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About This Quiz
Do you think you can HANDLE a quiz that is so focused on one industry? Well, if you're a part of the trucking industry, the first thing you have to know is how to talk to other truckers over the radio. Truckers use CBs to communicate with each other to warn each other about hazards on the road, learn about alternative routes and to simply pass the time in their big rigs. However, CB speak can be confusing to those who haven't experienced it before and those who are just beginning, but the success of each driver depends on it. This jargon has been evolving for years, and it helps truckers communicate effectively, whether they're over-the-road truckers or they are simply delivering.Â
If you think you have what it takes to communicate with other truckers, this quiz will show you what you might need to work on. It doesn't matter if you're from Watermelon 500 or Shaky-Town, any seasoned trucker should be able to pass this quiz with flying colors. Take a look at some of these questions and see if you can hold up your end of a CB conversation or if you're just a CB Rambo on the road.Â
She found another man.
She ran out of the restaurant fast.
She was going over 100 MPH
When someone is going triple digits, they are driving over 100 miles per hour. While anyone without a radar gun doesn't necessarily know how fast another car is going, truckers spend enough time on the road to give accurate estimations.
She didn't have a fast car.
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A load of toothpicks is on the way.
A load of lumber is on the way.
Truckers have a lot of time to think and get creative. They are on the road for several hours, and it is no surprise that they come up with interesting ways to describe what they see. Toothpicks, in this case is considered lumber from a lumber truck.
A delivery truck is coming.
A police officer is near.
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A set of double or triple trailers
In certain states, you will see trucks that have two and sometimes three trailers. These trailers connected together are called wiggle wagons, because when they make a motion that looks like wiggling.
Multiple ambulances
Multiple fire trucks
A set of tires
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Disney World
Target
A mall
Wal-Mart
Wally world refers to either a Wal-Mart store, distribution center or truck. A trucker might say "Wally world over here is at triple digits," referring to a Wal-Mart truck driving over 100 miles per hour.
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They are spilling their load.
They are dumping their load.
They have an overweight load.
The majority of states have different weight limits for trucks. Additionally, truckers must always be aware of their weight, to ensure that they can pass bridges on their route. If they're overweight, they have too many eggs in their basket and they have to find alternate routes.
They have too much paperwork.
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Taking off snow tire chains
Putting on snow tire chains
Snow tire chains give trucks and large vehicles more traction. While they are illegal in some states (because they tear up the roads), they are necessary in others. If a trucker is adding them to his tires, he is throwin' iron.
Using windshield wipers
Adding extra brakes
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A smaller truck leading larger trucks
A larger truck passing a smaller truck
A group of trucks traveling together
There are several different situations that would require trucks to travel together. For the most part, trucks that are delivering equipment for large traveling events will drive in a convoy, so they all arrive on time.
Two trucks passing each other
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A speed trap
A mile marker
Highway patrol
A smokey or smokey bear is any law enforcement officer, but for the most part, highway patrol officers are described with this term. Truckers usually tell each other what is on the road ahead, and they need codes for law enforcement.
A brush fire
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Standing
Swinging
The term swinging comes from the fact that meat used to be delivered in freezer trucks, hanging from hooks. There are some companies that continue to ship meat in this manner, most of them butcher on premises.
Slapping
Beating
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They were attacked in a bathroom.
They ate something bad.
They got a speeding ticket.
Over the road truckers often call police officers bears, and getting a speeding ticket is generally referred to as getting a bear bite. While no one wants a bear bite, sometimes they are inevitable.
They have to use the bathroom.
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Roadkill
There are a lot of different names from roadkill for truckers. Ultimately, roadkill doesn't bother truckers, but there are larger animals that can cause problems on the road, so it's important for them to warn each other about the pizzas.
A rest stop with food
Food thrown on the side of the road
Live animal in the road
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There's traffic ahead of you.
The front door in trucker speak is whatever is ahead of you. This term generally refers to something that you can see or you will be able to see soon. It is a great way for truckers to communicate direction.
There's traffic behind you.
There's traffic in the oncoming lane.
There will be traffic later today.
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Can you hear me?
Got your ears cleared?
Got your ears on?
"Got your ears on? There's a smokey ahead. Don't get a bear bite!" might be something you hear on the radio. This phrase is used when someone replies that they are not receiving transmission well or their radio isn't working.
Can't you hear me?
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Litter on the side of the road
Roadkill
An unmarked police car
While police officers are called bears, if they are spotted in an unmarked car by a trucker, that trucker will let his fellow drivers know that there is a plain wrapper just ahead.
An ugly car
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Oranges
Juicers
Fallers
Pumpkins
Schneider trucks can be seen in nearly every state. These trucks got their name from their bright orange color. While it helps other vehicles see the truck, most truckers like to poke fun.
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Stage coaches
Before vehicles, passenger cars were horse drawn stage coaches. The trucking industry uses this term to identify tour buses on the road. As truckers communicate with each other, they can let others know what is on the road ahead.
