🚌 Official Documentation

Bus Log System
Help & FAQ

Everything you need to know about logging trips, recording behavior incidents, managing users, exporting reports, and installing the app.

🚀 Getting Started 📖 Log Book 🚨 Behavior Log 👥 Users & Roles 📄 PDF Export ⬇️ Install App ☁️ Cloud Sync
🚌 Open Bus Log System →
Step by step
Getting Started

Bus Log System is a cloud-connected platform for drivers and administrators to record daily operations, behavior incidents, and maintenance notes. Here's how to get up and running.

1

Visit the App

Go to buslog.michelleminor.org in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari on any device — phone, tablet, or computer.

💡 Bookmark this URL or install the app to your home screen for instant access — see the Install App section below.
2

Sign In with Your Account

Enter your email address and password, then click Open Log System. Your administrator will provide your credentials. Use the demo account to explore the app:

👤 Demo / Driver Access
EmailDemo@michelleminor.org
PasswordDemo1234
Use this to explore the app without affecting real data. Can log and view entries but cannot manage user accounts.
👑 Admin Access
Emailadmin account
Passwordadmin-only
Admin credentials are not publicly shared. Contact Michelle Minor if your school needs admin access to manage users.
3

Choose a Tab — Log Book or Behavior Log

After signing in you'll see two tabs: 📖 Log Book for daily trip records and general notes, and 🚨 Behavior Log for student incident reports. Click either tab to switch between them.

4

Fill In and Save Your Entry

No fields are mandatory — fill in whatever is relevant and click Save Log Entry or Submit Incident Report. Entries are immediately saved to the cloud and visible to all staff on any device.

5

Export Reports as PDF

Go to All Entries (Log Book) or Records (Behavior Log) and click ⬇ PDF on any entry. Use Export All PDF to download all visible records in one file.

Log Book Tab
Using the Log Book

The Log Book is your daily operations journal. Record every trip run, maintenance issue, general observation, or behavior note in one place.

📌

Entry Type & Time

The first section on every new entry has the Entry Type dropdown, Date, and Time (auto-filled with now), plus four key fields:

👤 Driver Name — auto-filled from your account
🚌 Bus Number — e.g. B-07
🛣️ Route # — e.g. Route 7
🏫 School Name — e.g. Lincoln Elementary

The form shows additional sections based on the entry type you select:

🚌 Trip Log — route runs (times, odometer, stops, student count)
🧑‍🎓 Student Behavior — log a behavior event from within the logbook
🔧 Maintenance — record a vehicle issue or inspection finding
📝 General Note — freeform note for anything else
🚌

Recording a Trip Log

Select Trip Log from the Entry Type dropdown. Fill in the trip type (morning run, field trip, etc.), number of students on board, departure and arrival times, odometer start and end, and route stops. Add trip notes at the bottom. Date and time are pre-filled automatically.

🌤

Recording Weather & Road Conditions

The Weather & Road Conditions section appears for Trip, Behavior, and Maintenance entries. Select weather and road conditions from the dropdowns and optionally enter the street or location. This information is included in all PDF reports and entry summaries.

📖

Viewing and Searching All Entries

Click All Entries in the sidebar. Use the search bar to find entries by any keyword. Filter by entry type (Trip, Behavior, Maintenance, Note) and date range (Today, This Week, This Month, All). Each entry card shows a summary and can be exported to PDF or deleted.

📊

Log Book Summary

Click Summary in the Log Book sidebar to see a statistical overview: entry counts by type, behavior incidents by severity, and a breakdown by route. Click Export Summary PDF for a clean report.

Behavior Log Tab
Recording Student Behavior Incidents

The Behavior Log is dedicated to student incident reporting. Every report includes full student info, incident details, weather and road conditions, and produces a printable PDF with signature lines.

