Are You Fluent in Trucker Slang?

By: Heather Cahill
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Are You Fluent in Trucker Slang?
Image: Andre Kudyusov/Digital Vision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Language can be difficult at times. But if you've ever spent time listening to a C.B. radio, it's quite likely that you've picked up some slang! Truckers have some unique language that you don't get to hear every day. Some words might be a play on words and others may be some quite unique phrases. It's never a dull moment when you're out trucking!

Do you know what terms like "back off the hammer," "too many eggs in the basket" and "black eye" mean? What about a "cash register" or a "big slab"? Do you know any trucker slang for city names across North America? If you don't, you might have some trouble communicating with your fellow drivers!

Do you think you know the terms used for the technical parts of a truck? What about the terms used for road signs or signals that you might encounter? Think you know the fun terms that are used for random things? Part of the job is great communication skills so make sure you're ready!

If you think you have what it takes to talk to other hard-working truckers around you, then what are you waiting for? Take the quiz to prove that you can talk like a trucker!

If you're told to "back off the hammer," what should you do?
Pull over
Speed up
Go back
Slow down
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're backing off the hammer, then you're slowing down. This could be said for many reasons such as after being warned about an upcoming sharp corner.

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What is an "ankle biter"?
A child
A tailgater
A dog
A spouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An ankle biter is used to reference a child when speaking to other truckers. For example, one might say "Watch out for the ankle biters playing near the street!"

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What does it mean if a trucker says that someone "blew their doors off"?
Someone surprised them.
They were caught by the cops.
Someone passed them very fast.
They witnessed an accident.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"That 4-wheeler blew my doors off, look out!" is a phrase you might hear now and again on the CB radio. Thankfully, the phrase is not used in a literal sense!

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What is a "skateboard"?
A smooth road
A bridge
A wild driver
A flatbed truck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Truckers call flatbed trucks "skateboards" which seems quite fitting. After all, they are flat just like the top of a skateboard.

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What word is used for a tollbooth?
Cash register
Cash collector
Dollar deposit
Dollar director
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Another trucker might tell you that you're coming up to a cash register, but it's definitely not a store. It's used for tollbooths that charge you in order to gain access to the road.

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Which city do truckers call "Bikini"?
Miami
Los Angeles
Boston
New York
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Truckers who say they're heading into Bikini are really saying that they're going to Miami! After all, the city is highly centered around beaches and soaking up the sun.

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What is a "bumper sticker" in trucker slang?
A pothole
A police car
A dead animal
A tailgater
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you hear speak of a bumper sticker, then you should back off! This is the word used by truckers to describe someone who won't get off their back or pass them.

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What does the phrase "brake check" indicate?
A rest stop is coming up
The transportation department is doing checks
Traffic is stopped ahead
Nothing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Brake check" is a warning to truckers coming behind that they'll need to stop up ahead. It's usually due to heavy traffic that is completely stopped.

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What is a "crotch rocket"?
A pit stop
A bad driver
A small bump
A motorcycle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You may have never guessed it, but a "crotch rocket" is a term used for a motorcycle! Did you know that it's also used outside of trucker slang?

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What is a word that truckers use for a "trailer"?
Pully
Tow-behind
Wagon
Back-breaker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Truckers call it a "wagon." Listen closely to the C.B. radio and you might hear, "10-4, I'm passing a rig that's dragging a wagon behind. Watch ahead."

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If a trucker says they're going to "put the hammer down," what does it mean?
To get a job done
To load up the truck
To speak with an officer
To accelerate and go fast
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You've heard the phrase "put the pedal to the metal," but truckers say "put the hammer down." Truckers have places to go and things to get done, after all!

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What might truckers do to make sure that others can hear them?
Background check
Long call
Mic test
Radio check
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Radio check" is said in order to make sure that other truckers can hear each other. If you ever hear this, be sure to give them a 10-4 so they know they're being heard!

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How would a trucker tell you to be safe?
Keep the shiny side up!
Safe travels!
Cruise carefully!
Honk!
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A trucker always wants you to keep the shiny side up. It means that you can keep on truckin' to your next destination and make it back home safely.

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Which city do truckers call "Music City"?
Las Vegas
Chicago
Seattle
Nashville
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A trucker going to Music City is going to Nashville. It is the home of the Grand Ole Opry and country music has deep roots in the city. It's quite a fitting name!

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What does "10-4" mean?
OK
See you later.
Watch out ahead
Traffic jam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"10-4" is used to say "OK." You've probably heard the phrase, "10-4, good buddy, I'll see you next time!" There are a few other variations of the "10" terms as well.

