Time To Buy A CB Radio

The whole time I spent with my trainer I think he talked on his CB maybe three or four times. And two of those we're about an accident up ahead. I was on I-70 today just west of Indianapolis and things came to a screeching halt. I saw numerous Truckers getting off the exit ramp and I figured it was just an accident up ahead. Well it was. Though I think it probably happened last night. They blocked the interstate to pull a big rig out of a ravine. It was one of those spots where it was about 5 miles between exits and of course I didn't pull off because I didn't know what was going on. So I sat two and a half hours. When I finally got to the site I didn't even realize it was a truck until I saw the trailer a couple hundred yards up the road where they towed it. The tractor didn't even look like a tractor all you could see was the rails. Unfortunately I doubt the driver survived. There was literally nothing left of the cab. Look like he probably fell asleep and went through the railing into the ravine. Mud was all over the tires and the frame rails. First thing I bought when I got my truck was a GPS. It's about 98% right but there are times that it has screwed me up... just a few days ago I drove 20 miles out of my way because it wanted to send me up small roads in West Virginia... no way I was going up those roads and there was nowhere to turn around so I kept driving until I saw a sign for the interstate that I could . double back. I've heard stories about guys driving up logging roads. And streets were you couldn't turn around I called for instructions but they didn't make sense. That was one of those days I learn the hard way. I'm sure there's going to be many more.

The main reason i have a CB is for those road reports from other drivers. They have proved invaluable on multiple occasions.

I hardly talk on the CB at all.

The main reason i have a CB is for those road reports from other drivers. They have proved invaluable on multiple occasions.

I hardly talk on the CB at all.

Yeah it's nothing like the old Smokey and the Bandit movies which I'm sure was Way Before your time LOL. Now everyone has a headset where they talk to their friends and family all day long. My trainer told me it's not like the old days. There was a lot more courtesy between drivers back then.

I bought my CB first and almost never turn it on. I feel it was a waste of money. Traffic on Trucker Path and Google maps can show you further ahead. The way I have my phone mounted, I can see it and have Trucker Path with traffic always on my screen. I also have rest areas and Pilots on. This is a great tool. Sometimes even the CB won't help. Most traffic doesn't last long and going around can sometimes be a mess. My GPS loves to screw me up. I'm getting better at not getting messed up by it. I use my CB in traffic to try and hear if there is a lane open. I can't understand most people on it.

I bought my CB first and almost never turn it on. I feel it was a waste of money.

This is something I cannot understand. As a rookie I was unfamiliar with the radio and/or the benefits of it. Now days I realize it's value. You can get a solid radio for under $150. Definitely not a waste of money!

Wow JD, I was right there with you but my CB saved me from that trouble, and it's saved me countless other times also. It's an invaluable tool to me.

I began hearing reports of that wreck 30 miles or so prior to reaching it. They were saying it was a 8 mile backup at that point. I along with several other truckers got off exit 59 and took Route 40 down 17 miles to get around it. The detour cost me maybe 10 minutes. Not trying to rub it in, just saying. You gotta get you one.

I bought my CB first and almost never turn it on. I feel it was a waste of money. Traffic on Trucker Path and Google maps can show you further ahead.

This is confusing to me also. If you already have a CB, why not have it turned on? Your phone isn't going to give you instant traffic reports. Your phone isn't going to give you the advice of scores of seasoned truckers on which way to best detour around the problem. Your phone isn't going to allow you to keep your eyes on the road while listening to said advice. Your phone isn't going to tell you of a broke down vehicle sticking out in the road a half-mile ahead of you. Etc etc.

I simply cannot understand how you can have a CB, but not have it turned on, and call it a waste.

Back years ago (1993 ish) I drove from CT to Wyoming and eventually back to CT. I had a cb for that trip and found it a huge help knowing what was coming up and planning my trip (even though I was only driving my car). Going through St. Louis at night I heard on the cb that gang iniation then was to drive with headlights off. When someone flashed you they wod turn and round and round and follow you u til you stopped. Once you stopped they would shoot you. Knowing that information from the cb I knew what not to do when I saw a car driving around with his lights off and kept on driving. I was not sure if it was true of just talk but I wasn't going to find out.

The only way a cb is a waste of money is if you buy one and then choose to leave it turned off. At that point, yes you've wasted money.

I leave my cb on all day, and have had a few of those times where I was able to get off the interstate before reaching a major issue, and save time driving past all of the traffic that's sitting still.

Also, a few of the places I go to regularly, use a cb in the guard shack. They have a set channel that you tune to, and you use that to check in, and get your loading instructions. Very valuable there.

I've even had very intriguing conversations on the road with other drivers. If I get into an area where there are a couple of "unsavory" fellas spouting nonsense back and forth, I'll turn the volume down for a few minutes, but that honestly doesn't happen too often.

And lastly, don't forget that in a week the Colorado chain law is back in effect. That's the first sure sign that winter is right around the corner. The cb is VERY handy in relaying road conditions to other drivers not far behind you, as well as the oncoming traffic.

So yeah I would classify the cb as one of those valuable tools that you would much rather have when you don't need it, as opposed to needing it when you don't have it.

I've even had very intriguing conversations on the road with other drivers.

There are times when you will really enjoy an intriguing conversation on your radio. Here's a great example of a Fascinating Conversation I Experienced several years back. These kind of things may happen randomly, but they never happen if you don't use your radio. I never have figured out who enjoyed that conversation more, but I know I've never forgotten it.

The main reason i have a CB is for those road reports from other drivers. They have proved invaluable on multiple occasions.

I hardly talk on the CB at all.

That was my plan as well.

Many times I have been behind trucks (in my car) and saw them dragging straps, or saw tarps flapping that had come untied, and stuff like that. Had I had a CB, I would have told them.

I once had a Class B truck drop a drum (about 20 gallons) in the middle of the road, he had forgotten to close his rear door (roll up). I was about 19. I picked it up tossed it in my trunk and chased him down. As I unloaded it I realized it was sulphuric acid, luckily it didn't leak. Now I realize why he was so appreciative, after reading about HM. If I had had a CB, I could have called him