Comments for CB talk terms and lingo....

Apr 22, 2009
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C.B. Chit Chat.
by: Jimmy

How do, Truckers girlfriend. Before I forget, when you log on here, go to 'Ask a Trucker' and scroll down to a post about C.B. lingo.

But I'll add more. In the "old" days,C.B. radios (citizens band) were regulated by the FCC. You actually needed a license and were issued "call letters". You were suppose to start and end the conversation with your call letters. Then around the late '70,s, some trucking movies were made and trucking and the lifestyle got real popular. Remember "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Convoy"? On t.v. there was "Movin' on" and" B.J. and the Bear".

The use of C.B. radios exploded and the FCC just couldn't enforce the rules and quit requiring licenses. They also allowed 40 channels from the then 23 that were allowed.

I'm not sure how CH19 became the 'Truckers Channel' but it somehow did with one exception; Ca,Or,Wa.

In Ca from S.R. 46 north to the Canadian border, we use CH17. It's CH15 over the Grapevine and
CH19 in So.Ca. Not everyone knows this, so you will have guys on 19 and 17. S.R.46 is just No. of Bakersfield.

Using a C.B. is a free for all. A lot of shippers/consignees use it to communicate with the drivers to let them know their warehouse door is ready. They will be using a different channel.

A lot of Police agency use C.B.'s. I have been pulled over by the CHP in Ca via the C.B. I have seen the CHP in Ca notify the traffic that the road is open after having been closed for an accident or snow.

If you're driving a truck, you need a C.B. You can find out what is going on if there is a traffic delay. Most C.B.'s out of the box have about a 4-5 mile range. But everything has to be just right IE, the proper antenna and co-ax cable.

OK, lingo.

Assuming that someone is talking already on CH19, and you wanted to ask or broadcast some info, you would not just start talking, you would, in theory, ask for a break, such as 'Break 19' Not everyone does this. Some people have manners, some don't.

You will hear EVERYTHING on the C.B. A lot of it is disgusting and totally unnecessary. Remember, a lot of guys have their kids with them.

10-4 means OK/understand. If you're talking to a "voice" over the C.B., how can you address him/her by their 'handle' if you don't know it? That's why most guys say 'driver'. It's like saying "Dude" or "Man" or "Buddy".

In the old days, when you ended a sentence over the airwaves, you would say "over" or if you were trying to reach anyone, you would say "come-in". "Come-in" sort of became "C-Mon".

10-33 means accident,
10-9 means repeat yourself.
10-20 means location.

In this day and age, most formalities are long gone. You just talk normal, no need for slang.

One more thing about Cops. You will hear them referred to as 'County Mounties', The "DOT", 'Polar Bear', 'Full grown' 'Brown wrapper' 'Evil Knevil', 'Care Bear' and even some clown will see a road workers pick-up truck with amber roof lights and broadcast it as 'Bear'.

Jimmy

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CB talk terms and lingo....

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