Are CB Radios still used to day?

Hello,
My son (age 12) and I were driving across Missouri on I-70. I thought it would be neat to buy a hand held CB radio and see what the truckers were talkng about. I assumed CB radios were still used because I see an antenna on just about every truck side mirror. To my amazement we did not pick up anything at all for several hours. Are CB radios dead? I remember 20 years ago there was lots of chatter. Now just dead air. What happend?

Thanks,
Hammer

 

I think they were there, but you couldn't pick them up until you got close to them. Not being on the right channel would be a factor also. Most Trucker's use Channel 19, although many have company channels that they tune to as well. Keep listening, soon you'll be reaching up to turn it down ! LOL

 

I've been in the truck a couple times - if your son is only 12 - you may not want him to hear the CB - if some of those truckers mothers could hear them - someone would be in big trouble!! LOL Good luck and have fun!!

 

Roadhog is right about that. The CB is not a place where people (many drivers included ) have any respect for who may be listening. It is so sad, I find it to be worst around bigger truck stops. You also may pick up nothing more then chatter in a foreign language. At least here in CA. at night when I run, thats mainly what I pick up. Sad and disappointing

 

TRUE....I can't even stand to listen to it! SIGH...It can get pretty Nasty on there in a real quick hurry.

However, our drivers drive at night and it seems to be pretty busy then, with probably truckers bored and wanting something to do.

 

It has become a different world. The CB isn't used nearly as much as it used to be.

 

My CB is always on, and I use it several times a day, despite the amount of garbage that has appeared on ch19 (well, on all channels but I keep it on 19). And at night can be the best time to use it, since a lot of the jerks are solar powered (or so it seems).

 

Hubby has his and loves it he use his all the time for all kinds of thing and yes i heard what said when he is at a truck stop and some of it it so bad . i cant belive it . but each to there own i guess pat like talking on his

 

I have a CB in my cruiser. It helps to stop some truckers, let them know where i want them to stop safely. I also "lurk". One time I stopped a trucker and he MF'd me upside down and back again as we were pulling over on the CB. On my approach he was nice as pie. Then I gave him his nice little coupon after putting his truck OOS for multiple violations!. I also had one trucker on the CB as I stopped him. " at least he ain't a diesel bear, just a young punk!" One hour later he was pissed after a level one and OOS. PS watch what you say as your stopped.

I do enjoy listening though.
One conversation:

Young Trucker: "why are they (me and three other cruisers) going so fast in the hammer down lane?"

Older Trucker: " they got their porch lights on; who cares let em go as long as they ain't stoppin you, dummy"

 

thats one thing i don't understand about these drivers. think they can talk anyways they want, totally disrespecting the law. BTW my uncle works for DOT and some of the stories he has told are too funny.