Pool Distribution / Pool Point

Pool distribution is a freight strategy that blends the economics of full truckload with the delivery flexibility of LTL. The shipper consolidates multiple smaller shipments destined for the same geographic region into a single FTL that moves to a central hub – the pool point. At the pool point, the freight is deconsolidated and delivered to individual recipients via local LTL or delivery trucks.

The cost logic is compelling. Long-haul LTL rates include terminal handling, multiple transfers, and per-hundredweight pricing that adds up fast on multi-stop regional deliveries. By moving consolidated freight as FTL over the long-haul leg, the shipper pays truckload rates for the most expensive portion of the journey. The last-mile delivery from the pool point is short-distance, keeping local delivery costs manageable.

Pool distribution works best for shippers with consistent, predictable order volumes to specific regions – grocery and food & beverage distribution being a classic use case. The tradeoff is complexity: someone needs to manage the consolidation logic, coordinate with the pool point facility, and ensure deconsolidation happens on schedule. If the pool point introduces a day of dwell time, it needs to be factored into delivery commitments.

For shippers evaluating pool distribution, the key question is whether order volume to a given region consistently fills – or nearly fills – a truckload. If it does, pool distribution can significantly reduce per-unit freight costs compared to shipping individual LTL loads from origin.