CB Radio Code, Lingo & Trucker Talk: What's Your 20? (2024)

If you want to get anywhere on CB, you have to be prepared to talk trucker talk, and that can mean learning a lot of rules of conduct. Learning CB lingo and radio code is a critical first step to effective communication.

The most important rule of conduct when using a CB radio is don’t take up more airtime than you have to on a crowded channel. CB 10-codes and Q-codes give you the power to say a lot in the limited space available. Use them wisely, and you'll not only communicate effectively but you'll also gain the respect of your peers.

Learning a few simple rules will help you figure out how to get your codes in edgewise so you’re making friends and not enemies over the airwaves.

Before we dive in, let’s have a little fun with CB lingo!

Trucker Slang

CB Terminology	Meaning or Translation
Affirmative	Yes.
All Locked Up	Closed weigh station.
Anteater	The Kenworth T-600 truck has a sloped aerodynamic hood. It is also called an aardvark.
Alligator	Also called a "gator", is a piece or pieces of tire on the road that can be dangerous if hit by your vehicle causing damage to hoses, belts, radiators, vehicle body, etc. or to other vehicles if you hit the gator and it bounces up. The pieces can look similar to an alligator, hence the name. Don't let it "bite you"! Small pieces are called baby alligators. Several small pieces are called alligator bait. Sometimes called just a "gator".
Back Door	There is something behind you. "Watch out- Smokey's at your back door."
Back It Down	Reduce your speed or slow down.
Backed Out Of It	If the driver cannot maintain their speed, they might need to downshift. For example, a truck climbing a hill. "Backed out of it. Moving over to the slow lane."
Back Row	The back row or rows of parking in a rest area or truck stop, sometimes a hangout for "lot lizards".
Bambi	A living or dead deer.
Base Station or Unit	A stationary or immobile radio (typically a CB radio or ham radio). For example, a radio placed in a house or building.
Bear	A police officer or law enforcement officer.
Bear Bait	A speeding vehicle that hides or protects other speeding vehicles when following it.
Bear Bite	A speeding ticket.
Bear Den or Bear Cave	Police station or other law enforcement headquarters.
Bear In The Air	A law enforcement aircraft. These aircraft can be used for traffic control and other things such as checking speed radar.
Bear In The Bushes	A police officer or other law enforcement officer is hiding out of view, likely trying to catch speeding traffic with their radar gun.
Billy Big Rigger	A trucker who brags about themselves or their truck. Also known as "supertrucker".
Bedbugger	Household moving company.
Big R	A Roadway truck.
Big Road	The Interstate or large highway.
Big Truck	18 wheeler or semi tractor trailer truck.
Bird Dog	A radar/laser detector.
Big Word	Before the exit for a weight station, there is a bright lighted sign that says "OPEN" or "CLOSED". Sometimes it is difficult to read the sign from a distance, however, "CLOSED" is a bigger/longer word. If you hear someone say "big word is out", they are communicating that the station is closed.
Black Eye	A vehicle headlight out. "Driver has a black eye".
Bobtail	A semi tractor without a trailer.
Boogie	Highest gear or top gear of the vehicle transmission.
Boulevard	The Interstate.
Brake Check	There is traffic congestion ahead where you will need to slow down or come to a stop.
Break	To appropriately access a busy radio channel, say "break" and the channel number, then begin talking.
