Cell phone ban

this has been a law in a lot of states for a long time

 

I see this topic interesting as it relates to CB's.

I approve of mandating "hands free" for mobile phones, and while I can understand the logic behind banning even hands free usage (although I strongly oppose it), I don't think the same fate will fall upon CB's. Talking on cells can be very personal and arguments/disagreements can erupt. Therein lies the potential distraction. And cells don't present any value to the company as far as I know (except for keeping the driver happy).

I think there's much less potential to be distracted using a CB hands free. So I'm not convinced that if companies/government finally banned all cell usage while driving that CB's are next. It only makes sense, and since CB's have been around forever and have proven business value I don't see them going away.

Saying that CD players are next is also a stretch. If they were to ban CD players then they're basically implying that drivers are too dumb and uncoordinated to handle driving while listening to Chopin, Beethoven or Mozart. And yet they label us "Professionals". It doesn't add up and as stupid as it is I don't think even Uncle Sam would go that far.

 

Wrong about cells not be use for companies. At my last company it was required to have one, and if they couldn't get ahold of you anytime immediately there was a climbing level of disciplines.

I've seen more drivers arguing on CB's than anything else. Even to the point of getting out and fighting. That happens all the time, I've even had some try and start fights and I have to turn the dumb thing off.

 

All companies do not have quallcomms or the like, cells are the only way you give and get information throughout the day!

 

Well, that's good then. I'm glad that some companies find cells good use for business. Maybe they'll fight for trucker's wanting to keep hands free.

And if these truckers are so hot headed to do THAT, imagine how hot they'd be with the wife over the cell for something. Distraction? You bet!

Sounds good to me! I'm glad I was wrong about cell phones not being of business use.

 

The opposite is true on both accounts; cell phones are virtually indispensable and CBs are almost next to useless.

 

I use my CB more than I use my cell phone. Probably talk to 3 or 4 dozen people per day over the CB...talking to drivers I know to catch up with them....talking to drivers I don't know to get traffic/road/bear reports.....talking to loader operators during loading or to find out where to go to unload....talking to plant security....etc. Of course running local like I do, you're more likely to see other drivers you know.

I can go days without using my phone, though...I've been known to head out in the morning and leave the silly thing at home.

 

The only way to get rid of distractions on the road is to make all four wheelers use alternate routes! Anything else is a piece of cake.

And I don't have to imagine anything, been doing this for 11 years.

 

Well, there you go, you're local. Completely different out here. The CB gets so frustrating we only turn it on in traffic to find out what going on ahead. Which is rare OTR most of the time you are driving in the middle of nowhere.

Also our cells are the only way we talk to our family and friends for months at a time sometimes.

 

Shoulda been around before cell phones. The phone room in the truckstops used to be real fun. Then they started putting phones at the counters and booths, in the resturants. You could actually talk to Sweetie Pie, while you choked on coconut pie!