Why my CB radio is on all the time, and why yours should be, too

The CB may be dying, but I'm hoping for enough people to try to revive it.
If you don't care to have it on, that's your prerogative, but I'm a little surprised at the outright hostility towards it.
There are many a night where I won't hear a single peep, and then there's other nights where I can't wait to get far enough down the road so that I'm out of range of our local base tower dweebs, spending all their time talking about how big their radio is, and shouting down any driver who tries to get a word in edgewise (they're usually drunk or stoned at this point).
What amuses me constantly is when there IS a problem, and we're all caught at a standstill, suddenly EVERYBODY has their radio on, griping about being caught in the traffic. I know almost nobody will hear me, but I'll still call out to drivers heading the other direction when the road is blocked by a collision, or a stalled vehicle, or debris or a dead elk in the road. I've been thanked enough time's know that the radio is still a very useful tool if enough people would implement it once again.
It's always nice on my return trip from Portland in the morning to hear the loggers around the Longview area give their shoutouts in the morning, especially on Fridays. These folks are a throwback to what I would guess were the "good old days" of radio traffic:
"'Mornin', Bob. Where you off to?"
"'Mornin', Al. Heading up to the..."(usually I have no idea what they're talking about at this point).
"Okay. Just be aware they're doing some paving out there today, you may want to go around the back way."
"Thanks, Al. You got big plans this weekend?"
"Oh, me and the wife are heading to the coast, the kids are staying with their grandparents."
"Sounds great. Well, you both have a good time, I'll talk to you Monday."
"You too, stay safe."
These loggers have helped me out a couple times, as well. Great bunch of drivers.

 

If you want to use a CB use one, nobody is suggesting you don't. I'll get by without one, but I've also been driving a day cab for the last 8 years or so, after many years of otr, so ymmv.





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I'll never forget that CB raise up about 3 years ago now; "HAY TRIPOD, YOUR BRAKES ARE SMOKING.."
Was one of the first years hauling UPI out of season for my asphalt, and the securement AND the trailer sucked, but what did I know? Not much; I'm not a flatbedder by trade...was my 1st year, no training off season. I still respect the hellouttayouguys~!!
That guy saved my life, perhaps. At least my job. He waved as he drove by, and I re-secured my load and adjusted the trailer issues, best I could. He was NOT an O/O by the way; a very reputable co. guy.
So yeah, it's saved my life. . . and when we get to Shelly in Toledo, guess what?!? we go to channel 3 niner for instructions as to which hangar to dock at.
Still works for me; sorry y'all younguns that don't see the need. I require.

 

Exactly

My CB is a paper weight, tuning sucks, no good reliable shops in my area anymore to get it correct, so I don't bother, not to mention, I don't speak Spanish, and 75% of the conversations are the dirt haulers rambling in Spanish.

 

If I see something on the other side, I usually try to let them know, but in the two years since I've been back on the road, I think I have heard a "thank you" maybe twice. No one listens anymore. My co-driver doesn't listen because he says people make him made and it distracts his driving. I've watched him and he is right. Short temper sort of fella. It doesn't bother me. If someone starts to irritate me I turn it down for about five minutes.

 

Something else I find amusing is once in awhile, I'll try to raise a driver in front of me who has something wrong with his/her truck:
"How 'boutcha, Reddaway?"
---silence---
"Southbound, Reddaway, you got it on?"
---silence---
"Okay, I guess you don't need to know what's wrong with your truck..."
"I'm here! What's wrong???"

Yep. True story.

 

most have those backup radios anyhow. I use mine a few times a week as this portion of i70 is a crash magnet. 9/10 times I'll get a response and a thank you with info regarding my side of the road. im a company driver in a day cab, but I still see a consistent use for the radio on the road. I run 2500-3k miles weekly mon-fri and its active as hell around here. Indy has a few base stationers that can be heard as soon you hit the loop, they're ALWAYS on.