Breaking Up	The radio signal is cutting in and out, is weak, or fading.
Brush Your Teeth And Comb Your Hair	A law enforcement vehicle is radaring vehicles.
Bubba	Something you can call other drivers in a jokingly way.
Bull Dog	A Mack truck.
Bull Frog	An ABF truck.
Bull Hauler	A livestock or cow hauler.
Bumper Sticker	A vehicle that is tailgating another vehicle. Also called a "hitchhiker".
Bundled Out	A vehicle that is fully or over loaded or is at maximum capacity.
Buster Brown	UPS truck / driver.
Cabbage	A steep hill grade in Oregon.
Cabover	Cab Over the Engine (COE) tractor.
Cash Register	A tollbooth.
Checking Ground Pressure	The weigh station scales are open. Also known as "running you across".
Chicken Coop	A weigh station. Sometimes simply called "the coop".
Chicken Lights	Extra lights on a truck and/or trailer.
Chicken Hauler or Chicken Truck	Can be referring to a tractor hauling chickens or to a fancy or deluxe truck (with lights and chrome for example).
Comedian	The median that separates opposing traffic. This could be paved, include trees/shrubs, are divider.
Container	An overseas container.
Come-a-part Engine	A Cummins engine.
Come Back	If you couldn't hear the last transmission or want the other driver to talk, you can ask for a comeback.
Come On	Communicating with a driver that you hear him calling and want them to talk. "Yeah driver, come on".
Comic Book	The log book.
Commercial Company	A prostitute.
Convoy	A group of vehicles traveling together.
Copy	The radio transmission is acknowledged or understood. "Copy that".
Cornflake	Consolidated Freightways truck.
County Mountie	County police or deputy.
Covered wagon	Trailer with sidewalls and tarp.
Crackerhead	An insult.
Crotch rocket	A fast motorcycle.
Deadhead	Pulling an empty trailer.
Destruction	Road construction.
Diesel Car	A semi-tractor.
Diesel Cop	Commercial Vehicle enforcement officer.
Donkey	Behind you. "Smokey on your donkey".
Do What?	Didn't hear and/or understand you. Please repeat your transmission.
Double Nickel	55 mph.
Doubles	Double trailers.
Drawing Lines	Completing a log book
Driver	You might be called "driver" if other drivers do not know your CB handle.
Driving Award	A speeding ticket.
Downstroke	Driving downhill.
Dragon Wagon	A tow truck.
Dragonfly	A vehicle with no or little power. For example, a truck going uphill.
Dry Box or Dry Van	An unrefrigerated freight trailer.
18 Wheeler	A tractor trailer.
85th Street	Interstate 85.
Evil Knievel	A motorcycle cop.
Eyeball	To see something.
Feeding The Bears	Paying a ticket.
Fingerprint	Unloading a trailer yourself.
Flip-Flop	A U-turn or return trip.
FM	An AM/FM radio.
42	Yes, or OK.
Four-Letter Word	Nobody wants to stop at the weigh station- that is why "OPEN" is considered a four-letter word in the trucking industry. When the weigh station is open.
Four Wheeler	Any passenger vehicle with four wheels.
Freight Shaker	A Freightliner truck.
Front Door	In front of you.
Full-Grown Bear	State Trooper / Highway Patrol.
Garbage Hauler	Farm produce trailer load such as vegatables or fruit or a produce hauler.
Gear Jammer	Someone who speeds up and slows down frequently.
General Mess of Crap	A GMC truck
Georgia Overdrive	Putting it into neutral on a downgrade.
Go-Go Juice	Diesel fuel.
Good Buddy	"10-4, good buddy" was a popular way to say "OK, good friend" back in the day. Things can change over time - we've heard that it could also mean you are referring to them as a hom*osexual.
Good Neighbor	If you want to show appreciation to someone else. "Thanks, good neighbor".
Got My Nightgown On	A driver is in their sleeper and is getting ready to go to sleep.
