CB Lingo: The Truck Driver’s Slang

Ever listen to truck drivers talk on while playing with a Two-way radio like a walkie talkie or a CB? Truck drivers have a language of their own and it can sound confusing if you do not know what they are saying. I want to give you a brief introduction on the language that truck drivers use when talking to one another.

Before learning the terms, you should know that Truck Drivers are good at what they do. They can pick up someone who just got their ears. Make sure you pick a handle that does not give away the fact that you are a Newbie. I have lived with a truck driver (my dad) long enough to know that truck drivers are busy men and women, so they won’t waste their time talking to someone who has nothing to say.

Remember, this is a limited glossary. Visit links at the bottom for more terms.

Law Enforcement – Cops, Equipment, and other things

Smoky Bear – State trooper that works for the governor

County Mountie – County cop that works for the Sheriff

Local Yokel or Town Clown – City cop that works for the mayor

Miss Piggy or Mama Bear – Female cop

Bear in the Air – police helicopter

Tijuana Taxi – Marked police car

Plain wrapper – an unmarked police car. Could be anything from a plain white wrapper to a plain blue wrapper

Bubble gum machine – Flashing lights on a cop car

Picture Taker – The radar that cops use to catch speeders

Double Nickel – the 55 mph speed limit most highways have

Trucks and other Vehicles

Band-aid Buggy – Ambulance

Thermal Sot – Tanker

Mobile Parking lot – 18-wheeler pulling other vehicles

Bobtail – Semi with no trailer

Covered Wagon – Semi trailer that resembles a old western covered wagon – walls with an arched tarp over top

Jimmy – GMC Truck

Reefer – Refrigerated trailer.

Suicide Jockey – truck carrying explosives

Organ Donor – Motorcycle driver.

Locations and places

Beer Town – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Big A – Atlanta

Big D- Dallas

Big Arch – St. Louis

Bullshit City – Washington D.C

Chi Town (pronounced Shy Town) – Chicago

Gay Bay – San Fransisco Bay Area

Motor City – Detroit

Shaky Town – L.A.

Chicken Coop – Weigh Station

Choke and Puke – Roadside or Truck stop Diner.

Truck Driver specific Terms

Swindle Sheets – log books, books that truck drivers have to not who they spend their day. Required by law

Ears – CB

Hammer Lane – left lane, fast lane

Convoy – Several trucks speeding

Rubber Duck – The first truck in the convoy

Lot Lizard – Prostitute at a truck stop

Back Door – Area behind the truck

Cotton Picker – “Now that means your best buddy, your worst enemy, somebody you know, somebody you don’t know, somebody you like, somebody you don’t like, somebody you want to compliment, somebody you want to insult, someone who done you a favor, someone who done you wrong, or someone who picks cotton” – Cledus Maggard, “CB Lingo” (song)

Sources

CB Gazette

Wikipedia – CB Slang

Cledus Maggard, “CB Lingo