The history of Citizens Band, or CB radio is more interesting than I first thought it would. Let's take a short look at it so we have an understanding about why the cb radio came into existance and to see at some of the things a CB radio was used for back then, and now.
The citizens band radio service originated in the United States as one of several personal radio services regulated by the Federal Communications Commission(FCC). These services began in 1945 to permit citizens a radio band for personal communication (e.g., radio-controlled model airplanes and family and business communications).
During the 1960s, the service was popular among small businesses (e.g., electricians, plumbers, carpenters), truck drivers and radio hobbyists. By the late 1960s advances in solid-state electronics allowed the weight, size, and cost of the radios to fall, giving the public access to a communications medium previously only available to specialists. CB radio clubs were formed; a CB slang language evolved alongside 10-codes, similar to those used in emergency services.
After the 1973 oil crisis the U.S. government imposed a nationwide 55 mph speed limit, and fuel shortages and rationing were widespread. CB radio was used (especially by truckers) to locate service stations with better supplies of fuel, to notify other drivers of speed traps, and to organize blockades and convoys in a 1974 strike protesting the new speed limit and other trucking regulations. One leader was able to almost single-handedly coordinate an interstate highway blockade of hundreds of tractor-trailers in eastern Pennsylvania using the citizens band radio in his truck. His name was J.W. Edwards and his "handle" (on air nickname) was "River Rat". The blockade began on I-80 and quickly spread throughout the country, with River Rat's messages literally being relayed from one area of trucks to the next. The radios were crucial for independent truckers; many were paid by the mile, which meant their productivity was impacted by the 55-mph speed limit. The use of CB radios in 1970s films such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Breaker! Breaker! (1977) and Convoy (1978), popular novelty songs such as C.W. McCall's "Convoy" (1975), providing inspiration for songs like Breaker-Breaker from the Outlaws (1976) and truckers legendary, and on television series such as Movin' On (debuted in 1974) and The Dukes of Hazzard (debuted 1979) established CB radio as a nationwide craze in the United States in the mid- to late 1970s.
Originally, CB required a purchased license ($20 in the early 1970s, reduced to $4 on March 1, 1975) and the use of a callsign; however, when the CB craze was at its peak many people ignored this requirement and invented their own nicknames (known as "handles"). Rules on authorized use of CB radio (along with lax enforcement) led to widespread disregard of the regulations (notably in antenna height, distance communications, licensing, call signs and transmitter power).
Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States, used the CB handle "First Mama". Voice actor Mel Blanc was also an active CB operator, often using "Bugs" or "Daffy" as his handle and talking on the air in the Los Angeles area in one of his many voice characters. He appeared in an interview (with clips having fun talking to children on his home CB radio station) in the NBC Knowledge television episode about CB radio in 1978. Similar to internet chat rooms a quarter-century later, CB allowed people to get to know one another in a quasi-anonymous manner. As with the internet, CB radio usage allowed the worst characteristics of anonymity.
Originally, there were 23 CB channels in the U.S.; the 40-channel band plan was implemented in 1977. Additionally, there were two more channels between 22 & 23, commonly referred to as 22A & 22B. Several people had 22A, but not many had 22B. In the early 1970s Radio Shack sold a "base station" CB radio that contained a crystal for each of the 23 channels, two extra slots existed, and you could order the 22A & 22B crystals for an easy plug-in. Channel 9 was officially reserved for emergency use by the FCC in 1969. Channel 10 was originally often used for highway travel communications east of the Mississippi River, and channel 19 west of the Mississippi; channel 19 then became the preferred highway channel in most areas, as it did not have adjacent-channel interference problems with channel 9. Many CB’ers called channel 19 "the trucker's channel".
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio
For those of us who were running a rig in the 70’s through the 90’s we relied heavily on the freedom the CB offered us. We were able to gain information that no radio station could provide from where the next bear was to up to the minute traffic reports. For me, that CB radio kept me awake on those long trips across the deserts of Nevada and Arizona, as it did for most drivers.
