Is a CB Radio really necessary to have?

I hate to say this...but X-Country...your attitude...this smug " I know better than you, so allow me to school you" tone you have going on? I find it incredibly embarrassing...on many levels.

1. as a "youngin"
2. as a "next gen driver"
3. as a female driver

You have just cast a negative light on all of us "younging, next gen, female drivers". Thanks for proving them all right with your knowitall attitude.

I haven't been driving all that much longer than you have, but how can you honestly think that you know better than drivers that have been out here longer than you've even been alive? Logically, does that make any sense to you?! I can see that you think you are pretty smart...so tell me....where is the logic there?

 

I maybe, saved a few lives over the years, thanks to my C.B. got a alert just 3/4 mile or so just over the top of a hill, traffic was at a dead stop. no indication until you were within feet of it. I was in the right lane a man on a motorcycle with a female passenger doing about 65 m.p.h. gaining fast just about ready to pass me. I rolled my window down & motioned frantically with my left arm to slow it down quick. they did. there was NO way they would of been able to avoid a major wreck without my warning. I could not of warned them if I had not been warned myself via C.B. both driver & passenger had their heads bowed in prayer after realizing how close they may have came to their death.

a few more similar incidents have happened over the last 15 years of my driving career.

 

Yea Country, you need to get you a Rand McNally Motor Carrier Road Atlas. It tells where all D.O.T. Scales are, all low clearances in each state, Canada and Mexico, Weight Limits in each state and a lot of other useful info for truckers.

 

It doesnt matter, shes done her 275 hours of training with Werner, shes a super trucker that doesnt need the correct atlas or a CB, she has a smart phone that will never loose its signal, and she can predict the future and avoid all the accidents ahead of time because her phone has "real time" traffic updates.

Please....you, me, and any amount of other drivers/students arent even considered professionals until weve paid our dues being over the road. That takes a hell of a lot more time then 6 whole paychecks on your own and 7 under training pay.

Yeah Im a newb, still in CDL school. I dont drive a big truck. But ive been around the industry since I was in diapers, I listen to my peers, and I accept the tools that can and will assist me in being successful. Once you get a full year in we will see how good you truly are doing.


Again, I see one of these in your future.

 

They're good for;
hearing a tornado crossing road in front of you you can't see due to rain(happened to me, thank goodness for cb)

knowing where LEOs are

being able to hear of easy viable detour before you pass it due to wreck up road

having someone tell you you're truck/trailer is having a mechanical issue before you notice, or in my case that one of my doors had opened.

and what car to look in to see the hottie!


Im sure others and the above are thru out thread. They're cheap and worth it.

 

I said this in another thread, if you're budget is tight, if you can, fuel exclusively at Love's. in no time you'll be able to buy one with your points, that's how I got mine! It can probably work at the others as well, I don't know for sure, but I do know using ONE will help you more. I NEVER pay for drinks, food or showers, NEVER. JMHO

 

Another use for a CB

I'm pulling a load over 12' wide right now leaving me with roughly 2' hanging off each side of my trailer. Naturally i can't see a dang thing behind me so when i pass a slower driver i have a hell of a time knowing when it's safe to come back over. Several drivers with OD experience who can empathize with my situation have been coming up on the CB when it's safe for me to pass to let me know. It's really been a blessing for me.

As already mentioned theirs the
weather reports
traffic reports
bear reports
shippers/recievers
directions (double check them with your Atlas first )

just to name a few uses

 

I have again skipped ahead and did not read every post but let me tell you why a CB is a good tool. It is a way to talk to other trucks who are driving down the road. Truckers who you do not know and therefore do not have their cell phone numbers. How to you talk to the truckers who might have information you need? CB is for that purpose. Do you need a CB? Only if you want to talk to another trucker. If we had our Cell phone numbers plastered on the back of our trailers then you call. But we don't. So the only people who need a CB are those who have something to say or something to listen to another trucker.

I am on this website to communicate with other truckers. Do I need to be on here? No but it is nice to talk to people with similar interest. A CB is an older forum of social media. It can really relieve stress and make you feel connected. You are not he only one stuck in a three hour traffic jam. You can get on 19 and reach out and talk to others.

 

Like everyone else pretty much says, a CB will save your butt when it comes to things you can't see. I keep the squelch on mine up and the rf gain in the middle i believe. Just enough so Im not hearing a lot of white noise, but at the same time, can hear someone right around me.

As for shippers, it's a good way to communicate back and forth instead of cell phone if needed.

Side track for you CB pros. For some reason when Ive gone on channel 1 or 10, I hear noise like someone is talking, but it sounds muffled, and cant make out a voice. Is this a sign its time to invest in a new radio? (My uncle gave me this one a year ago as a congrats on getting in your own truck, and he had it in his truck for years before that) Or is this something that would be worth fixing?

 

That video will never get old. Ever. That video should be docked at the "Questions From New Drivers" section and it must be a "Must See".