Chat
Real-time messaging built into the Fleetbase Console — create channels, message team members, and share files without leaving the platform.
Chat
Fleetbase includes a real-time chat system built into the console. Dispatchers and team members can message each other directly, create group channels, and share files — all from a persistent chat tray in the top navigation bar.
Chat is powered by the SocketCluster WebSocket layer and delivers messages in real time without polling.
The Chat Tray
Click the message icon in the top navigation bar to open the Chat Tray.
The tray shows:
- An unread count badge on the message icon when you have unread messages
- A list of your open channels, each showing the channel name, last message preview, sender avatar, and unread count
- A Start Chat button to create a new conversation
Click any channel to open its chat window. If you created the channel, a delete button also appears on its tray entry.
Chat Windows
Each open channel renders as a floating chat window anchored to the bottom of the screen. Multiple windows can be open simultaneously, stacked side by side.
Window Controls
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Channel name + pencil | Click the pencil to rename the channel |
| Add participant dropdown | Lists all users in your organization with online/offline status indicators. Click a user to add them. |
| ✕ | Close the window. Does not delete the channel. |
Participants
Participant avatars appear in a strip below the window header. Each avatar has a colour dot — green for online, grey for offline. Hover for the participant's name.
If you have permission, a small ✕ appears on participant avatars. Click it to remove that user from the channel.
Sending Messages
Type in the textarea at the bottom and press Enter or click Send. The Send button is disabled while the input is empty.
Attachments
Click Add Attachment (paperclip icon) to attach files to your message. Multiple files can be selected at once. An upload progress indicator with a percentage shows while files upload. Pending files appear as chips above the input area — click ✕ on a chip to remove it before sending.
Supported file types:
| Category | Formats |
|---|---|
| Images | JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP |
| Documents | PDF, Word (.docx / .doc), Excel (.xlsx), PowerPoint (.pptx) |
| Video | MP4, QuickTime, AVI, FLV, WMV |
| Audio | MP3 |
| Archives | ZIP, TAR |
Starting a New Chat
Click Start Chat in the Chat Tray. Search for users in your organization to add as participants and give the channel a name. The channel opens as a floating window immediately.
Real-Time Behaviour
The chat service listens on two socket channels simultaneously:
user.{your-user-id}— events like being added to or removed from a channel- Each joined channel's own feed — for new messages
When a message arrives while the tray is closed, a notification sound plays and the unread badge on the message icon updates automatically.