In freight "backhaul" typically refers to transporting goods during the return journey. During the principle (non-return) journey, often the starting location i

In freight "backhaul" typically refers to transporting goods during the return journey. During the principle (non-return) journey, often the starting location is more central, like a distribution center, and the destination is a smaller satellite location like a store. So when something is backhauled, that tends to mean it's transported from the smaller satellite location to the central location. Maybe that's where the term came from?