Why doesn't anyone talk on the radio anymore?

Lately I've been getting into some pretty decent conversations on the radio...It almost seems like the old days at times where I'll be chatting with a guy and someone will ask to break in and we'll stop talking for a little while and then when it's quiet again we'll resume chatting.

I did this with a guy all the way across Oklahoma and into Texas the other day without once hearing from any of the peanut gallery of idiots that usually talk real loud but have nothing of value to say.


It was nice.

 

well i thank truckers ,when i was 17 coming from new york to texas are trailer cot on firer and we didn't know it because it was foggy out .well if the trucker wouldn't have came on the cb radio the hole trailer and car would have gone up .he stoped help us on hook it and help us put it out.thats why i liked talking on the cb it was fun to hear stories from them .well to all you truckers thanks for what you all do for us my god watch over you all and keep you safe .

 

I think the economy has weeded out a lot of the Garbage. Drivers and Companies alike.

I don't get into the politics and stats and econimics of this fallen economy much but one of my co-workers does and he said the whole Market at all levels is just correcting itself from all the years of gross overages. IE: too many truckers and too many companies in your case. But don't feel alone. Every industry has been hit equally.

It is nice to go into work and not see a bunch of kid/clowns off the street trying to compete with me and my 19yrs experience for the same pay at that in some cases.

 

There are times when I get into a "groove" on the road and find some "runnin' buddies" for some miles and it IS like the old days. Back when Daddy had his old Midland and a LICENSE NUMBER on it, and a Hustler on the side. (Antenna, not magazine). But if you are in West Memphis, TN all bets are OFF!

 

I still use Hustler antennas they are still around .

 

I grew up listening to the truckers on the CB. My Mom made any long drive with her CB on, and we loved the chatter.

I just made a trip to Kalamazoo, MI and back (from Maryland) and on the way home made an impulse buy of a CB and antenna. I sure wish I did it on the way out!

When I first turned it on I thought something was wrong, because I heard nothing but silence. (Which caused the purchase of an external speaker I didn't need) Not something that would have happened 'back in the day'.

But by the time we were back on the road, we were talking with some drivers heading the same way and we chatted for hours! An occasional comment from other drivers, along with smokey warnings and traffic back-ups were interspersed. It was great -- and my 17 year old son was in hysterics at the 'banter'.

Yeah, some of it dropped into questionable areas, especially since I'm female -- but the language and comments were no worse than you hear on TV.

Yes, I'm commenting on about 8 hours of recent experience. Once we headed south and lost the guys we were chatting with, it did get silent again (except for the reports). But all we had to do was ask some questions to get other conversations going.

I hope our brief experience wasn't a rare moment... I guess we'll find out the next time we go out!

 

Angel

You bring up some good points. Most people are too timid to talk on the radio for fear of the #######, but there's still some good things on 19 if you wait for it.

Glad you had a good experience.

 

I live right next to I-90 in northern Illinois, around here 19 is never quiet. Mostly junk my radio is louder/echos longer/can key over yours, and not just from the drivers.. Quite a few bases out here enjoy nothing more than harassing drivers. When I actually have my radio on in my van (working to CDL-A) I try to help out. But it's not on much due to RF interference from another piece of equipment.

I'd love to see it back the way it was when I first got in in the 70's.. REACT was everywhere..local and state PD's monitored 9 and were occasionally on 19...

My family license was KBHB 3814.. Ran CB from then to 91 when I got my ham license.. Still own a couple rigs.. My President McKinley which I bought in High School, and tuned, modded, and toyed with during my stint as apprentice tech at the local CB shop will never leave my collection...

 

amen on w. memphis driver....those container guyes never shut up!!!!!!!!!

 

PMJI, & I realize that I am responding to a old post, but I have been lurking for a number of hours now (looking for CB & antenna info)& this msg reminded me why I have a lot of respect for you long haulers.

About 25 years ago now my sister was driving, with her infant daughter, from Buffalo NY down to Texas where her husband was stationed. She was going through a tough time in her life back then and due to severe insomnia made the entire trip without sleep. She stopped in to visit me on her way down and I gave her my portable CB in case of an emergency.

Not long after she started on her way again a trucker spotted the antenna on the roof and contacted her to see if she was okay. During the time they were heading in the same direction he kept talking with her and whenever she had to stop for gas or to take care of the baby he pulled over as well.

Eventually they had to part ways but he made contact with another driver who was going her way and that driver stayed with her as well for as long as he could.

And so it went the whole trip; each driver, before they had to part ways, set up an escort to stay with her till she got to her destination.

As touched as I was; I was not totally surprised; our father and step-father both worked in the trucking industry, as diesel mechanics, and we had the pleasure of meeting a good number of drivers, in our home and over the air, while growing up.

I know I'm a number of years late, but thank you to all you folks who do what you do to help out when you can.

K

Have a Magical Day!