed LCL service from OD Global and Hanjin

OD Global, a division of Old Dominion Freight Line (a wonderful name), and Hanjin Logistics have started a new joint guaranteed less-than-container load (LCL) service from China to the United States.

Pretty logical. Not all cargo going from one place to another will fill a container.

LCL is a quick way of saying this is a shipment that does not quite fill a container. But the contents still have the urgency, the need for prompt delivery.

So the two companies have got together to provide a fast and trackable service to the standard normally used for full containers. And for marketing purposes have given it the snazzy name, Pacific Promise. Which, in truth, sounds more like a conctail but let it pass.

LayOver.com reports that Pacific Promise will provide standard guaranteed transit times and simplified rates from three origin ports in China to virtually the entire United States.

Customers can check a rate, create a booking and track their shipment from the port to the door online at both Old Dominion’s and Hanjin Logistics’ Web sites.

Rates are expressed as a simple single rate per cubic meter that will be slightly greater than standard LCL (understandable) but still up to 75% less than air freight.

The service is offered from the Chinese ports of Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong to the U.S ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.