By Kim McDonnell

Top reasons why a CB is still the best safety equipment in your truck

Think that the CB radio is no longer an essential piece of equipment to have on the truck - or that it is filled with useless chatter? Think again. There are still plenty of reasons that the CB radio is the number one piece of safety equipment to have in your truck.

Yes, we all have our cell phones to rely upon for communication, but that is a way to communicate with people you know! What about the times when you are heading down the road or at a travel center, and you need to communicate with another driver you may not know?

Here are just a few ways a CB radio can save the day:

Traffic Jams/Accidents/Delays – So here you are in a major traffic jam – you can’t see what is up ahead, but another driver with a CB ahead of you may have already passed through or is right in the thick of things. They can help advise what you may be headed into and how to avoid it possibly. Maybe they can recommend another way around the problem. Or, at the very least, tell you if whatever is causing the problem may be cleared up soon. 

No Cell Signal - No Worries – For those who are saying, “I can just use my cell in case of an emergency,” here is why that may be a problem. Yes, there are still areas of the country where there is little or no signal meaning your phone won’t work. But your CB will always be able to reach someone that has their radio on and perhaps save you when broken down or in an emergency.

Your GPS Loses It!  – Yes, we all have experienced it at some point. The GPS starts telling you to turn down a residential street or is sending you in circles as you are trying to navigate to your next drop point. Utilizing your CB to reach another driver that may be familiar with the area you are trying to get to can save you valuable time.

Weather – Sure, you can rely on the weather apps on your phone, but that doesn’t tell you what kind of road conditions you may be heading into. Using your CB will allow you to reach out to another driver that has just come through the area you are driving into. They may be able to share specific hazards or icy areas, or disabled vehicles up ahead, which will give you time to react and plan.

Helping another Driver – As another truck passes you, you notice that there is something under his rig that doesn’t look quite right – it could be a tire that is about to fail or brakes that are starting to smoke. You can reach out to that driver on your CB to let them know they have a potential problem.  Allowing them to safely pull over to check it out before something more serious happens.

Socializing – Use your CB to reach out to other drivers that are traveling the same roads as you. Maybe they can give you a good tip on where to stop for the night, what travel center has the best coffee, or a great place to stop for a meal that is also truck-friendly. You could end up making a new friend that travels the same roads and perhaps have someone to talk to or share a meal. They could also be more versed in the area and be invaluable when trying to find what roads are the best to be on or what to avoid.

Sure, there are still those that choose to use the CB to talk trash, use foul language, or blather on about useless stuff, but you have the option to turn that radio down or switch channels.

Consider your CB radio as that added insurance for safety that will be there when you need it. It could save your life or the life of someone else.