📝

Student Information Fields

The top section of each incident captures key student and route details:

👤 Student Name — full name of the student
🎓 Student ID / Grade — e.g. Grade 10 / #4821
🏫 School Name — student's school
👨‍✈️ Driver Name — driver on duty
🚌 Bus Number — bus the incident occurred on
🛣️ Bus Route — route number
💺 Seat / Location — where on the bus the student was sitting
⚠️

Setting Severity Levels

The Severity dropdown helps administrators prioritize follow-up:

🟢 Low — minor issue, verbal reminder given
🟡 Medium — warning issued, may need follow-up
🟠 High — parent or guardian contact needed
🔴 Critical — immediate administrative action required
📋

Searching and Filtering Records

Click Records in the Behavior sidebar to see all incidents. Search by student name. Filter by severity or incident type using the dropdowns. Each card shows a summary and has a PDF and Delete button.

📊

Behavior Summary Dashboard

Click Summary in the Behavior sidebar for a statistical overview: total incidents, severity breakdown with charts, top incident types, and incidents by route. Click Export Summary PDF for a clean administration report.

Admin only
Users & Roles

The system has three user roles. Only administrators can add, edit, or remove accounts. All accounts are shared across the Log Book and Behavior Log.

👑
Administrator
Admin
Full access including user management and account administration.

Permissions

Log entries & incidents
View all records
Export PDFs
Delete records
Manage Users panel
Create & delete accounts
🚌
Driver
Driver
Standard access for bus drivers to log trips and incidents.

Permissions

Log entries & incidents
View all records
Export PDFs
Delete records
Manage Users panel
🧑‍💼
Staff / Monitor
Staff
For bus aides, monitors, or other support staff on the bus.

Permissions

Log entries & incidents
View all records
Export PDFs
Delete records
Manage Users panel

Adding a New User (Admin Only)

Click Manage Users in the sidebar (visible on either tab). Click + Add New User. Enter the display name, email address, a temporary password, and select a role. A password reset email is automatically sent so the user can set their own password. Click Save User — the account is active immediately.

✏️

Editing a User

In Manage Users, click Edit on any user card. Update their display name, email, or role. To send a new password reset email, use the reset link option. Click Save User to apply changes.

🔑

Password Resets

Users can reset their own password by clicking Forgot password? on the login screen. Admins can also trigger a password reset email for any user from the Manage Users panel. The user receives a secure link by email to set a new password.

🗑

Removing a User

In Manage Users, click Delete on any user card and confirm. Log entries created by that user will remain in the system.

⚠️ Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
Reporting
Exporting PDF Reports

All records can be exported as professionally formatted PDF files ready to attach to an email, print, or file with administration.

⬇ Single Entry PDF

Click the PDF button on any entry or incident card in Records or All Entries. Downloads a one-page formatted report for that entry only.

⬇ Export All PDF

Click Export All PDF in the toolbar. Downloads every visible record (respecting your current search and date filters) as one multi-page PDF.

⬇ Summary PDF

Click Export Summary PDF on the Summary page of either tab. A clean statistical overview with totals, charts, and breakdowns by severity and type.

📧 Emailing a Report

After downloading, open your email app, create a new message, and attach the PDF from your Downloads folder. On mobile, tap Attach → Files → Downloads.

📋

Behavior Incident PDFs include signature lines

Every behavior incident PDF includes spaces for a Driver/Reporter signature and an Administrator signature — ready to print and sign for official records.

Progressive Web App
Installing the App

Add Bus Log System to your home screen or desktop for instant one-tap access. It opens full-screen like a native app with its own icon.

📱

Two separate apps — two separate icons

Bus Log System (buslog.michelleminor.org) and Bus Seating Chart (busseating.michelleminor.org) install as completely separate apps with different icons — a dark green bus for Log, a yellow bus for Seating.

📱

Android (Chrome)

Visit buslog.michelleminor.org — a dark green Install App banner appears at the bottom of the login screen. Tap Install and confirm. Or tap the icon in Chrome's address bar.

🍎

iPhone / iPad (Safari)

Open buslog.michelleminor.org in Safari. Tap the Share button (box with arrow) → scroll down → tap Add to Home Screen → tap Add.

⚠️ Must use Safari on iPhone/iPad — Chrome on iOS does not support home screen installation.
💻

Desktop (Chrome / Edge)

Visit buslog.michelleminor.org and click the ⊕ install icon in the right side of the address bar. Or sign in and click the ⬇️ Install App button in the app toolbar. The app opens in its own window with a taskbar/dock icon.

