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.
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O TruckingCB Slang for Driving Directions: Trucker Navigation Terms (2026)
Direction and Movement Terms
These terms describe which way a driver is heading, turning, or moving on the highway.
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.
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.
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.
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