CB Radio Guide

CB culture is trucking culture — made famous by movies like Convoy.

CB Radios are still the fastest way to reach nearby drivers for traffic, weather, dock directions, and emergencies. directions at shippers/receivers, and courtesy calls (“brake check,” lane-change help). Keep it simple: listen first, speak second, and keep it brief, especially in a busy area. You don’t want to “walk” all over other drivers. Give others a chance to talk!

Need on-air etiquette and scripts? See Trucker Communications.
Want the lingo? Hit CB Slang & 10-Codes (A–Z).

CB Basics

Range: usually a few miles truck-to-truck. Antenna mount & tuning matter more than radio brand.
Key controls: Squelch (noise gate), RF Gain (receive sensitivity), ANL/NB (noise filters), Mic Gain.
Weather: many units include NOAA weather channels & alerts.
Emergency: Channel 9 is the traditional emergency/monitor channel in some areas; follow local guidance.

Common Trucker Channels

19: national road info on most interstates, and the de-facto trucker channel in most places.
17: On parts of the West Coast, Channel 17 shows up; in California, drivers often use 19 for north–south and 17 for east–west. If in doubt, check both.
Yards & scales: facilities sometimes post a working channel; monitor when approaching.