Whether you've found yourself searching Kijiji for CB radio's lately or you've just always had aspirations to live up to Burt Reynolds character in Smokey and the Bandit, I bet that you're interested in learning about how to talk like a trucker.
Let's take a look at some of the key terminology truckers have been using to communicate on the roads for decades.
Affirmative - Let's start with an easy one. Affirmative simply means "yes".
Alligator or Gator - A piece of tire on the road. A baby alligator is a small piece of tire and alligator bait is a number of small pieces of tire on the road.
Back it Down - Slow down.
Bear - Police. A Bear Bite is a speeding ticket and bear trap, of course, is a speeding trap. Bear bait is a speeding car that you can use to take the heat off of yourself.
Black Eye - A broken headlight.
Deadhead - A truck pulling an empty trailer.
Dragonfly - A truck with no power. Usually because it's climbing a steep hill.
Evil Knievel - A cop on a motorcycle.
Good buddy - This is used as a term for a homosexual.
Good neighbor - Used when showing appreciation to another trucker.
Hammer down - Put the pedal to the metal.
Mud Duck - Weak radio signal.
Negatory - No.
Parking Lot - A truck hauling cars.
Ratchet jaw - Someone who talks a lot on the radio and doesn't let anyone else talk.
Rockin' chair - A truck that's in between two other trucks.
Smokey or Smokey Bear - The police!
Taking Pictures - Police using a radar gun.
10-4 - Message received / Copy
Wagon - Trailer on a truck
These are some of the more common terms, just for fun let's put together a sentance that you might hear over the CB radio:
"You'd better back it down there's a gator on the road and a smokey is taking pictures at the 121"
Submit your comments and let us know what kind of sentances you can put together with trucker lingo!