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The advent of Citizens' Band radio has added a new dimension to the game. In the days of the fuel
crisis, CB became the trucker's means of organization, as well as his means of relieving boredom. CB
has been around since the late Fifties, but was only used in a small minority of road vehicles. That was
before the fuel panic - and the 55mph speed limit. The lower limit was intended to economize on fuel,
but truckers knew that this would not be the case for them. When a loaded rig approaches an upgrade,
the driver must down shift, and this means running slower at a faster engine speed. It is obvious that he
would want to approach the hill at the fastest possible speed. If he is forced to go slow, he will have to
shift down sooner, using more fuel for less miles travelled. Some trucks are geared even higher, and
the top ratio is hardly usable at 55mph.
Government and state authorities were unimpressed by the argument, but the truckers believe they were
right and continued to press for a higher truck limit. They organized via CB and began to seek
protection in numbers, travelling in convoys. A 'front door' and 'back door' take responsibility for
spotting the bears, and with the assistance of other road users along the way, they plot a fast, cop free
route. Police reaction is mixed. No doubt some officers resent radio, which they regard as their own
weapon, being used by all. Official statements suggest, though, that as long as speeds come down, the
police are satisfied. There is little doubt that CB encourages legal driving when there is a Smokey in the
bushes.
California Trucking Association's website at caltrux.org