Go To Company	Asking another company driver to go to the company's designated channel to communicate or discuss company business or other matters without monopolizing a particular channel.
Go To The Harley	Go to Channel 1.
Got Your Ears On?	Are you listening?
Gouge On It	Peddle to the metal! They want you to go fast.
Granny Lane	The slower lane on a highway or Interstate.
Greasy	The road is icy or slippery.
Greasy Side Up	A vehicle that is unsidedown.
Green Stamps	Money.
Grossed Out	The gross vehicle weight is maxed out, (typically at 80,000 lbs.) or the vehicle is at maximum capacity.
Ground Pressure	The truck weight according to the weigh station scale. "They are testing your ground pressure".
Gumball Machine	Patrol car lights.
Hammer Down	Peddle to the metal. Go fast!
Hammer Lane	The fast lane or passing lane.
Hand	Term for a helper or fellow worker.
Handle (CB Handle)	"What is your CB Handle?" They are asking you what your CB nickname is. Although not required, they are encouraged and can be fun too! CB World offers a CB handle name generator- check it out. You can choose your own CB handle too - select a nickname that might descripe your character or something you are well-known for.
Happy Happy	Happy New Year! "Wishing you a happy happy!"
Having "Shutter Trouble"	Having difficulty keeping your eyes open or staying awake.
Ho Chi Minh Trail	California Highway 152. This highway has lots of accidents.
Holler	Call me. "Give me a holler later."
Home 20	A driver's home location.
Hood	Conventional tractor, not a cab-over.
Hundred Dollar Lane, High Dollar Lane	Describing a traffic lane where trucks are prohibited from driving on- there can be very high fines for trucks driving in these prohibited lanes (typically the far left lane).
Jackpot	Patrol car lights.
Key Down	Talking over someone who is also trying to transmit. Powerful radios can drown out a less powerful radio.
Key Up	Transmitting on your CB radio using the transmit button on your microphone. "Key up your mic."
In My Back Pocket	A location that you've passed. "It's already in my back pocket."
In The Big Hole	Transmission is in the highest gear or top gear.
K-Whopper	Kenworth (KW) tractor.
Kojak With A Kodak	Law enforcement officer is checking radar with a radar gun.
Land Line	A stationary telephone with a land line hookup- not a cellphone.
Large Car	A big truck that oftentimes has a sleeper and additional chrome, lights and/or other accessories.
Left Coast	The West Coast.
Local Information	If you need directions for an area you aren't familiar with, ask for "local information".
Local Yokel	An officer from a small town, small county, or small city.
Lollipop	The road reflector poles or marker poles with reflectors, often on the side or median of the highway.
Lot Lizard	A prostitute that seeks out truckers as potential customers at a rest area or truck stop.
Lumper	Someone that will help load/unload trailers typically wanting cash in return.
Male Buffalo	A male prostitute.
Mama Bear	Female law enforcement officer.
Mash Your Motor	Pedal to the metal! They want you to go fast!
Meat Wagon	An ambulance.
Merry Merry	Merry Christmas.
Motion Lotion	Diesel fuel.
Moving On	Heading down the road.
Mud Duck	A weak radio signal.
Negatory	Negative or no.
95th Street	Interstate 95.
On The Side	On standby.
Parking Lot	An auto transporter.
Pay The Water Bill	Going to the bathroom.
Pickle Park	A rest area where lot lizards can frequently be found.
Pigtail	Tractor to trailer electrical connection.
Plain Wrapper	An unmarked police car. "Watch your back door, there's a plain red wrapper knockin."
