Should i buy a CB radio

I have one, use it occasionally. With smart phones really not necessary. Now when theres a tie up other drivers just get on after there stopped and yell "What Lanes is Blocked". I just leave my radio on 50mhz...

 

Yes, you should because you can stay up to date like road conditions, news about an accident, and weather conditions. You can’t drive with a phone in your hand. So instead, you listen out of your surroundings in case you might end up in the situation.

 

Does Waze tell you which lane is open? No, no it doesn't.

 

I never had one. Never felt I needed one.

Google Maps tells you when traffic is slowed down (lines are colored yellow) or at a complete stop (lines are colored red).

Weather apps on your phone can give you weather updates. I would say about 75% of the lower 48 states have their own state app (Type 511 after the state name on your cell phones app store) and you can set it up where the states 511 app sends you alerts.

Sometimes your phone won't have signal. I can tell you with Verizon it's pretty rare, even in places like Wyoming or Montana. You'de be surprised how far cell phone coverage has come over the past decade as far as the interstates are concerned at least.

It's up to you. Essentially the cell phone has replaced the CB. Unless your company is super strict and won't let you use bluetooth for the phone (so you could tell Siri to check your weather channel app or check the states 511 app, etc. etc.) then you don't really need a CB if you're just a regular OTR dry van/reefer driver.

Though I can see in situations where having it could help you. So if you do get one maybe just get a cheap one and have it turned off 99% of the time.

 

Why is it that you guys that are so good at using new technology absolutely hate the idea of using old technology? I agree a smartphone and all the apps are great and very useful. But a CB can do all those things but better! CB can tell you exactly where the road turns to pure ice, or that the bridge on that curve just had a car spin sideways blocking your lane. Or like slow rider said alert you to things on your own rig. And all you have to do is turn it ON

 

What everyone else said. Around cities, heavy highway traffic, bad weather, it's nice to have warning about stuff. The directions thing? It was always funny to me, if someone was asking directions and nobody was answering but you knew how to get em there, you finally give in and try to help out and all of the sudden a hundred guys are giving a hundred versions of directions because yours are wrong, LOL.

I drive/drove a lot at night and I just like the background noise, the break of the squelch from somebody far away, the occasional static. I keep the squelch and volume turned down but if a couple of people are having a decent conversation it's nice to listen too and it's just one of those things that's comforting to me in the middle of the night, especially if I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Arguments, panty talk, name calling, I just turn it down till I'm outta the area and eventually realize how quiet it is before I turn it back up, LOL.

 

What phone app should I use to tell you that your trailer lights are dark, or that you arebdragging a "gator", your fuel caps are missing, etc?

 

None. But, the guy who trained me a couple of years ago has gone over a decade without a CB now. He's been fine without it. I've seen drivers pull up beside me and honk or point or whatever and that lets me know something is going on. I've done the same for them at times.

I don't know. I've been without one. Yes somebody could tell me over the CB that something is wrong. But for the 1% of the time (probably less than that) that the CB is useful, I would have to listen to whatever garbage was on the CB 99% of the time which would cause my mental health (and probably IQ) to degrade. Not worth it for me and my mental health, even with the volume turned on low.

To each their own though and I'm not a veteran so others probably know better than me. That 1% of the time that the CB is useful could just save my behind one day, I know. Still don't really want one.

It's a tool that can be useful but in 2021 it's not essential. I think in 20-30 years from now the CB will be a thing of the past.

 

What’s the phone number of that west bound bull wagon? Or that North bound tanker coming at you?

 

As I said in my post. They can come in handy. I'm not trying to be argumentative with anybody (I hope I don't come off that way). I'm just saying In 2021 they're not essential though. If you want to use them great. If you don't want to use them you will probably be okay as well.

And actually I think some companies even ban CB's, I think I read Saia LTL bans them (could be wrong but I know some companies do ban them).