Bait Molting
Bait Molting
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Following Cb Slang Down The Yellow-Lined Road: Alligators And Chickens And Bears! Oh, My!
The current slang used for texting, instant messaging, and emailing may seem like gibberish to an outsider. However, it isn’t all that foreign when you look back at the history of trucking communications. Just three decades ago, the CB (citizens’ band radio) reached a popularity craze to be reckoned with, while changing the truck driving industry—and pop culture—forever. And just like now, these terms were hybrids of the cool speak of the day, before finding their way into daily usage.
The CB was designed in the mid-40s for the purpose of getting emergency messages across. Truckers took this methodology and ran with it, alerting other drivers about road hazards, police traps (especially essential when the oil crisis of 1973 gave way to a 55-mph speed limit nationwide), and just generally keeping each other awake and engaged during long hauls. Many of these terms have become legendary thanks to campy films like "Convoy" and "Smokey and The Bandit." Furthermore, it’s uncanny how many of these terms are reminiscent of animals—even more than just the occasional road kill (or "road pizza" on CB). Here’s a rundown of core CB terms that can also be found on the farm.
Only you can prevent forest fires (or spot a police officer). Perhaps the most celebrated of all CB slang are the terms "Smokey" or "bear," which come directly from "Smokey Bear," our forest fire-fighting friend. From his emergence in the mid-40s on, the Smokey Bear persona and similar uniform has been linked to highway patrol officers, making the terms synonymous with the police. That spawned other endearing terms like "bear’s lair" for a police station, "bear in the air" for police aircraft, and "bear taking pictures" for those officers regulating with radar.
Life from behind the rearview mirror. "Donkey" is used to describe the area directly behind the truck—often a blind spot for the driver. If the hauler is a tow truck, then the magical term "dragon wagon" is appropriate, while "pigtail" describes the trailer’s electrical connection when hooked up to a tractor.
Man’s best friend is often found on the road. The sturdiest of dogs is celebrated with the use of "bull dog" for a Mack truck (no doubt a nod towards its hood ornament). By using the term "bird dog," the CB talker is describing a radar detector that "fetches" police signals.
Alligators aren’t just in the swamps. The term "alligator" or "gator" describes leftover tire tread found on the roadway. It’s an obvious term in that tread tends to look like alligator skin, and peels off much in the same way reptiles molt. Likewise, "alligator bait" means several pieces of tire, while "baby alligator" refers to a small piece. It’s an important alert, because driving over tire pieces can damage the underbelly of a truck or even passing cars.
A nod toward our feathered friends. The term "chicken coop" is used in the description of a weigh station, often shortened to "coop." "Chicken hauler" literally refers to a truck carrying chickens, and also to a souped-up truck that is embellished with lots of shiny chrome and lights (also called "chicken lights").
So next time you’re headed down the highway, channel a bit of the CB poetry: Breaker Rubber Duck! There’s a bear on your donkey, and a bull dog to your right. Alligator bait is ahead and a chicken coop is in site. Over and out, good buddy.
With all of today’s technology, it’s easy to look back at the CB craze as an outdated means of communication. But there is no doubt that the interwoven slang made an impression on not only the trucking industry, but also pop culture as a whole, much like IM, email, and SMS speak is doing right now.
Check out future editions of CareersinGear.com Magazine for more fun forays into trucking pop culture!
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About the Author
Andrea Rizzo is a freelance writer in the Norfolk, Va. area. She specializes in music and entertainment writing, and currently contributes to Port Folio Weekly and Lifestyles. In addition, she regularly contributes to CareersinGear.com Magazine and CareersinGear.com, the leading sources for truck driving jobs and other trucking job search tools.