Plenty of Protection	This is a toss up - it could mean that there are lots of law enforcement vehicles around or it could be drivers telling you to go ahead and speed because other vehicles are speeding ahead of you offering protection.
Pogo Stick	A flexible support holding the electrical connections to the tractor catwalk
Power up	Accelerate, drive faster.
Preeshaydit	I appreciate it.
Pumpkin	Refers to a Schneider truck, due to it's orange color.
Radio	A CB radio.
Radio check	How does my radio sound?
Rambo	Someone that is talking real tough on the radio, often when no one can identify them or their location due to the anonymityof CB radio
Ratchet jaw	A person that talks for long periods of time staying keyed up so no one else gets a chance to chime in.
Reading the mail	Listening to a radio without saying anything.
Reefer	Often refers to a refrigerated trailer used to transport temperature sensitive cargo
Rest-a-ree-a	Rest Area.
Road pizza	Roadkill.
Rockin' chair	A truck that is between two other trucks.
Roger	Yes; OK.
Roger beep	Afeature on either the microphone or radio that causes a beep sound when the microphone is un-keyed.
Roller skate	A small car.
Rooster cruiser	Large, deluxe, possibly custom truck; a tractor featuring a lot of chrome and lighting.
Runnin'you across	Weigh station is active, often moving quickly.
Salt shaker	A maintenance vehicle that pours sand or salt on roadways in the winter months.
Sandbagging	Another way to describe when someone is listing to the radio but is not talking on the radio.
Sandbox	An escape ramp using sand to slow down vehicles.
Schneider eggs	Orange traffic cones in construction zones.
Seat cover	Describes either the driver or passenger of a four-wheeler
Sesame Street	Channel 19 on CB.
Shaky	California, sometimes specific to Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Shiny side up	Safe travels; drivesafe; keeping the vehicle upright.
Shooting you in the back	A warning that there is law enforcement using a radar gun.
Short short	A small amount of time.
Shutdown	Out of service due to the Department of Transit issuing a violation.
Sleeper creeper	A prostitute; also known as a lot lizard.
Skateboard	A flatbed.
Skins	Tires.
Smokin' scooter	Law enforcement officer patrolling on a motorcycle.
Smokin' the brakes	The trailer brakes are smoking from heavy use down a steep slope.
Smokey or Smokey Bear	law enforcement; often highway patrol.
Split	where the road splits off into different directions.
Spy in the sky	Law enforcement aircraft.
Stagecoach	Tour bus.
Stand on it	Speed up; accelerate.
Swinging	The vehicle is transporting swinging meat.
Taking pictures	A warning that law enforcement is using a radar gun ahead.
10-4	OK.
Thermos bottle	A tanker trailer.
Through the woods	Exiting the Interstate to travel on secondary roads.
Throwin' iron	Putting chains on the tires
Too many eggs in the basket	Overweight load.
Toothpicks	A load of lumber.
Travel agent	A dispatcher; sometimes a broker.
Triple digits	Over 100 mph.
TYA	"Tune Your Antenna"- you radio signal is weak and transmission is bad.
VW	A Volvo-White tractor.
Wagon	A trailer.
Walked on you	Talked over you by transmitting at the same time.
Wally world	A nickname for Wal-Mart. Could be referencing the store, distribution center, or a truck.
West Coast turnarounds	The use of illegal drugs or pills to stay awake for long periods of time allowing for quick cross country trips. This is illegal and not advised.
Wiggle wagons	Refers to the trailers when a truck is pulling two or three trailers.
Yard	A company terminal.
Yardstick	A mile marker located on the highway.

