I leave my CB off most of the time now

I can't count how many times the CB helped me get around accidents and backups, especially on I-95. Yep, there are clowns and road warriors everywhere but I keep mine on most of the time. Once in a while, like around Charlotte, I might turn it off for a little while but for the most part, the juvenile antics don't bother me unless it's a way overpowered unit tossing a carrier or repeating the same thing over and over and over ... like I hear in and around Charlotte more times than not. It all comes down to a personal preference. I run about 100 watts with a D104 M6C and enjoy talking skip on some of the other channels and SSB. It helps pass the time.

 

I could reply, but any comments dealing with politics belong in the political forum. Password is Thickskin.

 

I taught my kids "when in bumper to bumper traffic where it should not be bumper to bumper watch where the majority of the semi's are there on the CB and are getting into the open lanes" Thanks to my CB I was notified the the spring on my trailer airs line had broke and was able to get pulled over and fixed it before it became a bad situation. But there are area's I turn it down due to C.B. Rambo's racists. other wise I have gotten some great deals on chrome, xbox's games a couple of laptops fridge's, inverters all from Broke drivers looking to eat or get home. ( most of it I re sold on Ebay for a nice profit) also I have found via the CB there is usually a couple of drivers up for trading books or Movies. My CB has more than paid for it's self.

 

Usually they would either get my cell number or just come out to the truck to get me. One time I had to wait inside the lounge. Another time they called on the CB for a volunteer to knock on my truck and tell me which door.

There are so many drivers now without CBs that it is just no big deal. The shippers and receivers are used to it.

 

While mine is normally off, there are specific times when it is on....approaching a metro area, a known work-zone, bad weather, and once I get into the truck stop. It's something you could call "anticipitory usage". Yeah, I may get socked into a delay sometimes, but more often than not, by the time I hit the backup, the alternate routes are no better.

But I must admit that just last week, I got around a delay thanks to the CB. Work zone that was unusually slow (and may have had an incident within it). I had just turned the radio on within the previous two or three minutes. Got lucky that time....

 

Yea, I forgot about that aspect of the CB. Can't forget the annual Christmas offerings from drivers selling stuff. I've bought some great stuff for cheap around the truck stops near the 77/81 split around Wytheville, including my little foot warmer, clothes, toys and other stuff.

 

I could easily agree with you but I have to say that I maintained an "old school" conversation with another driver for about 75 miles on and off the other night. We were both running into Dallas area on I-20 and that was an effortless drive because of it. How about us older OTR types agreeing to bring back other "old school" values for the road (Without the drugs or outlaw running because those days are over for good)? We could start with this forum.

 

I rather talk on the phone or listen to my truck than to hear the ignorance and racist jokes on the cb and radio..

 

My CB is on. I don't often talk on it... many nights there's no one out there any longer.

...but when the chatter picks up, you know something is going on. Time to pay attention! I've been warned of traffic backups early enough to get on an easy detour around it. Also, a couple of times another trucker has brought a problem with my truck to my attention - things you just can't see from the cab.

It's well worth the investment, and having it turned on!