At a time when logistics costs are soaring and consumers are demanding ever greater speed, e-tailers need to review their transport strategy. Between rising fuel costs, driver shortages and ecological pressures, optimizing delivery management is no longer an option, but a necessity.
This is where transport pooling comes in: a collaborative model that cuts costs, improves logistics performance and limits the carbon footprint.
What is shared transport?
Mutualized transport involves grouping the shipments of several companies to the same geographical area, in order to share logistics resources: trucks, routes, warehouses, personnel.
It’s a win-win approach: each player reduces costs, improves fill rates and contributes to more sustainable logistics.
Let’s take a concrete example:
Two e-commerce brands delivering regularly to Paris can share the same carrier and the same delivery route. The result: a single truck, fewer kilometers, and split costs.
But we still need to know how to set up this mutualization and who is proposing it.
This model perfectly complements thedelivery optimization strategies discussed in our article on express vs. standard delivery Once you’ve found the right delivery rhythm, pooling allows you to control costs over time.
Why is shared transport a solution for the future?
Mutualized transport has a dual rationale: profitability and environmental responsibility.
A lever for direct savings
- Better truck fill rates.
- Fewer empty runs.
- Lower transport costs per parcel.
A positive environmental impact
- Fewer trucks on the road = less CO₂.
- Reducing nuisance (noise, traffic, pollution).
- Contributing to a green supply chain.
Smoother logistics
- Optimized tour planning.
- Better use of infrastructure and staff.
- Synergies between players sharing the same routes.
This approach is complementary to international logistics local or regional pooling reinforces the competitiveness of global supply chains.
4 concrete benefits for e-tailers
- Lower delivery costs
Pooling allows us to share fixed transport costs (fuel, driver, handling), while maintaining a high quality service.
- Greener, more rewarding delivery
Consumers prefer brands committed to sustainable logistics. Pooling is therefore also becoming a marketing argument.
- Greater flexibility
Flows can be adjusted according to volumes, delivery zones or periods of activity (sales, holidays, promotions).
- Optimizing the last mile
By consolidating shipments by zone, pooled transport makes urban deliveries, often the most costly and polluting, more fluid.
How do you set up a shared transport strategy?
Transport pooling is based on a structured, collaborative approach. To make the most of it, it’s essential to combine analysis, technology and specialized support.
Identify compatible flows
The first step is to analyze your logistics flows: volumes, delivery zones, shipping frequencies and product typology.
This mapping enables you to identify points of convergence with other e-commerce players – those who ship to the same regions or share similar delivery profiles.
Partnering with an expert logistics provider
The success of a shared transport strategy depends on coordination. A logistics provider like Iziship plays a central role: it pools the needs of several brands, plans optimal routes and ensures harmonious flow management.
This approach avoids operational complexity for e-tailers, while maximizing savings.
Rely on high-performance connected tools
Technology is the foundation of mutualization. A connected WMS/TMS (Warehouse Management System / Transport Management System) enables data to be synchronized between warehouses, carriers and end customers.
You can track your deliveries in real time, measure the performance of each route and identify areas for optimization in just a few clicks.
Continuous measurement and adjustment
Like any logistics strategy, pooling requires regular monitoring. It’s essential to assess the savings you’re making, the vehicle load factor and the reduction in your carbon emissions.
These key indicators will enable you to adjust your routes, consolidate your gains and boost the overall efficiency of your transport operations.
FAQ : Everything you need to know about transport pooling
This is the sharing of means of transport (trucks, tours, drivers) between several companies to reduce costs and empty runs.
Lower costs, more sustainable logistics, greater flexibility and greater visibility on transport flows.
Grouped transport groups parcels together on the same round, while pooled transport coordinates several companies to pool flows over time.
By sharing routes and logistics resources, pooling helps to amortize fixed costs and increase vehicle load factors.
Iziship relies on a network of partner carriers and a connected system (WMS/TMS) to plan, track and optimize shared deliveries in real time.
Conclusion: pooling, a strategic lever for more efficient logistics
Shared transport is not a passing trend, but a model for the future for e-tailers looking to cut costs while adopting a responsible approach.
It’s an approach that combines efficiency, profitability and sustainability, while promoting the brand to consumers who are increasingly concerned about environmental impact.
With Iziship, you can integrate transport pooling into your overall logistics strategy, thanks to a connected platform, a network of reliable partners and a clear view of your flows.
