Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

The photo to the left is my first  “citizens band” radio. I thought it was cool because it looked just like a car telephone. That was 1977. There were no cell phones or laptops back then and a basic function calculator that now costs $1 sold for $399. Channel 9 was the “React” emergency frequency. Truckers used channel 19 as they do now.

The microphone to have back then was the D-104  which I finally saved up enough money to buy for my base station. I eventually replaced it with a Cobra radio. I’ve probably had about 5 CB radios over the past 30 years including a few hand held units. So fast forward, it’s 2009. I now have a Galaxy 929 which I bought because it was the only radio that would fit in the slot designed by those brilliant Kenworth engineers. I rarely turn it on. I traded in my DX959 and got rid of my police scanner and 75 watt (illegal) kicker. I kept my RK56 Turner mic.

When traffic on the interstate comes to a halt, that’s when I listen to the CB. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s just an old habit. Right after turning it on, I curse to myself and off it goes. Because what I hear is completely useless information to me. It is vile racist childish stupid annoying noise. “What lane do I have to be in? There are bodies all over the road. Swift hit JB Hunt. It’s one of the CR England drivers in the middle, again. Will ya look at the (censored) in that 4 wheeler. Shut up you #$%^. Driver, stay to my left and let’s block the 4 wheelers for the next 15 miles. Let me in when we get to the merge point. No you moron Jr. is not a better driver than his dad.”

OMG, Who cares? It’s far better just to leave the radio off. I never go around accidents or bad weather, etc, unless directed by law enforcement. I prefer to just listen to my satellite radio and wait it out. Every detour I’ve ever taken never saved me any time, because so many others were also trying to go around whatever the hold up is. Since I’m such a good looking SAFE dude, lot lizards are always asking me if they can use my truck as their “place of business” for “dates.” NO. And, thank goodness, less and less shippers and receivers are using the CB as a method of communication. I usually have to help ‘em out when the driver in front of me has a bad connection, low power or fallen asleep, and it’s his turn to get on the scale. I prefer the cell phone. Even a mini $29 Motorola 5 mile range VHF “walkie-talkie.” works better. What is the future of the CB radio? I don’t believe there is one.

Photo credit is: j(the Johnson/Messenger radio) alopnik.com/5166099/the-ultimate-cb-radio-fo.., (the female on the CB) Getty Images and (the deserted CB shop) cmprather.tripod.com/Encino_NM