Truckers have developed a unique lingo or jargon over the years, especially for use on CB (Citizens Band) radio, to communicate efficiently and effectively over the airwaves. Here’s a list of some of the most common and colorful CB slang and terms you might hear:
- 10-4: Affirmative or acknowledgment.
- 10-20: Location (“What’s your 20?”).
- Back door: Behind you, or the end of a convoy.
- Bear: A law enforcement officer, usually state troopers or highway patrol.
- Bear in the air: Police aircraft monitoring traffic.
- Bear bait: A speeding vehicle that attracts police attention, protecting those behind it from speed traps.
- Bobtail: Driving a tractor without a trailer.
- Breaker 1-9: A call for any listener on channel 19, the most widely used among truckers.
- Bumper sticker: A vehicle that’s too close to your rear.
- Cash register: A toll booth.
- Chicken coop: Weigh station.
- Chicken lights: Extra lights on a truck.
- Convoy: A group of trucks traveling together.
- Double nickel: 55 mph speed limit.
- Dragon wagon: Tow truck.
- Four-wheeler: Any non-commercial vehicle.
- Full-grown bear: State trooper.
- Good buddy: Originally meant friend, but now often used sarcastically or derogatorily.
- Hammer down: Accelerate, go faster.
- Handle: CB radio nickname.
- Kojak with a Kodak: Police officer with a radar gun.
- Lot lizard: Person who frequents truck stops, often offering companionship for money.
- Mama bear: Female law enforcement officer.
- Meat wagon: Ambulance.
- Mud duck: Weak radio signal.
- Paying the water bill: Stopping to use the bathroom.
- Reefer: Refrigerated trailer.
- Rolling roadblock: Slow-moving vehicles blocking all lanes.
- Rubberneck: Slow down due to accident gawking.
- Shiny side up: Wishing a trucker to stay upright and not flip.
- Skateboard: Flatbed trailer.
- Smokey: Law enforcement officer.
- Smokey report: Update on police locations.
- Snakes in the grass: Hidden police vehicles.
- Taking pictures: Police with radar guns.
- Thermos bottle: Tanker trailer.
- Triple digits: Over 100 mph.
- Two-wheeler: Motorcycle.
- Wally world: Walmart, or a reference to its large parking lots where trucks can park.
- Yardstick: Mile marker on the highway.
This lingo helps truckers to quickly communicate important information, warnings, and sometimes just to chat and keep each other company during long hauls. Keep in mind, this list isn’t exhaustive, and regional variations might exist!
Need the more in-depth details about CB Slangs? Check out our post about CB Lingo now!