Merge in Transit

Merge in transit is a coordination strategy where components or products shipping from different origin points are combined at a merge point – a warehouse, cross-dock, or carrier terminal – before making a single consolidated delivery to the end customer. Instead of the customer receiving three separate shipments from three suppliers, they receive one delivery containing everything.

This approach is common in industries where orders contain products sourced from multiple facilities – manufacturing with components from different plants, retail with inventory from multiple distribution centers, or food & beverage brands consolidating dry and refrigerated products from separate warehouses. The customer experience improves (one delivery instead of many), receiving labor decreases, and the shipper saves on last-mile delivery costs.

The operational complexity is significant. Merge in transit requires precise timing – all inbound shipments must arrive at the merge point within a coordination window, or the consolidated delivery is delayed. It demands visibility across multiple shipments simultaneously, accurate ETAs, and a merge facility capable of receiving, matching, and re-shipping freight quickly. A single late inbound can hold up the entire order.

For shippers considering merge in transit, the payoff depends on order composition and geography. If a significant percentage of orders pull from multiple origins, and those origins can feasibly route through a common merge point, the strategy reduces delivery costs and improves the customer experience. The prerequisite is reliable shipment visibility – you can't merge what you can't track.