While in our trucks, channel 19 became our sole source of communication with the world. Cell phones were either non-existant at the time, or to costly. We could talk to the world on that radio, and we did. Mostly, we talked with other truckers and there were occasions when we talked to 4-wheelers too. Occasionally, we'd pick up traffic from some foreign land such as the Carribean Islands or Mexico. I remember hearing a lot of CB radio talk coming out of Japan in the very late night hours on clear night in the desert.
We created a language, of sorts, that was used extensively while talking on the CB. I’ve created a list of some of the language we used at the end of this article. Though it’s not a complete list, much of it is still used today among drivers who continue to use the CB radio.
Today, the use of the CB radio has become, seemingly, a tool in our ancient past. Many truckers blame the new technology used in entertainment as the culprit for the lack of CB use now. With the creation of satellite radio, stations such as XM and Sirius Radio have apparently taken the place of the CB radio. Drivers all over now dial in there favorite satellite radio station, whether it be music or talk radio, and use that as their source of “company” during those long, lonely trips across America’s highways.
Regardless of what technology is out there, or whatever reason there are less people using the CB radio nowadays, it is still one of the most reliable sources of communication a truck driver has available to them. Whether it be a shipper or receiver your trying to contact, or another driver going down the highway, someone, somewhere will have their radio on and is waiting on that next person to talk to.
There are those of us that are still avid CB radio fans. Of course, our numbers seem to be dwindling, but there are new CB users and fans coming out of the woodwork. If your new to the world of CB radio, here is some of the language you’ll hear, and their meanings. If there's any I missed, and I'm sure I have, please drop me a comment telling me what I've missed. Thanks and enjoy!
CB Radio Lingo and Trucker Slang
Just A Few Cities
NickName
Amarillo, TX
Big A
Atlanta, GA
Watermelon 500
Birmingham, AL
B Town
Boston, MA
Bean-Town
Charlotte, NC
Queen City
Chattanooga, TN
Choo-Choo
Chicago, IL
Windy City, or Chi-Town (pronounced shy-town
Dallas, TX
Big D
Detroit, MI
Motor City
Durham, NC
Bull City
Houston, TX
The Dome
Indianapolis, IN
The Brickyard
Kansas City, KS
Bright Lights
Knoxville, TN
K-Town
Los Angeles, CA
Shaky-Town
Louisville, KY
Derby City
Milwaukee, WI
Beer Town
Nashville, TN
Guitar, or Music City
New York City, NY
Big Apple
Reno, NV
Sin City, or Biggest Little City
San Antonio, TX
Alamo City
San Francisco, CA
Gay Bay
St. Louis, MO
Gateway, or Armpit of America
Tampa, FL
Cigar City
Trucker CB Radio Lingo
Explanation
Trucker CB Radio Lingo
Explanation
10-100
Bathroom Break
Driving by braille
Using the bump strip to guide you
10-20
Location
Dry Box
A plain freight trailer with no refridgerator
10-33
Emergency
Evil Kneival
Motorcycle Cop
10-36
What is the correct time
Eyeball
Headlight
10-4
OK/Copy
Fat Ladies
Cows headed to the stockyard to fatten up before going to slaughter
Alligator
Blown Tire In Road
Flip Flop
U-turn or return trip
Alligator Radio
CB with "All Mouth" and "No Ears"
Fog Line
Solid white line on side of roadway
Ankle Biter
Small Child
Four Wheeler
Car
Antler Alley
Deer Crossing
Freight Shaker
Freightliner truck
Back Door
Behind You
Full Grown Bear
Highway Patrol
Back Door Closed
Rear of Convoy Covered from Police
Georgia Overdrive
Put into neutral going down a hill to gain speed
Back Off The Hammer
Slow Down
Going Cyclops
Vehicle with one headlight not working
Back Out
Driver is finished talking
Good Buddy
Now used as a term referring to a homosexual
Back'em Up
Slow Down
Granny Lane
Slow Lane
BackSlide
Return Trip
Greasy Side Up or Dirty Side Up
Car or Truck with wheels in the air, or meaning upside down
Barefoot
Using An Unmodified CB
Greasy Stuff
Snow and/or Ice
Base Station
Radio at a fixed location
Ground Pressure
Weight of a Truck
Bean Popper
Pill Popper
Hammer Down
Move faster
Bear
Police Officer
Hammer Lane
Left Lane (Fast Lane)
Bear Bait
Speeding Car
Handle
CB Nickname
Bear Cave
Police Station
Home 20
Your Home
Bear in the air
Police in aircraft
Keep the left door closed
Get to work!
