Stuffing Charge

Stuffing Charge is a common fee in foreign trade logistics, referring to the operational cost incurred when loading goods into a container. It usually occurs when the exporter delivers goods to a designated CFS (Container Freight Station) or warehouse, and professional staff load loose cargo or palletized cargo into the container. Usage scenarios include: for LCL (Less than Container Load) exports, the freight forwarder or warehouse charges the cargo owner a stuffing charge; for FCL (Full Container Load), if the cargo owner entrusts the warehouse to stuff the container, this fee may also apply. Notes: Stuffing Charge is the opposite of De-stuffing Charge; the former is loading, the latter is unloading. It differs from Terminal Handling Charge (THC), which is levied by the port, while the stuffing charge is levied by the warehouse or freight station. Additionally, the stuffing charge may include labor, equipment usage, and securing materials, and it must be clearly stated in the quotation whether these are included. Difference: If the cargo owner stuffs the container themselves, there is no such fee; if using the freight forwarder's 'door-to-door' service, the stuffing charge may already be included in the total freight. Foreign trade practitioners should specify the responsible party for the fee in the contract to avoid extra disputes.