CB Slang for Driving Directions: Trucker Navigation Terms
Truckers have their own vocabulary for directions, locations, and navigation. From flip-flop to yardstick to rocking chair, these terms help drivers communicate quickly and clearly on the CB radio. This guide covers every major direction-related CB term with real-world usage examples.
Ahmad Qazi
Founder & CEO, O Trucking LLC
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years supporting driver communication and CB radio protocols
Sources:
Written by Ahmad Qazi, founder of O Trucking LLC, drawing on 9+ years dispatching for owner-operators. Learn more about us.
O TruckingCB Slang for Driving Directions: Trucker Navigation Terms (2026)
Key Takeaways
- “What’s your 20?” means “Where are you?” and comes from the 10-code 10-20 for location.
- A yardstick is a mile marker; drivers pair it with a compass direction, such as “eastbound at the 142.”
- Flip-flop means to turn around and head back; “catch you on the flip-flop” means talk on the return trip.
- Big road and slab both mean the interstate; hammer lane is the left (passing) lane and granny lane is the right (slow) lane.
- In a convoy, the front door leads, the back door watches behind, and the rocking chair rides protected in the middle.
Direction and Movement Terms
These terms describe which way a driver is heading, turning, or moving on the highway. For speed-focused phrasing, pair them with our hammer down CB phrases guide.
Flip-flop — Turn around and head back the opposite direction. “I'm gonna flip-flop at the next exit” means the driver is turning around. “Catch you on the flip-flop” means “I'll talk to you on my way back.” One of the oldest and most-used CB terms in trucking.
Hammer down — Drive fast or accelerate. “Hammer down, westbound” means a driver is heading west at full speed. Often used as encouragement: “You're clear to the state line — hammer down.”
Back it down — Slow down. Typically a warning that there is a speed trap, construction zone, or hazard ahead. “Back it down at the 205 — bear trap in the median.”
Put the pedal down — Similar to hammer down, it means accelerate or go fast. Less common than hammer down but still used. “Clear road ahead, put the pedal down.”
Location and Road Terms
Truckers have nicknames for highways, mile markers, and road features that make CB communication faster and more colorful.
Yardstick — A mile marker. “Bear at the 142 yardstick” means there is a police officer at mile marker 142. Most drivers just say “at the 142” without the word yardstick, but knowing the term helps you understand older drivers and classic CB chatter.
Big road — The interstate highway. “Get on the big road and head east” means take the interstate eastbound. The big road is the main highway as opposed to secondary or local roads.
Slab — Another term for the highway or interstate. “Hit the slab” means get on the highway. More common in Southern states. “I've been on the slab all day” means the driver has been on the highway for a long time.
Hammer lane — The left lane (fast lane or passing lane). “Bear rolling in the hammer lane” means a police car is driving in the left lane. The name comes from “hammer down” — the lane you use when you are going fast.
Granny lane — The right lane (slow lane or travel lane). Where most trucks drive at cruise speed. “I'm in the granny lane, come on around” means the driver is in the right lane and inviting another truck to pass.
Your 20 (twenty) — Your location. From the 10-code “10-20” for position. “What's your 20?” means “Where are you?” and a reply might be “My 20 is the 88 yardstick westbound.” This is one of the most-used location terms on the CB and the foundation of nearly every direction conversation. See the full CB 10-codes chart for related signals.
Eastbound and down — Heading east at speed, popularized by the film Smokey and the Bandit. Drivers use the same pattern for every compass direction: “westbound and down,” “northbound,” and “southbound.” Compass direction plus a mile marker is the standard way to pinpoint where you are: “Eastbound at the 142.”
Stack ‘em up / parking lot — A traffic jam where vehicles are barely moving. “It's a parking lot from the 30 to the 35” warns drivers of stopped or crawling traffic ahead so they can plan an alternate route.