Tourist traps
Trapper cars
Double wagons
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The left lane
The hammer lane more often than not refers to either the far left lane or the passing lane on a highway. If it is a two-lane highway, these two lanes are the same. It's considered the lane where people slam on the gas.
The right lane
The turn lane
The toll lane
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Vacant lot
Trapper lop
Lopperhead
Deadhead
When a load is dumped or a delivery is completed, truckers are generally left with an empty trailer. This lighter trailer may be better on gas, but it drives different from a full trailer.
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Home away
Under the bridge
Over the river
Through the woods
In general, if a trucker has to take secondary roads, they describe it as going through the woods. These secondary roads can be a little more difficult to maneuver through for truckers, but they are professionals.
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Commercial vehicle enforcement officer
Truck drivers have to follow a different set of rules than most other drivers. The Department of Transportation has enforcement officers on the roads to ensure that truckers are following these rules at all times.
Security guard at a gas station
Security guard at a rest area
Highway patrol
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Speed trap at 55 miles per hour
Speed limit of 55 miles per hour
Over the road truckers may be used to going a certain speed limit. However, as they get closer to populated areas, that speed limit usually changes, and they will tell each other that the double nickel is coming up.
Getting stuck at 55 miles per hour
Getting arrested and put in jail for 10 years
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Alligator
The term alligator used as a warning about a blown tire derived from the fact that blown tires in the road look very much like alligators. If the piece of tire is small, it is referred to as a baby alligator.
Lizard
Rubber hugger
Blow bear
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The eastbound lane has a police officer in it.
The eastbound lane is moving fast.
There are no cars in the eastbound lanes.
The eastbound lane is backed up, and you should brake immediately.
While the average driver considers a brake check someone slamming on their brakes in front of you, truckers use the term to warn other drivers that they will need to slow down immediately.
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A pretty woman
A deer, dead or alive
When it comes down to it, a trucker will notify others when there are animals on or near the road. This is mainly for safety reasons. Even if the deer is dead, it can still be a hazard to large trucks and other drivers as well.
Only living deer
Only dead deer
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Message received
10-4 is a common CB code that is used to basically say "I heard you." This tells other truckers that they don't have to repeat themselves. CB radios don't necessarily have great audio, and this 10-code is necessary.
Please repeat
I didn't hear you.
I'm on my way.
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Contact by telephone
Advise weather
Repeat message
Stand by
"Stand by" is the "please hold" of 10-codes. It is a way for dispatch or whoever the trucker is talking to to say they are going to find a response for you. If you are looking for directions or need additionally delivery information, you might hear this over the radio.
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A lane trucks aren't allowed to drive in
There are several areas around the country that do not allow trucks to drive in the far left lanes. If the drivers decide to drive in these lanes, they are heavily fined. These lanes are also referred to as high dollar lanes.
A lane with several cheap cars
A lane with a toll
An express lane
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Driving on the lines in the road
Paving the way for other truckers
Completing their log books
Truckers (whether they work for large corporations or are self-employed) have to complete detailed log books every day. There is a lot of paperwork in trucking, and at the end of the day, they have to draw lines.
Going as fast as possible
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Red Bull
Diesel fuel
In order for the truck to go, it needs some go-go juice. When a trucker is low on fuel, they will let the rest of their convoy know that they need to get some go-go juice to make the truck go a little further.
Coffee
Transmission fluid
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Flush it down
Pay the water bill
If a trucker says that they really need to pay the water bill, it means that they need to stop at the nearest rest area, as soon as possible. In general, this term is used over the radio when multiple vehicles are traveling together.
Drain the tank
Flip the switch
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Channel 2
Channel X
Channel 4
Channel 1
If you are told to change channels on the radio, it could be based on the fact that you aren't hearing properly on another channel. This could clarify things for you and help you communicate with dispatch and other truckers better.
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Leaving the hub
Arriving at their destination
At a rest stop
Driving downhill
A downstroke is when a trucker drives on a decline or downhill. With the weight of the vehicle, they may have to hit the brakes to slow down a little bit, because they usually gain a lot of momentum.
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Cherry topper
Jackpot
When a trucker sees someone speeding, they usually see that person pulled over up the road a ways. They will usually say jackpot, as a reference to the lights on top of a police car looking similar to lights on a slot machine.
Upstart
Down lot
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Lettuce
Faller
Cabbage
This term began based on cabbage hill, which is an incredibly steep grade near a cabbage farm in Oregon. If a driver isn't paying attention, they may just end up in a cabbage patch. This term evolved into nearly every grade in Oregon being called that.
Slip start
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Happy Christmas
Happy New Year
Though most companies don't work on the first of the year, the proper way to greet a trucker in the new year is to tell them "happy happy!" It's a fun way to express acknowledgement of a holiday.
There is a cop ahead.
Happy birthday
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You Got:
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