Complete 10-Code List for Truckers
The complete 10-code reference for truck drivers — every code from 10-1 through 10-200 with meanings, real-world usage examples, and notes on which codes are commonly used vs rarely heard. Whether you are a new driver learning CB lingo or a veteran refreshing your knowledge, this is your definitive reference.
Ahmad Qazi
Founder & CEO, O Trucking LLC
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years communicating via CB radio and fleet systems with owner-operators
Written by Ahmad Qazi, founder of O Trucking LLC, drawing on 9+ years dispatching for owner-operators. Learn more about us.
O TruckingComplete 10-Code List for Truckers (2026)
Key Takeaways
- 10-4, 10-20, 10-9, 10-7, 10-8, and 10-33 cover the vast majority of real CB radio communication on channel 19.
- Of the 100+ codes in the full system, most truckers regularly use only about 8-10.
- 10-codes were never fully standardized, so the same code (like 10-100) can mean different things between trucking and law enforcement or between regions.
- Channel 19 is the trucker highway channel; channel 9 is the emergency channel.
- In a real emergency, switch to plain language and state your location clearly rather than relying on obscure codes.
Essential 10-Codes Every Trucker Must Know
These are the codes you will hear and use regularly on CB channel 19. Memorize these first:
| Code | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 10-4 | Affirmative / Understood | “10-4, good buddy.” |
| 10-9 | Repeat last transmission | “10-9, didn't copy.” |
| 10-20 | Location / What is your location? | “What's your 10-20?” |
| 10-7 | Out of service / Signing off | “Going 10-7 for the night.” |
| 10-8 | In service / Available | “Back 10-8, rolling again.” |
| 10-10 | Standing by / Transmission complete | “10-10, monitoring.” |
| 10-33 | Emergency traffic | “10-33, accident ahead.” |
| 10-36 | Current time | “What's the 10-36?” |
Complete 10-Code Reference Table
The full APCO-style 10-code list as used in trucking. Codes in bold are commonly used; others are included for completeness but rarely heard on modern CB radio.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10-1 | Receiving poorly / Bad signal |
| 10-2 | Receiving well / Good signal |
| 10-3 | Stop transmitting |
| 10-4 | Affirmative / Message received and understood |
| 10-5 | Relay message |
| 10-6 | Busy / Stand by |
| 10-7 | Out of service |
| 10-8 | In service |
| 10-9 | Repeat / Say again |
| 10-10 | Transmission complete, standing by |
| 10-11 | Talking too fast |
| 10-12 | Visitors present |
| 10-13 | Advise weather/road conditions |
| 10-20 | Location / What is your location? |
| 10-21 | Call by phone |
| 10-22 | Disregard last message |
| 10-23 | Stand by |
| 10-25 | Can you contact...? |
| 10-26 | Disregard last information |
| 10-27 | Moving to channel... |
| 10-28 | Identify your station |
| 10-33 | Emergency traffic |
| 10-34 | Trouble at this station (need help) |
| 10-36 | Current time |
| 10-42 | Traffic accident |
| 10-43 | Traffic congestion |
| 10-45 | All units report status |
| 10-62 | Unable to copy, use phone |
| 10-77 | Negative contact |
| 10-100 | Bathroom break (trucker usage) |
| 10-200 | Police needed at location |
Most Codes Are Rarely Used in Modern Trucking
New Driver? Start with 5 Codes
Why the Same 10-Code Can Mean Two Different Things
One of the biggest sources of confusion for new drivers is that 10-codes were never fully standardized. Law enforcement, fire/EMS, and the trucking community all adapted the original APCO list differently, so a code that means one thing on the radio in one state can mean something else a few hundred miles away. The classic example is 10-100: among truckers it is shorthand for a bathroom break, but in some police 10-code systems it signals a serious incident. Because of this ambiguity, the only codes you can safely assume everyone understands are the core handful — 10-4, 10-9, 10-20, 10-7 and 10-8.
If you are crossing regions or talking to drivers you do not know, the safest habit is to confirm the meaning the first time or simply switch to plain language. There is no penalty for being clear. For a deeper look at how these codes spread and split across regions, see our history of 10-codes in trucking.
10-Codes vs. Plain Language in 2026
The trend across radio communication has moved steadily toward plain language. After the 2001 National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidance, many public-safety agencies dropped 10-codes for incident reporting so that responders from different jurisdictions could understand each other without a code sheet. Trucking never formally followed suit, but the practical effect is the same on the road: most working drivers now mix a few well-known codes with plain English.
For day-to-day driving, plain language wins for anything complex — describing a wreck, giving directions, or warning about a hazard. The 10-codes that survive are the short, fast ones that are quicker to say than the phrase they replace: “10-4” beats “message received and understood,” and “what's your 10-20?” is faster than “where are you?” Use the 10-codes vs. plain language guide to decide which to reach for in a given situation, and the CB channel guide for truckers to know where each conversation belongs.
Don't Rely on Obscure Codes in an Emergency
10-Code List FAQ
Common questions about 10-codes, CB radio, and trucker communication
What is the most commonly used 10-code?
10-4 (affirmative/understood) is by far the most commonly used 10-code in trucking and has become part of everyday American English. The second most common is 10-20 (what is your location?), followed by 10-9 (repeat your last transmission) and 10-7 (out of service/signing off). These four codes make up the vast majority of 10-code usage on CB channel 19.
Do all truckers use the same 10-codes?
Not exactly. While the core codes (10-4, 10-9, 10-20) are universal, some 10-codes have different meanings in different regions or between law enforcement and trucking. For example, 10-100 in some systems means 'bathroom break' while in others it means 'civil disturbance.' The APCO standardized list is the most widely accepted, but regional variations exist. When in doubt, use plain language instead of obscure codes.
Are 10-codes being replaced by plain language?
In law enforcement, yes — many agencies have moved to plain language since the 2001 recommendation by the National Incident Management System (NIMS). In trucking, 10-codes persist as cultural tradition on CB radio, but their daily use has declined. Most truckers today use a mix of the most common 10-codes and plain English. The key codes (10-4, 10-9, 10-20) will likely remain in use for decades due to their embedded cultural status.
What CB channel do truckers use?
Channel 19 is the unofficial but universally recognized trucker highway channel. It is where road condition reports, hazard warnings, and general trucker conversation happen. Channel 9 is the emergency channel (monitored by some law enforcement). Channels 17 and 19 are the most active for truckers. Some regional areas and specific truck stops use other channels for local communication.
What does 10-100 mean for truckers?
Among truckers, 10-100 is informal slang for a bathroom or restroom break — as in 'taking a 10-100 at the next stop.' Be careful with this one: in several police and public-safety 10-code systems, 10-100 means something completely different and more serious. Because the meaning is not standardized, treat 10-100 as trucker-to-trucker slang and avoid using it on shared or emergency channels where it could be misread.
What is the difference between 10-7 and 10-8?
10-7 means 'out of service' — you are signing off, taking a break, or shutting down for the night and will not be reachable on the radio. 10-8 is the opposite: 'in service' or back available, meaning you are rolling again and monitoring the channel. Drivers often pair them across a stop: 'Going 10-7 for the night' when they park, then 'Back 10-8' when they get going the next morning.
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