If you have electric at the pond and a smallish sump pump, just let the pond water exchange into the barrels...only takes 15-20 minutes per barrel. You could be sorting/confirming while barrels are acclimating and tempering.
A 1000 watt power inverter will operate a 1/2hp sump pump if no electric pond-side....
Or a 12v battery and a bilge pump.....
From dealing with fish suppliers, picking up my own fish, and now delivering fish, I like the easy way out. Bring 'em to the pond and put them in for me. All the risk of killing the fish during transport rests on the person transporting the fish.
Also, remember that when transporting the fish to have a tight lid for the 55 gal barrels that you can clamp on. The highway patrol and DOT frown on water sloshing out of containers onto the roadway as you are driving down the highway.