Quick-Reference Table: CB Direction Terms
Use this cheat sheet to translate the most common CB direction and location terms into plain English at a glance.
| CB Term | Plain Meaning |
|---|---|
| Flip-flop | Turn around / the return trip |
| What's your 20? | Where are you located? |
| Yardstick | Mile marker |
| Big road / slab | The interstate highway |
| Hammer lane | Left (passing) lane |
| Granny lane | Right (slow) lane |
| Front door | Ahead of you / lead truck |
| Back door | Behind you / rear truck |
| Rocking chair | Middle position in a convoy |
| Parking lot | Stopped or crawling traffic |
City-Specific Nicknames on the CB
Convoy Position Terms
When trucks travel together in a loose group, each position has a specific name that defines its role in watching for hazards and law enforcement.
Front door — The lead truck in a convoy or the area ahead of you. The front door driver is the first to spot hazards, bears, and road conditions. “You got a construction zone on your front door at the 180” means there is construction ahead of you at mile marker 180.
Back door — The last truck in a convoy or the area behind you. The back door driver watches for bears approaching from behind and alerts the group. “Bear coming up your back door” means police approaching from behind.
Rocking chair — The middle position in a convoy of three or more trucks. The rocking chair driver is protected — the front door handles threats ahead and the back door handles threats behind. It is the most comfortable position, hence the name “rocking chair.”
Police-Related Direction Terms
Many direction terms on the CB are used specifically in the context of reporting hazards and law enforcement sightings. For ready-made phrasing, see our bear report CB examples and the full highway hazard CB terms guide.
Your side / the other side — Used when talking to drivers going the opposite direction. “Westbound, you got a bear on your side at the 200” tells westbound drivers about an officer on the westbound side of the highway.
City kitty — A city police officer, as opposed to a state trooper or county sheriff. “City kitty rolling through the construction zone at the 35 interchange.” City kitties typically patrol city limits and may or may not enforce highway traffic on interstates passing through their jurisdiction.
Listen Before You Talk on Channel 19
CB Direction Slang FAQ
Common questions about CB radio slang for driving directions and navigation
What does flip-flop mean on the CB radio?
On the CB radio, flip-flop means to turn around and head back the direction you came from. A driver might say 'I'll catch you on the flip-flop' meaning 'I'll talk to you on my way back.' It can also refer to the return trip itself. The term has been part of CB culture since the 1970s and is still widely used today on channel 19.
What is a yardstick in trucker slang?
A yardstick is trucker slang for a mile marker on the highway. Drivers use yardsticks to communicate locations precisely on the CB radio. Instead of saying 'mile marker 142,' a driver might say 'at the 142 yardstick' or simply 'at the 142.' Mile markers are the universal reference system for highway locations in trucker communication.
What does front door and back door mean on the CB?
Front door means the lead position or ahead of you in your direction of travel. Back door means behind you or the last position in a group. In a convoy, the front door driver leads and watches for hazards ahead, while the back door driver watches for threats from behind. 'You got a bear on your front door' means there is police ahead of you.
What does rocking chair mean in CB slang?
Rocking chair refers to the middle position in a convoy of three or more trucks. The driver in the rocking chair position is protected on both sides — the front door watches ahead and the back door watches behind. The rocking chair driver can relax slightly, like sitting in a rocking chair, because the other drivers are handling lookout duties.
What does 'what's your 20' mean on the CB?
'What's your 20?' means 'What is your location?' It comes from the CB 10-code '10-20,' which stands for position or location. A typical exchange is 'What's your 20?' answered with 'My 20 is the 88 yardstick westbound' — meaning mile marker 88 heading west. It is one of the most-used phrases on the CB and the starting point for almost every direction conversation.
What does 'eastbound and down' mean in trucker slang?
'Eastbound and down' means heading east at speed. The phrase was popularized by the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit. Drivers use the same pattern for any compass direction — 'westbound and down,' 'northbound,' or 'southbound.' Combining the compass direction with a mile marker, such as 'eastbound at the 142,' is the standard way truckers pinpoint where they are on the highway.
Need a Dispatch Team That Speaks Trucker?
Our dispatchers understand the language of the road. Get route support and load planning from a team that knows the industry inside out.