Best practices
Tips for Best Results

Get the most out of Bus Log System with these practical tips.

Log incidents as soon as possible
Date and time auto-fill when you open the form. Log incidents immediately while details are fresh — you can always adjust the time manually if needed.
📋
Fill in bus info consistently
Using the same Driver Name, Bus Number, Route, and School Name on every entry makes filtering and PDF exports much more useful for administrators.
🌤
Always note weather and road conditions
Weather and road conditions provide important context for incidents and help administrators understand whether environmental factors played a role. Fill these in for every entry.
🔍
Use search to find students quickly
In Behavior Records, type part of a student's name to instantly filter to their records — useful for parent meetings or tracking repeat incidents.
📅
Use date filters for reporting periods
Use "This Week" or "This Month" in All Entries to pull records for a reporting period, then click Export All PDF to send to administration.
📋
Use Behavior Log for official reports
For incidents that need to be formally documented, signed, and filed — always use the dedicated Behavior Log tab. Its PDFs include signature lines for driver and administrator.
☁️
Data syncs instantly across all devices
Entries appear for all staff on all devices the moment they're saved. No manual syncing — the Firebase cloud database handles it automatically.
📱
Install for the best mobile experience
Install the app from buslog.michelleminor.org so it opens full-screen without a browser address bar. Tap the Install banner on the login screen or Share → Add to Home Screen on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ

Common questions from drivers and administrators.

Yes — the app uses Firebase cloud storage so you need to sign in to save entries. Use the demo account (Demo@michelleminor.org / Demo1234) to explore, or ask your administrator to create an account for you via the Manage Users panel.

Click Forgot password? on the login screen and enter your email address. You'll receive a password reset link within a few minutes. Check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive. Admins can also send a reset email from the Manage Users panel.

No — every field in both the Log Book and Behavior Log is optional. Fill in whatever is relevant. Even a minimal entry with just a date and entry type is valid. The Driver Name field auto-fills from your account name.

Currently there is no edit button for saved entries. If you need to correct an entry, delete the incorrect one from the Records page and create a new one with the correct information.

All signed-in users can see all entries — there is no private mode. Every driver, staff member, and administrator with an account can view the full log. This is by design so administration always has a complete picture. Only users with a valid account can access the system.

Yes — multiple users can be logged in and submitting entries simultaneously from different devices. Firebase handles this automatically. To see entries submitted by others while you're on the Records page, refresh the page.

Your typed text stays on screen — the form doesn't reset. But when you click Save, the entry will fail if there's no connection. You'll see an error message. Restore your connection and try again.

💡 If you're in a low-signal area, jot details in your phone's notes app first and copy them in later when connected.

Log Book is the general daily operations journal — trip runs, odometer readings, maintenance issues, and general observations. It can also log behavior incidents as one of its entry types.

Behavior Log is a dedicated tool specifically for student incident reports. It has more focused fields (school name, driver name, bus number, student seat, witnesses, action taken) and generates PDFs with official signature lines for administrative filing.

💡 For incidents that need to be formally signed and filed, always use the Behavior Log tab.

Click the ⬇ PDF button on any record. It downloads to your device's Downloads folder. Then:

  • Computer: Open your email, create a new message, and attach the PDF from Downloads.
  • Phone/tablet: Open your email app, tap Attach, navigate to Files/Downloads, and select the PDF.

Only administrators can add users. Sign in as admin, click Manage Users in the sidebar, then + Add New User. Enter their display name, email, a temporary password, and select their role. A password reset email is sent automatically so they can set their own password. The account is active immediately.

All data is stored in Google Firebase — a professional cloud database. Only users with a valid email and password can access the app. Passwords are managed securely by Firebase Authentication with full encryption. Data is never shared with third parties.

Check the date filter in All Entries or Records — make sure it's set to All dates to see everything. Also try refreshing the page. Firebase sometimes needs a moment to fully load all records when you first open the app.

Data is automatically backed up

All entries are stored in Google Firebase — a professional cloud database. Your data is automatically replicated and backed up. Nothing is stored on any single device.

📞

Need more help?

Contact your administrator for account issues or login problems. For technical issues with the app itself, your admin can reach out to the system developer at michelleminor.org.