Even with new technological advancements in communication, truck drivers still heavily rely on CB radios in day to day operations. If you own a CB radio and you’re an avid listener to channel 19, you’ve likely been entertained by trucker slang. After all, CB radio lingo can be quite entertaining.
Although some trucker lingo conversations could win a Grammy for their creative entertainment, understanding trucker slang can be life saving. At the very least, knowing truck driver terminology is helpful. If you travel the nation’s highways a lot, getting to understand trucker lingo can be useful.
Today, we’re looking at the truck driver language so you can learn exactly what that truck driver is meaning when he says 10-4 or ankle biter.
Common Trucker CB Lingo
- Alligator – Busted tire/blown tire in the road
- Alligator Radio – CB with only output and no input
- All Locked Up – Weight station is closed
- Ankle Biter – Small child
- Anteater – Reference to Kenworth T-600
- Antler Alley – Deer crossing
- Baby Bear – Rookie cop
- Back Door – Behind you
- Back Door Closed – Rear of convoy blocked off from police
- Back’Em Up – Slow down
- Back It Down – Slow down
- Backed Out Of It – Can’t maintain speed
- Backslide – Return trip
- Back Off The Hammer – Slow Down
- Back Out – Driver finished talking
- Bambi – Deer
- Bear – Police officer
- Barefoot – Unmodified CB
- Base Station – Radio at a fixed location
- Bear In The Air – Police helicopter
- Bear Bait – Speeding car
- Bear Cave – Police station/headquarters
- Bear Den – Police station/headquarters
- Bear Trap – Stationary police with radar
- Beaver – Female
- Bean Popper – Pill popper
- Big R – Roadway Express truck
- Bikini State – Florida
- Big Hole – Top gear
- Big Road – Interstate
- Big Slab – Interstate
- Big Truck – 18 wheeler
- Billy Big Rigger – Supertrucker, bragging truck driver
- Bird Dog – Radar detector
- Better Half – Significant other
- Black Eye – Headlight out
- Blew My Doors Off – Passed at a fast speed
- Break – Stop talking on the CB to open up channel
- Brake Check – Slowing traffic ahead, be prepared to stop
- Bobtail – Driving tractor with no trailer attached
- Boogie – High gear, going fast
- Bouelevard – Interstate
- Breaking Up – Weak or lost signal
- Bubba – What truckers call other truckers, often in joking way
- Bull Dog – Mack truck
- Bull Frog – ABF truck
- Bull Hauler – Livestock truck
- Bumper Sticker – Vehicle too close to bumper
- Bundled Out – Heavy loaded truck
- Buster Brown – UPS truck
- Cash Register – Toll booth
- Catch You On The Flip Flop – See you on return trip
- Checking Ground Pressure – Weighstation is open
- Chicken Coop – Weigh station
- Chicken Lights – Extra lights on a truck
- Chicken Hauler – Fancy truck
- City Kitty – City police
- Clean Shot – Road clear of police
- Come A Part Engine – Cummins engine
- Come Back – Inviting another to talk on CB
- Come On – Give clearance for truck to continue driving
- Comedian – Center median
- Comic Book – Truck driver logbook
- Convoy – Group of trucks
- County Mounty – Sheriff
- Covered Wagon – Flatbed with sides and covered top
- Crackerhead – Insult term
- Crotch Rocket – Motorcycle
- Deadhead – Empty truck on way to get a load
- Double Nickel – 55 miles per hour
- Dragonfly – Truck that drags up hill and flies downhill
- Dry Box – A plain freight trailer with no refridgeration
- Evil Kenevil – Motorcycle cop
- Flip Flop – Return trip or u-turn
- Four Wheeler – Car
- Freight Shaker – Freightliner
- Georgia Overdrive – Putting gear in neutral going down hill
- Good Buddy – Homesexual
- Granny Lane – Slow lane
- Greasy Side Up – Car on its top, wheels up
- Ground Pressure – Weight of truck
- Hammer Down – Go faster
- Hammer Lane – Fast lane
- Hand – Driver
- Handle – CB nickname
- Hitchhiker – Vehicle riding too close behind you
- Home 20 – Your home
- Landline – Telephone line
- Large Car – Nice truck
- Left Coast – West coast
- Lot Lizard – Hooker
- Meat Wagon – Ambulance
- Motion Lotion – Diesel
- Parking Lot – Truck hauling cars
- Pickle Park – Rest Area
- Pole Cat – Skunk
- Radio Check – Can you hear radio/does radio work
- Salt Shaker – Snow plow
- Sesame Street – Channel 19
- Shake The Bushes – Lead truck to bring out the bears (police)
- Short Short – Short time
- Stand On It – Stand on fuel pedal
- Taking Pictures – Radar is out targeting
- Travel Agent – Dispatcher
- Triple Digit Ride – Truck going 100 mph or faster
- Yard – Trucking terminal
- Yard Stick – Mile marker
- Wally World – Walmart
- Wiggle Wagons – Double/triple trailer trucks
- 10-4 – Ok/agreed
- 10-20 – Location
- 10-33 – Emergency
- 10-36 – What’s the correct time
Common Truck Driver City Lingo
- Amarillo, Texas – Big A
- Atlanta, Georgia – Big A
- Boston, Massachusetts – Bean Town
- Chicago, Illinois – Windy City
- Chattanooga, Tennessee – Choo-Choo
- Charlotte, North Carolina – Queen City
- Cincinnati, Ohio – Queen City
- Dallas, Texas – The Big D
- Detroit, Michigan – Motor City
- Houston, Texas – The Dome
- Kanas City, Missouri – Bright Lights
- Knoxville, Tennessee – K Town
- Los Angeles, California – Shaky Town
- Louisville, Kentucky – Derby City
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Beer Town
- New York, New York – Big Apple
- Reno, Nevada – Sin City
- San Francisco, California – Gay Bay
- St. Louis, Missouri – Gateway
- Tampa, Florida – Cigar City
