An experimental study of rubidium energy pooling collisions, Rb(5P(J)) + Rb(5P(J))-->Rb(nlJ') + Rb(5S), at thermal energies, was carried out in a cell. Atoms were excited to either the 5P 1/2 or 5P 3/2 state using a single-mode diode laser. The excited atom density and spatial distribution were mapped by monitoring the absorption of a counter-propagating single-mode diode laser beam, tuned to either 5P 1/2-->5D 3/2 or 5P 3/2-->7S 1/2 transition, which could be translated parallel to the pump beam. The excited atom densities were combined with the measured fluorescence ratios to determine cross sections for the rubidium energy pooling process. For 5P 3/2 excitation the cross sections for nlJ' being 5D 5/2, 5D 3/2, and 7S 1/2 are (1.32+/-0.59) x 10(-14), (1.18+/-0.53) x 10(-14) and (3. 21+/-1. 44) x 10(-15) cm2, respectively. For 5P 1/2 excitation the cross sections for nlJ' being 5D 5/2 and 5D 3/2 are (6.57+/-2.96) x 10(-15), and (5.90+/-2.66) x 10(-15) cm2, respectively. The results were compared with those of other experiments.