Get a Grip on 10 Codes Used in CB Lingo & Radio Code

The Most Commonly Used 10 Codes

When getting started, remember at least the following 10 codes:

10-1 Receiving Poorly
10-4 Ok, Message Received
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air (you're going off the air)
10-8 In Service, subject to call (you're back on the air)
10-9 Repeat Message
10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By (you'll be listening)
10-20 "What's your location?" or "My location is..." Commonly asked as "What's your 20?"

And maybe also this code... 10-100 Need to go to Bathroom. Also, remember that the code 10-4 only means "message received". If you want to say "yes", use "affirmative". For "no", use "negative" or “negatory”.

The Complete List of CB 10 codes

10-1 Receiving Poorly
10-2 Receiving Well
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 Ok, Message Received
10-5 Relay Message
10-6 Busy, Stand By
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air
10-8 In Service, subject to call
10-9 Repeat Message
10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By
10-11 Talking too Rapidly
10-12 Visitors Present
10-13 Advise weather/road conditions
10-16 Make Pickup at...
10-17 Urgent Business
10-18 Anything for us?
10-19 Nothing for you, return to base
10-20 My Location is ......... or What's your Location?
10-21 Call by Telephone
10-22 Report in Person to _____
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Completed last assignment
10-25 Can you Contact ______
10-26 Disregard Last Information/Cancel Last Message/Ignore
10-27 I am moving to Channel ___
10-28 Identify your station
10-29 Time is up for contact
10-30 Does not conform to FCC Rules
10-32 I will give you a radio check
10-33 Emergency Traffic at this station
10-34 Trouble at this station, help needed
10-35 Confidential Information
10-36 Correct Time is _____
10-38 Ambulance needed at _____
10-39 Your message delivered
10-41 Please tune to channel ___
10-42 Traffic Accident at _____
10-43 Traffic tie-up at _____
10-44 I have a message for you (or ____)
10-45 All units within range please report
10-50 Break Channel
10-62 Unable to copy, use phone
10-62sl unable to copy on AM, use Sideband Lower (not an official code)
10-62su unable to copy on AM, use Sideband Upper (not an official code)
10-65 Awaiting your next message/assignment
10-67 All units comply
10-70 Fire at _____
10-73 Speed Trap at _____
10-75 You are causing interference
10-77 Negative Contact
10-84 My telephone number is ____
10-85 My address is _____
10-91 Talk closer to the Mike
10-92 Your transmitter is out of adjustment
10-93 Check my frequency on this channel
10-94 Please give me a long count
10-95 Transmit dead carrier for 5 sec.
10-99 Mission completed, all units secure
10-100 Need to go to Bathroom
10-200 Police needed at _____

10 codes originated in the USA and are CB radio lingo mostly used in English-speaking countries. However, no matter which codes are used in your country, be aware that there are local dialects in every urban area and region. You have to listen to others to learn the phrases and codes in your area. And not everyone knows or uses 10-codes, so be prepared for some people to not understand you.

Be aware that the use of codes specifically to obscure the meaning of a transmission is probably illegal in most countries. The difference is this codes which are well known and make communications shorter or more efficient are normally allowed.

Familiarize Yourself with Q codes Used in CB Radio Code & Lingo

Some of the More Common Q Codes

Q codes are used in many kinds of radio communications, including CB sideband but not typically on CB AM. (If your radio doesn't have sideband, don't worry about Q codes.) Q codes originated with amateur radio but their use in CB radio lingo varies even more than 10-codes.

The following is an abbreviated list of Q codes borrowed from amateur radio:

QRM man made noise, adjacent channel interference
QRN static noise
QRO increase power
QRP reduce power
QRT shut down, clear
QSL confirmation, often refers to confirmation cards exchanged by hams
QSO conversation
QSX standing by on the side
QSY move to another frequency
QTH address, location

The following is from a list of Q codes used by the X-Ray Club (a sideband-users club headquartered in Paradise, California):

QRL Busy, Stand By
QRM Man Made Interference
QRT Stop Transmit or Shutting Down (same as 10-7 on AM)
QRX Stop Transmit or Standing By
QRZ Who Is Calling?
QS Receiving Well
QSB Receiving Poorly
QSK I have something to Say or Station breaking QSM Repeat Message
QSO Radio Contact
QSP Relay Message
QSX Standing By (same as 10-10 on AM)
QSY Changing Frequency
QTH My Location is _____ or What's your location? QTR Correct Time

Q codes may be used to ask questions (QTH?) or to answer them (QTH is 5th and Ivy Streets.)

The ARRL Handbook and the ARRL operating guides have more complete listings of those used for amateur radio. (ARRL is an amateur radio organization.) Historically, the Q signals were instituted at the 'World Administrative Radio Conference' (WARC) in 1912. Because of their international origin, Q codes may be more accepted outside English-speaking countries than 10-codes are.

Some Tips for Communicating with Others on a CB Radio

The following is a list that is generally considered proper procedure or polite when using a CB radio. It can also be considered a beginner's survival guide. This list was compiled from common problems that have plagued beginners since CB radios first became popular.