CB Radio An Important Tool, Reconfirmed Last Night.

I can't count how many times having my CB has helped me out. Simple as drivers warning about "smokey in the median at mile ##" "brake check ahead" ways around long backups on the freeway. Also when flatbedding it was used at many shippers and receivers to check in and get loading directions. I use it to ask other drivers where is the shipping office, staging area, and what have you, if it's not obvious.

I've even had a driver let me know I was clear on my right side as I was backing in a tight spot at a truckstop. Another time a flatbed driver saw me enter a crowded truckstop and said he was leaving and would wait for me to get set up for his spot.

Well late last night I was on a two lane hwy in Idaho when I see flashing yellow lights coming my way and over the radio I here this "hey there driver, got a 24 wide coming could ya give him a little room, 24 wide about a mile behind me". I responded 10-4 but took about 2 seconds to register in my brain that truck is needing both lanes as there was no shoulder. As I was about to panic that I was going head on with a oversize coming down the hill another guy said there's a wide spot just ahead, and sure enough I come around the next curve and there was another pilot car stopped accross the wide spot which I immediately pulled into. He then thanked me and not more than 20 seconds I saw this huge dome looking thing go by me in fact taking up both lanes.

Afterwards I wondered how they would have gotten the message to me had I not had a radio in my truck. I also wonder how they get the four wheelers to stop. There was about 5 pilot cars or more. I'm sure they have a system just not sure if I would have understood what was going on till I was face to face with the oncoming oversize. Pretty sure I would be the one having to back up to get out of the way. Assuming we avoided a head on collision.

Just thought I would share this in case some are on the fence about getting one. Mine is always on, but sometimes I turn it down when the weirdos get on doing weird stuff. I still think it's a worth while expense even with the occasional trash talk you will hear.

Love the wide load story, but this one really makes me smile! The way things oughta be!

"Another time a flatbed driver saw me enter a crowded truckstop and said he was leaving and would wait for me to get set up for his spot."

A CB is actually very high on my "planned purchase" list once I get my truck...right up there with a refrigerator, a microwave, a crock pot, a decent mattress with 500 count sheets, and a truckers Atlas! I just hope our terminal will install it for me...would hate to add any holes in my new-to-me truck! I see a CB as an invaluable tool and you've posted several validations to that. Plus, I remember having one back in the 70's and loved it! Just listen for the "Texas Grasshopper"...that'll be me!

Great stories Chris L.! Thanks for sharing. I have no experience with radios and have been juggling whether i'd invest in one or not; not knowing how i'll get it installed or whether it'd be enough use. I think you might have convinced me though! I suppose the shop at most companies would be willing to put one in?

Interesting to hear you've even had people spot you over their CBs while backing! That's cool. I read most folks telling newbs to turn their CB off when backing to avoid all the insults and mocking... be a shame if there's a trucking willing to spot you though. Then again, how do you know if it isn't some supertrucker being mischievous and trying to get you dinged? Hmm. Yeah, i'll probably still leave it off in that situation if I do get myself a CB.

Thanks for sharing that story Chris. I've always been a huge proponent of having a CB. I've watched it save lives many, many times over the years. There is no shortage of Youtube videos showing gigantic pileups where truck after truck came through the fog or snow and barrelled into the wreck at highway speed because they didn't have their CB on to hear about it.

Of course most of the time it's awesome for exactly the kind of stuff you're talking about - getting directions, getting around wrecks, and getting reports about what lies ahead for traffic, weather, road conditions, cops, and DOT status.

I suppose the shop at most companies would be willing to put one in?

They normally go in quick and easy without any tools. All you'll have to do is hook up a couple of wires and a coax cable. Trucks are prewired for CB's.

Sharing information with everyone around you about what's going on for miles around in real time on a CB is something no technology can duplicate right now. You can't use your cell phone or your iPad or have Siri let drivers going the other way know there's a wreck ahead of them in the fog or that the DOT is doing a roadside check.

To be honest I would go so far as to say that in my book it's borderline irresponsible not to have a CB in the truck. Knowing that the CB has saved many lives over the years and knowing it would have saved others if people were using them seems like a pretty strong argument for having one. The fact that sometimes you hear people being obnoxious on there does not seem like a good enough reason to go without a very useful and often times life saving tool. You don't have to have it on every second of your life but you should spend $50 - $150 on a solid CB right from day one and keep it on as often as possible.

Remember, operating safely in a dangerous environment means being prepared in as many ways as possible for as many situations as possible. Can you really say you're making a safe and sound decision going without a CB knowing stuff like you see in the video below will happen again many times in the coming years? And don't forget, through no fault of your own you might be one of the trucks caught up in the wreck literally praying to God that the trucks behind you have a CB and they don't come barreling into you. Or even worse, how would you like to live out the rest of your life knowing you could have been the one saving lives on the CB if only you had one in the truck. Instead you get to sit there helplessly and watch people getting injured and killed.

For those of you who go without a CB let me ask this rhetorical question. Say you were called into the Safety Manager's office and he showed you this video. After the video he asks, "Now are you going to install a CB in your truck?"

What are you gonna say? You just watched people die because drivers didn't have a CB on.

I agree with Brett Aquila, that out of a sense of responsibility get a CB radio. I have been considering it for quite sometime. I'm in CDL school and I am already looking for a good and reliable CB if anyone can tell me a really good CB let me know. Thanks a bunch!!

if anyone can tell me a really good CB let me know. Thanks a bunch!!

I have a Uniden Pro 520XL. Less than $50.00 on Amazon, Excellent Reviews, 4.5 Star Rating. Works great in my 2015 Freightliner Cascadia with the built in factory antenna.

I'm working on saving up my Love's points for a good Cobra. It's taking a while but I should be there soon.

I've already been able to buy a Rand McNally GPS and an iceless cooler for the new truck. (Which I feel like a jerk that I haven't introduced y'all to Dexter but photobucket is being a complete pain!) I've also had the company shop install a 1000w inverter so that I can cook again. A CB is next on the list, possibly followed by an actual truck fridge. I haven't decided on buying a laminated atlas as I'm getting by just fine on a paper one.

Loves has the Cobra 29 classic for $99 plus a $20 rebate. Making it $79 after the rebate, pretty hard to beat really. I bought one a couple months ago.

JJ