Citizen band radios (CB radios) originated in the United States in 1945 as a short distance personal radio service that was regulated by the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) for the purpose of allowing citizens to have personal communication. In the 1960's CB's became popular with Truck drivers, tradesmen, and radio hobbyist. Many CB clubs were formed a short time later.
10 codes - were created in 1937 by Charles Hopper, a radio enthusiast, and communications director of the Illinois state police-district 10. Because of radio engineering in those days, it took 1/10 - 1/4 of a second for a radio to transmit after pushing the microphone button. So, the police had to pause after depressing the button before they could speak into the microphone. The 10 codes themselves were created to reduce the amount of time it took to transmit a message keeping the air wave clear for other officers, putting the 10 before each numerical code gave the officer the amount of time he needed to pause in case he got in a hurry and didn't pause. 10 codes were made popular among avid CB users by 1950's television shows about police officers, and more so by 1970's trucking movies and songs.
CB radios originally required a license and a call sign to use them, however, over time people began to disregard the rule of a call sign and started using handles they gave themselves. Eventually people disregarded the licensing rules so much that the licensing was dropped by the FCC.
CB radios have lost their popularity through the years due to peoples interest in cell phone use and other forms of communication. Which is good for the serious over the road truck driver, because now we have less amount of people with their bad attitudes blocking up the air waves, and it still serves as a great tool for keeping up with bear checks, traffic reports, and passing the time while earning your keep. 10-4.
CB 10 Codes - Association of Public Communications (APCO) The ones most useful for truck drivers are marked in blue, although most people seldom use 10 codes anymore. It became easier through the years to just use words. As a side note I think there are a whole lot of 10-96 on the roads these days.
10-0 Caution 10-1 Poor signal/unable to copy 10-2 Good signal 10-3 Stop transmitting 10-4 Understood/OK/Understand? 10-5 Relay 10-6 Stand by unless urgent 10-7 Out of service 10-8 In service 10-9 Repeat/come back 10-10 Fight in progress 10-11 Dog case 10-12 Stop/Stand by 10-13 Weather/Road report 10-14 Prowler report 10-15 Civil disturbance 10-16 Domestic disturbance 10-17 Meet complainant 10-18 Quickly 10-19 Return to 10-20 Location 10-21 Use telephone 10-22 Disregard 10-23 Arrived at scene 10-24 Assignment completed 10-25 Report in person 10-26 Detaining subject 10-27 Drivers license info 10-28 Vehicle registration info 10-29 Check for wanted 10-30 Unnecessary use of radio 10-31 Crime in progress 10-32 Man with a gun 10-33 Emergency 10-34 Riot 10-35 Major crime alert 10-36 Correct time 10-37 (investigate) suspicious vehicle 10-38 Stopping a suspicious vehicle 10-39 Urgent 10-40 Silent approach 10-41 Begin shift 10-42 Ending shift 10-43 Information 10-44 Permission to leave/permission for a break 10-45 Animal carcass at 10-46 Assist motorist 10-47 Emergency road repair at 10-48 Traffic standard repair at 10-49 Traffic light out at 10-50 Accident (fatal,personal injury,property damage) 10-51 Wrecker needed 10-52 Ambulance needed 10-53 Road blocked at 10-54 Livestock on highway 10-55 Suspected DUI 10-56 Intoxicated pedestrian 10-57 Hit and run (fatal,personal injury,property damage) 10-58 Direct traffic 10-59 Convoy/escort 10-60 Squad in vicinity 10-61 Isolate self for message 10-62 Reply to message 10-63 Prepare to make written copy 10-64 Message for local delivery 10-65 Net message assignment 10-66 Message cancellation 10-67 Clear for net message 10-68 Dispatch information 10-69 Message received 10-70 Fire 10-71 Advise