Did you know that you can communicate by CB radio in a special language named CB radio 10 codes and CB Slang?
This language is not known by many people, but it was developed when people (and not just radio amateurs) used CB radio to communicate.
We are now active users of mobile phones, messengers, e-mail, etc.. CB radio is only used by those who are interested in it. That is you.
How can you learn CB language? You only need to learn the most common codes for CB radio and also linguistic CB. It will be enough for you to communicate with friends and strangers.
Why do truckers and other CB radio enthusiasts use a specific language? It allows them to connect with their home base and with each other. It is a short way to communicate.
We must also not forget that CB radio is useful in an emergency situation, when a mobile phone and the Internet will not work. CB will continue to function and you can contact the base.
Check below the list of CB 10 Codes..
CB Radio 10 Codes
Without taking a lot of airtime, you can use the CB-10 code. We’ll talk about slang later.
10-1 Receiving Poorly
10-2 Receiving Well
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 Ok, Message Received
10-5 Relay Message
10-6 Busy, Stand By
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air
10-8 In Service, subject to call
10-9 Repeat Message
10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By
10-11 Talking too Rapidly
10-12 Visitors Present
10-13 Advise weather/road conditions
10-16 Make Pickup at (blabla)
10-17 Urgent Business
10-18 Anything for us?
10-19 Nothing for you, return to base
10-20 My Location is (blabla) or What’s your Location?
10-21 Call by Telephone
10-22 Report in Person to (blabla)
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Completed last assignment
10-25 Can you Contact (blabla)
10-26 Disregard Last Information/Cancel Last Message/Ignore
10-27 I am moving to Channel (blabla)
10-28 Identify your station
10-29 Time is up for contact
10-30 Does not conform to FCC Rules
10-32 Radio check
10-33 Emergency Traffic at this station
10-34 Trouble at this station, help needed
10-35 Confidential Information
10-36 Correct Time is (blabla)
10-38 Ambulance needed at (blabla)
10-39 Your message delivered
10-41 Please tune to channel (the name of the channel)
10-42 Traffic Accident at (where)
10-43 Traffic tie-up at (where)
10-44 I have a message for you (or for someone else)
10-45 All units within range please report
10-50 Break Channel
10-62 Unable to copy, use phone
10-62sl unable to copy on AM, use Sideband Lower (not an official code)
10-62su unable to copy on AM, use Sideband Upper (not an official code)
10-65 Awaiting your next message/assignment
10-67 All units comply
10-70 Fire at (where)
10-73 Speed Trap at (where)
10-75 You are causing interference
10-77 Negative Contact
10-84 My telephone number is …
10-85 My address is …
10-91 Talk closer to …
10-92 Your transmitter is out of adjustment
10-93 Check my frequency on this channel
10-94 Please give me a long count
10-95 Transmit dead carrier for 5 sec.
10-99 Mission completed, all units secure
10-100 Need to go to Bathroom
10-200 Police needed at (where)
You might think: “OH MY GOD! Why this is too much?”
As you are beginner, it is sufficient to use the most popular CB-10 codes, like 10-1, 10-4, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 10-10, and 10-20.
The phrases I have described above are suitable only for English-speaking environments. If you are in another country, you should first listen to how other radio amateurs communicate. Why?
This is because there are many slang and local dialects that may be popular in your area. Even if you do not say “Yes”, and “Receiving Well”, no one will understand you. They might understand, but it will not be appropriate.
My advice: if you want to be one of the boys, then first listen and then practice the code.
We will now talk about the slang.
CB Radio Slang
- Affirmative means “Yes”.
- All locked up means “The weigh station is closed”
- Alligator means “Tire on the road” and can look like an alligator lying on the road”.
- Back door means “Something behind you”.
- Backed out of it means “No longer able to maintain speed”.
- Bambi means “a deer (dead or alive)”.
- Base station or unit means “CB radio set in a stationary location”.
- Bear bite means “a speeding ticket”.
- And Bear in the air means “a law enforcement aircraft which can be monitoring the traffic and speeds below”.
- Big road means “big highway”.
- Bird dog means “a radar detector”.
- Big word means “closed, when referring to weigh stations”.
- Breaking up means “your signal is weak, or fading”.
- Checking ground pressure means “the weigh station is open”.
- Chicken lights means “extra lights a trucker has”.
- Container means “refers to an overseas container”.
- Come back like “comeback, I didn’t hear you”.
- Copy means “Transmission acknowledged, agreed with, or understood, as in “that’s a copy, driver”.
- County Mountie means “County police”.
- Crotch rocket means “a motorcycle built for speed”.
- Deadhead means “Pulling an empty trailer”.
- Do what? Means “I didn’t hear/ understand you”.
- Dragonfly means “A truck with no power”.
- Eyeball means “to see something”.
- 42 means “Yes, or OK”.
- Front door means “In front of you”.
- Gear Jammer means “a driver who speeds up and slows down with great frequency”.
- Got my nightgown on means “I’m in the sleeper”.
- Go to the Harley means “Turn your CB to channel 1”.
- Got your ears on? means“Are you listening?”
- “Gouge on it” and “Hammer down”, as well as “Mash your motor” and “Power up” means“Go fast”.
- Having “shutter trouble” means “Having trouble keeping awake”.
- Ho Chi Minh Trail means “Refers to California Highway 152”.
- Holler means “Call me on the radio”.
- Home 20 means “a driver’s home location”.
- Key down means “When you talk over somebody who’s trying to transmit”.
- Key up means “Key up for about 20 minutes, and tell me how bad you are”.
- Land line means a stationary telephone.
- Local information means a driver asks for local information when he needs directions in area he’s unfamiliar with.
- Local-yokel means a county, city, or small-town officer.
- Lollipop means marker poles on the sides of the highway.
- Meat wagon means an ambulance.
- Motion lotion means Diesel fuel.
- Mud duck means a weak radio signal.
- Negatory means “Negative or no”.
- On the side means “on standby”.
- Parking lot means an auto transporter.
- Preeshaydit means “Thank you”.
- Radio means only A CB radio.
- Radio check means “How is my radio working, transmitting, getting out there or something like that”
- Rambo means someone who talks really tough on the radio.
- “Reading the mail” and “Sandbagging” means “Not talking; just listening to the radio”.
- Ratchet jaw means someone who talks a lot on the radio, while keying-up the whole time and not letting anyone else get a chance to talk.
- Roger means “Yes; affirmative”.
- Roller skate means any small car.
- Short short means a short amount of time.
- Taking pictures means law enforcement use a radar gun.
- Walked on you means drowned out your transmission by keying up at the same time.
The funniest (in my opinion) slang is a commercial company that means prostitute.
The phrase “What you 20?” means “where are you?”You answer with your location.
If you think that it is a lot, there is some bad news. This is only half of what truckers use. It is the most popular and useful. Of course, if you are a new trucker, you will have to learn the entire list of words.
As you can see, the slogan will not just be useful if you want to become a part of the community of truckers. It can be useful, even if you just go on the road and listen to what others say.
Their conversations about what is happening on the road will help you to orient yourself and to avoid extreme situations.
Also Read:
1. Must Have CB Radio Parts and Accessories – A Complete List
2. CB Radio vs Walkie Talkie – Some Key Differences Between Them
3. Top Rated Stubby Antenna Reviews and Buying Guide by Expert User
