Webhook
An automated, event-triggered HTTP callback that pushes data from one system to another as soon as something happens, instead of the receiving system having to poll for updates.
How it works — and why it matters
A carrier's system might register a webhook URL with a telematics provider; the moment a truck crosses a geofence, the provider POSTs the event to that URL and the carrier's TMS updates the shipment instantly. The alternative — polling an API every few minutes — wastes requests and still misses the moment.
Webhooks matter in logistics because status freshness is the product: a delivery event that arrives seconds after it happens can trigger invoicing, next-load assignment, and customer notification automatically. They do shift reliability work to the receiver, which must handle retries, ordering, and the occasional duplicate delivery.