Bear Trap
Stationary Police w/ Radar
Keystone
Pennsylvania
Beaver
Female
Landline
Wired telephone
Better Half
Significant Other (Spouse)
Large Car
Very fast, nice truck
Big Hole
Top Gear
Left Coast
West Coast
Big R
Roadway Express Truck
Lot Lizard
Truck Stop Prostitute
Big Slab or Big Road
Interstate
Meat-Wagon
Ambulance
Bikini State
Florida
Motion Lotion
Diesel
Bird Dog
Radar Detector
New Sneakers
New Tires
Blew My Doors Off
Passed with Great Speed
Northbound in the Southbound
Wrong way driver
Bobtail
Tractor w/ no trailer attached
Parking Lot
A truck hauling cars
Brake Check
Traffic is slowing down, possible stop
Pickle Park
Rest Area
Break
Need others to quit talking on CB to ask a question
Polar Bear
Unmarked white cop car
Buckeye
Ohio
Pole Cat
Skunk
Bulldog
Mack Truck
Pumpkin
Schneider Truck
Bullrack or Cattle Wagon
Trailer built to haul livestock
Radio Check
Does my radio work?
Bumper Sticker
Car too close to bumper
Salad Bar
Stockyards
Care Bear
Cop protecting construction crews
Salt Shaker
Snow Plow
Cash Register or Cash Box
Toll Booth
Seat Cover
Female passenger
Catch Ya On The Flip Flop
See Ya On Return Trip
Sesame Street
CB Channel 19
CB Rambo
All talk, no show
Shake the bushes
Run ahead to lure out the bears
Chicken Coup
Weight Station
Shooting You In The Back
Police who is out of sight, using a radar to shoot you as you pass by
Chicken Lights
Extra lights on a truck
Short Short
Short time
City Kitty
City Police
Skateboard
Flatbed without a load
Clean Shot
Road is clear of police ahead
Stand on it
Stand on the fuel pedal
Coffin Dodger
Old person driving too slow
Taking pictures
Police using radar
Comedian
Center Median Strip
The Hook
Flying J Truck Stop
Comic Book or Coloring Book
Drivers Log Book
The Mitten State or Wolverine State
Michigan
Comin in Loud & Proudd
Strong CB Signal
Throw Some Rope
Secure a flatbed load
Conestoga
Flatbed trailer w/ ribs and soft top
Topped It
Hit an overhead object with truck, trailer or load
County Mountie
Sheriff
Travel Agent
Dispatcher
Covered Wagon
Flatbed with sides and cover
Triple Digit Ride
Vehicle that can exceed 100 MPH
Crotch Rocket
Motorcycle
Turkey Day
Thanksgiving
Deadhead
Drive an Empty truck and trailer to get a load
Utardians
Bad Utah Drivers
Diesel Cop
DOT
Wally World
Wal-Mart
Dispatcher Brains
Hauling a very light load or empty trailer
Wiggle Wagon
Double or Triple Trailers
Double Nickel
55 Miles per Hour
Yard
Truck Terminal
Dragon Fly
A truck that drags up a hill and flies down
Yard Stick
Mile Marker
Zipper
The broken highway center line
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