How to Learn Trucker Lingo
Trucker or CB lingo celebrated its mainstream heyday in the 1970s, when a number of films and television shows glamorized the lingo. Truckers became a cool, subculture with their own language and codes. Today, the lingo largely stays within the trucking or ham radio professions, but there are a number of ways to learn the lingo.
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Instructions
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1
Tune into the CB airwaves and listen before you jump right in. Listening provides the best way to pick up any lingo, slang or dialect. Like any other subculture, trucker lingo differs in its terminology and protocol depending on your location.
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2
Be polite and take turns when speaking. A single CB channel can host several conversations at one time and truckers must respect one another's right to speak.
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3
Keep your CB lingo clean. Truckers discourage profanity on their airwaves.
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4
Watch films such as "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Black Dog" to gain an understanding of the lingo and protocol.
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Learn the "10 codes" that police and fire departments as well as truckers and ham radio operators use. Examples include 10-4 received message, 10-20 your location, 10-9 repeat, 10-42 accident and 10-10 message complete.
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6
Pick up on commonly used slang terms but use them sparingly until you're experienced. Examples include: "Smokey," which is a state policeman; "chicken coop," which is a weight station; "handle," which is a CB air name; "breaker," which announces your presence on the channel; and "copy," which means received message.
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7
Go to a number of websites, such as The Trucker's Report, CB Gazette and Layover. These sites include extensive lists of trucker lingo.
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