Messaging Operators
Communicate directly with Bus Operators who have bid on your trips.
Overview
MXBS provides a built-in messaging system that lets you communicate with Bus Operators during the bidding and contracting process. You can message any operator who has submitted a bid on one of your trips. Messaging is scoped to individual trips — each conversation is tied to a specific trip and a specific operator.
Trip-scoped conversations
You cannot use an existing message thread to discuss a different trip. Each trip and operator pairing has its own dedicated conversation.
Conversation Sidebar
On the Messages page, the left panel lists all your active conversations. Each entry shows:
- The operator's company name
- A preview of the last message in the thread
- The timestamp of that message
- An unread count badge when there are messages you have not yet viewed
Click any conversation to open the full thread on the right.
Starting a Conversation
Open the trip
Navigate to the trip you want to discuss, then click View Bids.
Select an operator
Find the operator in the bids list and click their company name. This opens their message thread for that trip.
Send your first message
Type your message in the compose box at the bottom and press Send or hit Enter. The operator is notified immediately.
Sending Messages
Type in the compose box and press Send or Enter to deliver a message. Messages are delivered in real time — there is no polling delay. You can send plain text; file attachments are not supported in the current release.
Message Status Indicators
Each message you send displays a status icon to the right:
- SENT — Message left your device (single check)
- DELIVERED — Message reached the operator's inbox (double check)
- READ — Operator has opened the message (blue double check)
Reply Threading
Hover over any message to reveal a Reply button. Clicking it anchors your compose box to that specific message, creating an inline reply. Use threading to keep separate questions organized within a single conversation.
System Messages
Automatic system messages appear in the thread when the trip's status changes — for example, when the bidding window closes or a contract is cancelled. These messages are generated by MXBS and are not sent by you or the operator. They are displayed in a distinct style to distinguish them from user messages.
Conversation States
Conversations remain open while a trip is active, booked, or under contract. Once a trip is completed or cancelled, the conversation closes automatically. Closed conversations move to the Archived section and are read-only. All message history is retained indefinitely for your records.