CB Radio vs Waze

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by docomo, Feb 18, 2016.

  1. docomo

    docomo Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Feb 18, 2016
    0
    How useful is a CB radio these days for police/traffic updates on the highway? Is there much chatter at all, useful or otherwise? Am I better off sticking with Waze?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. truckthatpassesyouby

    truckthatpassesyouby Road Train Member

    1,876
    6,124
    Jun 3, 2015
    0
    Can a CB tell you what to plan for 300 miles ahead? No. Can your phone? Yes.
     
    thejackal and TequilaSunrise Thank this.
  4. j_martell

    j_martell Light Load Member

    284
    184
    Jun 12, 2014
    Centre Wellington, Ontario
    0
    I'll always have a CB....most of the time it's ######## coming thru, but it's helped me before and I've helped others.
     
    OLDSKOOLERnWV and JReding Thank this.
  5. JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

    2,370
    8,075
    Jul 29, 2013
    L.A.
    0
    Can Waze tell you there's an alligator in the road, someone broke down in the right lane, or a bad accident ahead on your side of the highway? If it was up to me, a CB would be a required safety item. Think of how many lives they save.
     
  6. ShooterK2

    ShooterK2 Road Train Member

    5,533
    89,469
    Dec 14, 2012
    Oklahoma
    0
    This.

    I couldn't tell you how many times I've found out about all kinds of road hazards just before I got to it because of the CB radio. If there's a group of deer standing in my lane just over the next hill in the dark, I want to know about it before I get there. If there's an accident blocking a couple of lanes of the interstate, I wanna know where and what lane I need to be in BEFORE I get there. Many other things.

    Just the other day I was north bound on I-35 in San Antonio, TX. A southbounder hollered at me. Traffic was backed up for several miles up ahead. I was able to jump off on I-10 and run over to 1604 north thru Universal City and jump back on the big road. Nice drive, and I bypassed the whole mess. That's how trucking is supposed to be. Help each other out. If we don't look out for each other, who will?

    And of course I always warn others of anything they need to know about, but 90% of trucks never respond. I still try anyway.

    What the heck is Waze, anyway?
     
  7. tech10171968

    tech10171968 Medium Load Member

    627
    851
    Nov 16, 2009
    Daytona Beach, FL
    0

    Waze is an Android app for traffic. What happens is, when you see something (car on side of road, accident, bear, whatever), you fire up the app and report it. Everyone within range sees the report with the location on a map moments later.

    It's useful (I use it myself) but there are a couple of drawbacks: Waze allows you to go into detail about whatever you're reporting but hardly anyone does (for example, Waze may report an accident a couple of miles from you but you won't know which lane(s) are blocked because the reporter never mentioned that - happens all the time). Also, Waze isn't necessarily trucker-specific (is the upcoming chicken coop open? 80% of Waze users are 4-wheelers and wouldn't know what a coop was in the first place). You also tend to get quite a few nonsense reports (vehicle on side of road? So what?) But it can be useful if you know how to filter out the nonsense.


    I find Waze, plus another, more trucker-oriented app (Trucker Path ) can make for a effective combination, but nothing beats the helpful details you get from another driver over the CB.
     
  8. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

    7,740
    14,412
    May 7, 2011
    0
    Regs prohibit using your phone while driving, so that app is a no-go. Get caught entering or reading info on it while driving and the penalty is pretty steep. CB, on the other hand, is perfectly legal.
     
  9. Terry270

    Terry270 Road Train Member

    1,455
    1,678
    Jan 21, 2014
    BG, KY
    0
    Anyone that thinks a CB isn't necessary needs thier head examined. Take a look at all these morons (driving too fast for conditions for one) that probably work for companies that don't allow CB's for "safety"

     
  10. strollinruss

    strollinruss Road Train Member

    1,366
    1,697
    Jun 5, 2012
    Montgomery, TX
    0
    I won't turn a wheel without my radio(CB). It's an essential of a tool as gloves and a map. Anyone who needs to debate this can jump off a cliff as far as I'm concerned.
     
    Timin770, Terry270 and JReding Thank this.
  11. dca

    dca Road Train Member

    6,834
    11,423
    May 31, 2011
    Earth
    0
    has the chatter on box changed, last time I listened in all were blaming a student driver and trainer that caused a a few trucks and rv's to wreck when it was the wind gust with dust that blew em all over. or so the report released said
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.