The most important item your not taught in training

...and just to be fair, cell phones AREN'T technology from this century, either. I had one back in 90's, others back in the 80's. Regardless, your cell phone can't tell you there was just a pile up over the next hill in crappy weather unless someone with your particular number is coming the other way and knows you're there. CB's can have their value, but if you're paying attention and driving properly for conditions, you can do just dandy either way.

 

One time I was driving through Bosie Idaho in rush hour traffic, boxed in pretty good fully loaded gross 105k.
Driver comes on the radio "there is a ladder in the middle lane, watch out!" I was in the very lane he was warning about. Slowed down and got over, just missed running over a jagged and mangled aluminum ladder that surely would have shredded my tires. I always run my radio.

 

I passed another flatbed going uphill 2 days ago, he was pulling one of those Lode King trailers with the dunnage compartment at the rear. Well, the door to that compartment was wide open and dunnage exposed. I tried to get him on the CB, three times. Nothing.... (dunnage free to slide out the back of the trailer)

I don't understand why people think no CB is the way to go, it's a valuable tool IMO. I hear south of the border, the airways are more cluttered with nonsense you don't want to hear, maybe that's why?

 

On the point of respect, I see the earned not given but why not show some respect to another till they show you they don't deserve it.

If I had a magical app to send people need to know info that would be handy for sure. But to my knowledge there is no instant communication like the CB

I been at this a pretty good lil while. I still learn something everyday whether from a newbie or a veteran. The radio has saved my bacon more than once with info in what was over the next hill. Just cause your young doesn't .mean your dumb, but just cause the technology is old doesn't mean it's useless either.

 

(Whispered "I ain't got no panties on"

That guy has been following me around since 2003. Luckily, he says it less often these days.

 

And end up in one of those 70 car pileups because they did not get the message.

 

Yes it is true that there are times when it is nice to have road conditions information. However you have to temper this with all the crap you have to listen to to hear this information. It is a positive vs negative situation. In my opinion for me the negatives by far outweigh the positives. I will keep my CB off.

 

There is an app called Waze that is updated, in real time, by everyone on the road around you. Truckers and 4-wheelers both. It is very useful for finding out about accidents, traffic jams, and speed traps. It also alerts you to all construction zones or debris in the road or hazardous weather conditions. It even warns you of potholes in the road. Any one who has the app can add or update alerts at any time and see all the alerts that others have added. It is way more useful than a CB because all drivers, not just truckers, update it in real time. When I start my trip, I can immediately see every current alert on the whole route and it changes in real time as conditions change. Users can also add custom messages to the map if there is a special situation that others need to know about. It can be set to give you the alerts audibly so you don't even have to look at the phone while driving. And the best part is that, while getting info, you don't have to listen to the vulgarity, racism, and just plain idiocy that is so prevalent on the CB. I don't care about the "brotherhood" of truckers either. Look around next time you're in a truck stop. Do you really consider those people to be your "brothers"?

 

Young'uns are no longer taught to communicate verbally. Instead they use text messaging, chat rooms and email. They never learn to communicate verbally. Yeah they can talk to someone but it seems to be uncomfortable for them. Me, if you text me I am going to call you if I need to talk to you further.

 

Or hit that ladder that fell off a pick up truck around the next curve.