CB radio calls waning

[Staff]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The State Highway Patrol fields lots of calls — about 6,300 a day — but citizens-band radio contacts have dropped off the chart.

In 1985, the patrol received 83,974 calls on CB channel 9, which troopers monitor in their cruisers. In 2000, the calls dropped to 25,096. The patrol quit counting in 2001.

The popularity of CB radios peaked in the late 1970s, fueled by the Smokey and the Bandit movies and C.W. McCall’s song Convoy.

Dennis Leonard Jr., owner of Litchfield Radio in Medina County, sold 800 to 1,000 CB radios a year from the mid-’70s to mid-’90s, he said, but now sells about 400 a year.

Still, a CB radio is valuable for truckers. They use them to find out where to pick up freight inside of businesses and get directions if they are lost, Leonard said.

Source: Columbus Dispatch (More)

[Jayhawk]

Guess there needs to be some more Smokey and the Bandit type movies, LOL.

[hurgoll]

Should I even buy a CB now, is it worth it? I am the only one that listens to it at work that I know of.

[wc5b]

Simple anwser is yes! CB's do have much less activity on them. Even the knuckleheads are reduced to knucklehead truckdrivers. It can get down right annoying at times. Heck, I am a ham op, so I normally have it off and listen to the other bands, but thats just me.

That being said... Many customers still expect to work with you via C.B. and it can be a headache to driver and customer if you dont have one. Truckstop chatter can be annoying, but every once in a while it provides you with some good info or advice in parking and such. During traffic it is still king for information! So, simply, yes!

[user11108]

I love my little CB and i'll die with it..

[Cerberus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by user11108 I love my little CB and i'll die with it..

TMI...lol

[19speedracer]

I won't haul without my C.B. It has saved my butt too many times !!!