CFS
(Container Freight Station)
The term CFS stands for "Container Freight Station".
Basically, this refers to the place where containers are loaded or unloaded. These can be imported containers that are unloaded or transported on, or containers for export that are loaded onto a ship here. In most cases, CFS is on the site of the respective container terminal operator or in the vicinity of large warehouses.
In connection with the designation CY (Consignee Container Yard), various agreements can thus be expressed. CFS/CY, for example, would mean "port-to-door", i.e. from the sender's CFS to the consignee's site.
Differences between containers at a CFS (Container Freight Station)
On a Container Freight Station different containers are stored which have to be handled differently. Here one differentiates roughly between fully loaded and lightly loaded containers, as well as a container with freight for several recipients and a container with goods for only one carrier. The most important terms briefly explained:
LCL shipments: This term means Less Container Load and occurs when a container exporter does not have enough cargo to fill a full container. These containers are specially marked because they must be handled differently during loading and unloading than a fully loaded container.
CFS/CFS Shipment: A CFS/CFS shipment clearly defines the responsibility between the exporter, the shipping company and the customer. For this purpose, the port name followed by /CFS is used on the bill of lading. This refers to the shipping port name followed by the destination port name.
Other important term on a container freight station
CFS Pier to Pier: This term is used on bills of lading and means that inside a container, the carrier's cargo is packed together with other goods. At the destination port, the different shipments are then separated again.
CFS Receiving Services: CFS receiving services are all services that take place between the receipt of the cargo and its packing into a container. These services include, for example, transporting empty containers to a container freight station, issuing the shipping order, transporting the goods to the container freight station and sealing and marking them, as well as the subsequent stacking and sorting of the containers.