Worth getting a CB for the truck?

I have a portable CB (mag ant./cig plug for power) I use in my personal SUV when I go on long trips (10+ hours) pulling a car trailer just so I could listen for traffic or if someone needed to tell me something was wrong with my rig I did not pick up in the mirrors. It also could work the other way to let another know something was wrong with their rig.

I would sometimes take it on driving vacations for same reason above but have left it home last few times out. As said with smart phones and GPS you don’t really need the CB like you did back in the day for directions. Still nice to give/get information something is wrong.

As for the BS I just tune it out if I have the radio with me. Wife can’t stand it said it is just noise!
If I was OTR I think I would have one but LTL I don't know?
Dave ----

 

I have mine on all the time squelch is way up but and the volume is way down but I still can get the " hey driver you have a problem" call if it happens and the always nice to hear "hey driver the road is shut down in front of you " call .
I don't use it much anymore for just #### chatting like the old days but then the drivers out here anymore aren't the old drivers . The world has changed and thus so has trucking in the last 34 years that being said I would get a cheap one or a free one with fueling points and just keep for them times that nothing else will do the job like the old fashioned radio !

 

Always had one, always will. Galaxy 77 HML. Bought it from a guy 10 years ago that needed cash for Christmas. $100.

"West bound, you're coming to a stop over the top of that hill . . . " Priceless. Turn it down or off if it irritates you or you need to focus.

 

I have one and it has helped me a few times rather it was avoiding jams ahead or letting me know I had a light out etc, I have also helped other drivers out on info needed since I work local and know the areas well. There are times I just turn it down when someone is being an idiot, sometimes you get those idiots who also think everyone wants to listen to the music they have on, I know just recently fog was extremely bad and drivers where trying to get info at a truck stop yet some arsehole just kept turning his music on for minutes at a time, dont be one of those jerks.

 

I haven't used a cb during most of my trucking career although they are nice to have for newbies because other drivers can get you out of jams.Also they're nice if you're running with someone.Makes trips a lot less boring.

 

A lot of crap to listen to out there but I was in a loaner truck a few weeks ago and missed mine.

I can't count the amount of times it has saved me time. For ex. A few weeks ago "tanker has a propane leak at the scale up ahead and highway is closed ( i fiund out later that traffic was just stopped on the highway for an hr or 2) luckily I got the warning just before I passed the last exit before the stopped traffic and was able to go around it via backroads.

The other night I had about 2 hrs left to drive to my d.c it was towards the end of my 14 and those last hour or so can be boring (2 lane roads in VT) had another driver from my acct pulling out of a rest area and we were able to bulls&*t the rest if the way made it a lot less boring in the middle of the night

Instances like that happen from time to time and that makes it worth it for me.

 

Please get one. The other day came up on a truck that had no rear lights. Front upper markers were working just nothing at the rear. Tried to connect...no answer. Got up by him and wagged my mic at him. He just shrugged his shoulders. Didn't have a radio.
Came across a flat bedder that had one of those loads that stuff on the front of the trailer was a bit wider that the back freight. Difficult to keep an eye on your straps. Windy as all get out. He had a couple of straps that were loosening up and the load was moving sideways a bit. Grabbed the mic and gave a shout. He happened to run with his radio on. Got stopped before things worsened. You can tighten up straps and in severe winds they will be loose shortly even with the twist in the strap.
Got to have one even if all it does is sit. Priceless for everything mentioned previously. Mine just sits. It is like any other tool, isn't needed until you need it.

 

I have had that happen a few times. "Hey driver no rear lights on your trailer" no answer. I get up next to them and wave the mic and then get the shoulder shrug. I try mmy best to help other drivers but sometimes they don't have the necessary tools for the job