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What does the phrase, "What's your 10-20?" mean?
What's your problem?
How are you feeling?
What's new?
Where are you?
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're asked for your "10-20" then tell them where you are! Truckers even have slang names they use for cities, so you could say you're in Charm City, or the Gateway.

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Where is the "back door"?
Your truck's right side
Behind you
A shortcut
In front of you
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The "back door" to a trucker is behind them. It's often used to indicate that something is there. For example, "I'm at your back door so put the hammer down and let's get trucking!"

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What word is used for a cop?
Bear
Deer
Cat
Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you hear talk about a bear on the CB radio, it's not about the animal! Cops have a few different names that are used among truckers, including "Smokey." There are also many different types of "bears."

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What word is used for a U-turn?
A lefty
A spin
Skid
Flip-flop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Flip-flops are commonly used to refer to U-turns but they have another meaning as well. It can also be used to describe a trip back home.

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If you're on the "big slab," what are you on?
The highway
Gravel
Parking lot
Mud
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're on the "big slab" then you're cruising down the highway. When used on the CB radio, you might hear, "I just hit the big slab, I should be off in three hours."

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Which phrase is used to indicate that truckers can hear each other on the CB radio?
Coming in loud and proud
Clean as a whistle
Clean slate
Ready to go
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're listening in on the CB radio, you might hear, "You're coming in loud and proud, Falcon!" It's used to tell another trucker that you can hear them well on the radio.

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What does this phrase mean: "Got your ears on?"
Is your radio on?
Did you see that?
Wake up!
Did you hear the latest news?
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is a way for truckers to ask the other if they have their radio on, or if they can hear one another. Make sure you've got your ears on the C.B. when you hit the road!

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What word is used for the lights on a cop car?
Spotlight
Jackpot
Strobe
Twinkle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You've hit the jackpot if you spot a cop on the road. The lights of the casino inspired the name of Smokey's flashing lights!

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Which city is known as "The Swamp"?
Denver
St. Louis
Montreal
Philadelphia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Swamp is better known as Montreal, Quebec. The city doesn't sit far from the swamps and lakes from where truckers may have derived its name.

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If you've just left someplace, what phrase could you use?
Outback
Gone out
Later ways
In my back pocket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You could say that the place is in your back pocket. When used in a sentence, you might hear, "Dallas, is in my back pocket! See you in the next city."

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What is "motion lotion"?
Diesel
Oil
Water
An energy drink
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Motion lotion" is the word used for diesel. Don't forget to stop at the gas station for some motion lotion so you can make it to the next city!

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If your trailer is empty, what is it called?
Deadhead
Empty
Clear
Unproductive
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is often referred to as a "deadhead" to truckers. Some of them may have even been huge fans of the band the Grateful Dead, who use this term for their supporters!

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Which term is used for "yes"?
Roger
Holler
Reefer
Break
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Roger" is used when truckers say yes. For example, you might hear a trucker say, "Roger that, I'm on my way to the next city."

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What term is used to tell another trucker that they're missing a headlight?
Outtie
Spots
Black eye
Sunglasses
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A "black eye" to a trucker is much different than what we know it as! If a trucker has a black eye, it means they need to get their headlight fixed as it is not working.

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What's a "good neighbor"?
Another trucker
A good driver
A police officer
Your actual neighbor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A good neighbor is a friendly term used by truckers to refer to another trucker. It's often used in a thankful way when truckers help one another out. It can be hard out on the road sometimes!

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What city is known as "Lost Wages"?
Detroit
Charlotte
Las Vegas
Atlanta
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Las Vegas is known for gambling, so it's nickname is related to this. Don't be alarmed when you hear this on the C.B. radio, because now you'll know that it's just about the city!

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What does it mean to have "too many eggs in the basket"?
You have lots of friends.
You're very talented.
You've taken on too many jobs at once.
You have a full load.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This means that you have a full load, and you can't fit anything else in the truck. On the C.B. radio, you might hear, "We've got a truck with too many eggs in the basket ahead that's letting us pass. Put the hammer down and give him a wave."

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If a truck is carrying "toothpicks," what is it carrying?
Metal
Poles
Equipment
Wood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you ever hear about a truck carrying "toothpicks" on the C.B. radio, then you know that it's carrying wood. The wood does resemble a toothpick from far away!

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What is a "yardstick"?
The sign with the number of miles left.
The stick that holds up the hood.
The lines on the road.
The lumber on a truck.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A trucker might ask, "Hey, good buddy, have you seen a yardstick lately?" It shows the drivers how far they are from the nearest city or rest stop.

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What are the names that truckers use called?
Tags
Names
Handles
Nicknames
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Truckers use handles that they make up for themselves. They can be all kinds of things, such as Mud Duck, Snake Scout or Eagle Eye. What would your trucker name be?

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