CB Radio Lingo: Essential Terms Every Trucker Should Know

CB radio has its own language. Learning these terms will help you communicate like a pro on the highway.

Essential CB Lingo

Common Terms

• 10-4 – Message received, understood
• Breaker – Requesting to join a conversation
• What’s your 20? – What’s your location?
• Copy – Do you understand?
• Negatory – No
• Affirmative – Yes
• Over – I’m done speaking, your turn
• Out – End of conversation

Police/Law Enforcement

• Smokey – Highway patrol
• Bear – Police officer
• Bear in the air – Police aircraft
• County Mountie – County sheriff
• Plain wrapper – Unmarked police car
• Taking pictures – Radar speed enforcement

Trucker Slang

• Big rig / 18-wheeler – Semi-truck
• Hammer down – Drive fast
• Chicken coop – Weigh station
• Lot lizard – Truck stop solicitor (avoid!)
• Seat cover – Passenger
• Rubber duck – Lead truck in a convoy
• Back door – Last truck in convoy

Now you’re ready to talk the talk! Questions? Contact us – we speak trucker!