If I break off one of the two antennas will it prevent the radio from transmitting?

I was in a spare truck the other day (not assigned to anyone) and I broke one of the antennas off when I hit some branches. There was antenna on each mirror. The CB radio does not transmit. I tested it by trying to talk to a driver sitting in the truck next to me. I figured it should still transmit if it still has one antenna so maybe the radio didn't transmit before I got in and broke the antenna. I am guessing, though, that the broken antenna is the problem. Still I don't understand why since there is still another one.

 

I don't know if it's a dummy. All of our trucks have an antenna on each mirror. No I didn't try putting the antenna on the other side. So if that other antenna ISN'T a dummy, do you think the radio should stilll transmit? I will go to the yard this weekend and have a look at the other one to see if it is a dummy, but I don't know why it would be?

 

Really? I thought it was a CB radio and antennas operated the same regardless of the year and make of the truck? I guess I'm in over my head. I was looking for CB radio 101 information. I don't know much about CB radios at all. I am not over-the-road, I just do local stuff, and we rarely use a radio.

 

We have late model Volvos. There is an antenna on each mirror. The antennas are matching white. The needle does not move when I mic it. After I broke off the antenna, I parked next to a coworker and asked if he could hear me on the radio, and he could not. I could hear him, though. The antenna that broke is on the passenger side. Dumb question, do those antennas have cables that go into them? I was thinking I could take one from another truck and put it on.