nature of fire 10-72 Report progress on fire 10-73 Smoke report 10-74 Negative 10-75 In contact with 10-76 En route to 10-77 ETA (estimated time of arrival) 10-78 Need assistance 10-79 Notify coroner 10-80 Chase in progress 10-81 Breathalyzer 10-82 Reserve lodging 10-83 Work school crossing at 10-84 If meeting...advise ETA 10-85 Delay due to 10-86 Officer/operator on duty 10-87 Pick up/Distribute checks 10-88 Present telephone number of 10-89 Bomb threat 10-90 Bank alarm at 10-91 Pick up subject/prisoner 10-92 Improperly parked vehicle 10-93 Blockade 10-94 Drag racing 10-95 Subject/prisoner in custody 10-96 Mental subject 10-97 Check signal 10-98 Prison/jail break 10-99 Wanted/stolen
Trucker CB Terminology,Slang,or Lingo
By City:
Amarillo,TX. Big A Atlanta,GA Watermelon500/Hotlanta Boston,MA. Bean Town Birmingham,AL B Town Chicago,IL. Windy,Windy City Chattanooga,TN. Choo-Choo Charlotte,NC Queen City Durham,NC Bull City Dallas,TX The Big D Detroit,MI Motor City Houston,TX The Dome Indianapolis,IN Indy 500 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 Reno,NV Sin City St.Louis,MO Gateway San Antonio,TX Alamo City San Fransisco,CA Gay Bay Tampa,Fl. Cigar City New York City,NY. Big Apple
Truckers CB Lingo
Alligator Blown tire in the road Ankle biter Small child Antler alley Deer crossing Baby Bear Rookie cop Back door Behind you Back door closed Rear of convoy covered from police Back em up Slow down Backside Return trip Back off the hammer Slow down Back out Driver has finished talking Bear Police officer (any kind) Barefoot Using an unmodified CB Base station CB radio at a fixed location Bear in the air Police in a helicopter or plane Bear bait Speeding car Bear cave Police station Bear trap Stationary police w/radar in a slow speed zone Beaver Female Bean popper Some one using pills Big road/Big slab Interstate Bikini state Florida Better half Wife/Husband Blew my/your doors off Passed with great speed Bird dog Radar detector Big hole Top gear Bobtail Tractor only no trailer Break check Traffic is slowing or stopped Break Asking for a clear channel Bulldog Mack truck Bumper sticker Car following too close Cash register Toll booth Catch ta on the flip side See you on the return trip Chicken coops(coops) Weigh station Chicken lights Extra lights on a truck Comedian Center median strip Comic book Truckers log book Covered wagon Flatbed trailer w/side panels and a cover County Mounty Sheriff/sheriffs deputy Clean shot Road is clear of police or backups ahead City kitty City police Coming in loud and proud Strong signal Crotch rocket Motorcycle Deadhead Pulling an empty trailer for a load elsewhere Dispatcher brains Empty trailer Dragon fly Truck goes uphill slowly and flies downhill Dry box Dry van trailer Double nickle 55 miles per hour Diesel cop DOT Evil Kenevil Motorcycle cop Full grown bear Highway patrol Flip flop U-turn or return trip Four wheeler Car Freight shaker Freightliner truck Georgia overdrive Coasting downhill in neutral Good buddy Homosexual Granny lane Right lane/slow lane Greasy side up Vehicle sitting on it's top Greasy side down Vehicle upright Ground pressure Weight of the truck Hammer lane Left lane/fast lane/passing lane Hammer down Move faster Hand Driver/helper Handle CB nickname Home 20 Your home location Landline Wired phone Large car very fast nice big truck Meat wagon Ambulance Motion lotion Diesel fuel Parking lot Auto carrier Pickle park Rest area Pole cat Skunk Radio check Does my radio work Sesame street Channel 19 on the CB radio Salt shaker Snow plow Shooting you in the back Concealed police officer using radar on passing motorist from behind them Shooting you in the face Police using radar gun from in front of you Taking pictures Police using a radar gun Travel agent Dispatcher Triple digit truck Truck that can exceed 99 mph Turkey day Thanksgiving Yard Truck terminal Yard stick Mile marker Wally world Wla-mart Wiggle wagons Double or triple trailers