CB Radio: The most important tool in your truck

[lil daddy]

I've been been running up and down these roads for 15yrs in a big truck and there is no more important tool for todays trucker than a CB radio. It's your lifeline. Being behind the wheel of an 80,000 lb vehicle for 11hr's a day drivers need every advantage they can get to stay ahead of possible problems. The CB keeps you connected to everything thats going on around you from traffic and road conditions to accidents and road debris(recaps or metal/boards etc) to high speed chases, drunk drivers and everything in between. I've heard drivers here and on the road say that they won't run their CB's because of all of the bs that's on 19 or they are offended because someone curses and calls people names and alot worst. Get over it. Squelch it out or just don't respond. One day that CB may save your life or someone elses life. See there's a thing about driving these big trucks, no matter how long you do it, you wil never be prepared for some of the things that you will run across out on the highways and roads. Knowing about a problem beforehand can prevent a life threatning situation. Theres been so many times I've tried to tell a driver about a flat tire or loose straps or chains on a load or about a major back-up on a highway, gator in the road at night or worse a sharp peice of metal, a drunk driver, deer right on the shoulder or in the median or accidents in the road at night before the law arrived, pedestrians walking in the road at night with dark clothes on etc etc. You guys have no idea some of the hazzards that are out there and if theres a tool that connects you with other drivers so that you could be forewarned of these hazzards why not us it? Who cares about some guy talking/cursing /soliciting or whatever, don't respond to negativity. That little tidbit of usful info is what you're listening for. When your CB is off you can't get or give any info and thats dangerous in a big truck. Most drivers have to learn this the hard way. Learn how too properly operate and use your CB, one day it may save your life. I've been doing this too long to waste time telling you something foolish. Heed this and learn. Thanks

[Lil'Devil]

You are right about that, I will never run my truck without one. I can't tell you how many times my CB has saved me, and I always appreciate someone letting me know if there is something wrong with my load or my truck. I have avoided many potential disasters because I had it on. I have had many enjoyable conversations with other drivers, especially at night trying to keep ourselves awake.

I find you hear the BS mostly when you are driving in and around a city, I just turn the squelch up but I don't turn it off. If you respond to the BS you just make it worse, because that is exactly what these immature idiots want.

When I run up here in Canada, I have driven halfway across the country and never heard a word from someone on the CB, let alone BS. It is a little quieter running up here, you don't hear as much garbage on the radio. Even so, if there were and accident or the road was closed, or something going on that I needed to know about, someone would always let me know.

[jamwadmag]

Originally Posted by lil daddy

I've been been running up and down these roads for 15yrs in a big truck and there is no more important tool for todays trucker than a CB radio. It's your lifeline. Being behind the wheel of an 80,000 lb vehicle for 11hr's a day drivers need every advantage they can get to stay ahead of possible problems. The CB keeps you connected to everything thats going on around you from traffic and road conditions to accidents and road debris(recaps or metal/boards etc) to high speed chases, drunk drivers and everything in between. I've heard drivers here and on the road say that they won't run their CB's because of all of the bs that's on 19 or they are offended because someone curses and calls people names and alot worst. Get over it. Squelch it out or just don't respond. One day that CB may save your life or someone elses life. See there's a thing about driving these big trucks, no matter how long you do it, you wil never be prepared for some of the things that you will run across out on the highways and roads. Knowing about a problem beforehand can prevent a life threatning situation. Theres been so many times I've tried to tell a driver about a flat tire or loose straps or chains on a load or about a major back-up on a highway, gator in the road at night or worse a sharp peice of metal, a drunk driver, deer right on the shoulder or in the median or accidents in the road at night before the law arrived, pedestrians walking in the road at night with dark clothes on etc etc. You guys have no idea some of the hazzards that are out there and if theres a tool that connects you with other drivers so that you could be forewarned of these hazzards why not us it? Who cares about some guy talking/cursing /soliciting or whatever, don't respond to negativity. That little tidbit of usful info is what you're listening for. When your CB is off you can't get or give any info and thats dangerous in a big truck. Most drivers have to learn this the hard way. Learn how too properly operate and use your CB, one day it may save your life. I've been doing this too long to waste time telling you something foolish. Heed this and learn. Thanks

In 'theory,' yes you ar right! Practically, it has become a disaster to the driver who just wants to 'monitor' it while driving. Mine is off 95% of the time!!

[lil daddy]

Hopefully you will never find yourself in one of the scenario's that I mentioned above. Could've would've should've mean nothing after the fact. On most radio's the squeulch will eliminate all background noise and the bs/trash if its set properly. You can always tell the guys that don't run their radio's. They're the ones asking why traffic has stopped and crying about being delayed, when most guy's knew about it via CB miles before they approached it and went around it. Some men learn from their mistakes and some don't.

[MACK E-6]

Squelch doesn't help with the jerks that have the 1000 watt linear amps. If you turn your squelch all the way up you'll still hear these ignoramuses, and on every channel.

[jamwadmag]

Originally Posted by MACK E-6

Squelch doesn't help with the jerks that have the 1000 watt linear amps. If you turn your squelch all the way up you'll still hear these ignoramuses, and on every channel.

Too bad cant turn in those 1000 Wt overkill guys on 9 ---cops are never listening there! Tried along the Mex border to report illegals running with water bottles, weren't monitoring any chs!!

[lil daddy]

For sure you are going to hear some trash from time to time. Thats just the nature of the beast. Just ignore it. The Pro's of running a CB far outweigh the cons anyday.

[MACK E-6]

Originally Posted by jamwadmag

Too bad cant turn in those 1000 Wt overkill guys on 9 ---cops are never listening there! Tried along the Mex border to report illegals running with water bottles, weren't monitoring any chs!!

There are signs up on the interstates here in MD saying "Police monitor CB ch 9". I can never get one. I asked a state cop about this one day, and he said they pulled all their CB's to make room in their cars for computers.

[stylicho]

I dont understand what squelch has to do with anything. I have the cheapest cobra brand so maybe thats why. But doesnt having the squelch way up just reduce what you hear from people far away. I mean if someones talking BS within a half mile of you youre going to hear them no matter what your squelch correct?

[DanJ]

Well, true, but somebody is bound to be near the jerk, and it sucks to be that one. Usually they are going the other way, or pulling away from you, so soon enough you will lose them. If I have somebody near me that's sticking close, I turn the volume down and keep checking every few minutes to see if there is anything going on, then turn it down again. I only do a linehaul, but the highway around Toronto is some of the busiest in North America and I like to know if the typical several times a day accidents are going to mess me up. Plus there are usually a lot of OTR guys coming though that need help getting around the trouble, so I like to offer any help that I can.