CB Radio Lingo & Etiquette Every New Truck Driver Should Know

A CB radio is a citizens band radio. A CB radio has 40 different channels that allow people to communicate with each other through. A CB radio is popular with truck drivers, because it allows them to communicate with each other while on the road or at truck stops. Many people use a handle while talking over their CB. The handle allows other frequent CB users to know whom they're talking to without being confused by first and last names. Just like other groups of people around the world, CB users have their own lingo as well. If you're a new truck driver and have never used a CB radio, you may be nervous jumping over the airwaves for the first time. Learning CB lingo will allow you to communicate effectively. Here is some common CB lingo and proper etiquette that every user should know.

Common Conversation Lingo

1. Ace—a term for a CB'er who is well known and important.

2. Apple—someone who is uses the CB too frequently (an addict of sorts).

3. Alligator station—someone on the CB who talks too much.

4. Ankle biter—small and/or annoying children.

5. Baby bear—a rookie police officer.

6. Bad scene—an overcrowded CB channel.

7. Base station—a term for a CB radio at an immobile location such as a house or business.

8. Bear cage—jailhouse or police station.

9. Clean shot—no police ahead in a specific area.

10. Evel Knievel—a police officer on a motorcycle.

11. Meat wagon—nickname for an ambulance. It's also known as a "band-aid box".

12. Organ donor—a motorcycle rider without a helmet on.

Lingo For City Names

1. Alamo City—San Antonio, Texas

2. B Town—Birmingham, Alabama

3. Bar City—Forrest City, Arkansas

4. Bean Town—Boston, Massachusetts

5. Beer City—Milwaukee, Wisconsin

6. Big M—Memphis, Tennessee

7. Big T—Tucson, Arizona

8. Indy 500—Indianapolis, Indiana

9. Shaky Town—Los Angeles, California

10. Sin City—Reno, Nevada

11. The Dome—Houston, Texas

12. Windy City—Chicago, Illinois

CB Etiquette

If you want to join the CB community, you need to learn the etiquette that comes with it as well. Truck drivers are a family that watches out for each other. If you're using a CB, you're essentially joining the family. By learning CB lingo, you can help watch out for them as well. For example, if there are police officers pulling over several people east of Houston, let them know that full-grown bears are east of The Dome.

Although you're welcome to tune into most of the channels to see what type of people you encounter, don't use channel 9 for casual conversation. It's considered an emergency channel on the CB radio, so truck drivers and other users will use channel 9 if they are in need of emergency help.

Once you pick your channel, don't just jump into the conversation and take over. You've probably seen truck drivers on television say, "breaker" along with a couple of numbers. Saying "breaker" is CB lingo for asking politely to join the conversation. The numbers are the channel number that you're on. Someone who is involved in the conversation will say, "Go ahead breaker", giving your permission to join.

If you have become involved in a conversation with another CB'er, don't continue your conversation on a full channel. It will keep others from being able to communicate. If you have come to notice a few channels aren't frequently used, tell the CB'er to join you on one of those channels.

Communicating over a CB radio can be a lot of fun. If you know the lingo and the proper etiquette, you may make a few friends along the way. Feel free to join different channels and get to know fellow CBers. Think of a unique handle that shows off your personality and join the family. Check out sites like http://www.arrowtruck.com/ for more information.