Hide Article Text (OCR)
For Mg, for tare1Strange song sweeps U.S. with trackers' CB mania* ‘Come on and join our convoy.Ain’t nothin 'gonna get in our way We’re gonna roll this truckm ’ convoy ’Cross the U.S.A Convooooooy. ”By LENITA POWERS The No. 1 record for four weeks on national charts, the song “Convoy” — about - truckers and their citizens' band radio jargon as sung by C.W. McCall — is still the hottest seller in many Reno record shops What do truckers think of it?Reri Zander, who has driven trucks for 27 years, said he’s never even heard the song.On a run from Pendleton, Ore., to Lodi, Calif , Zander parked his International ng outside the ’76 Truck Stop in Sparks this week to get something to eat.OWN LINGO Although he hasn't heard the song, “Convoy,” he does have a citizens’ band (CB) radio in his truck and is familiar with the foreign language of the CB “A 10-20?” he said. “Sure, that’s where you’re headed for or where you’re at. A Smokey Bear is a highway patrolman.”The “back door” is the term used by truckers for anything behind them and “front door” is what’s up ahead, Zander explained“If ya keep your back door closed that means you’ve talked to somebody with a CB behind ya and you know nobody can sneak up on ya,” he said, referring to law enforcers.CB radios can range from $110 for a 23-channel mobile unit to $850 for the fancyhome model, according to Doug Kauffman, manager of Nevada CB Center in Reno Normal range is 10-25 miles, Although the legal range is 150 miies,“They’re tremendous with truckers,” Kauffmann said “If a trucker is coming into a new town, he can use it lo find out where a warehouse is located or if he breaks down on the road They also ean find out if a mountain pass is open or if there’s an accident up ahead.”CODE NAMES Many CB operators use code names like the “Rubber Duck in the “Convoy” song instead of call letters Lou Nebes has driven truck for 27 of his 47 years“I don’t have a CB ’cause I can’t afford it, he said “He doesn’t have one 'cause he’s too tight to buy one, a fellow trucker quipped as they lounged around the ’76 Truck Stop What does Nebes think of the truckers’ anthem, “Convoy9”“I hate it!” he said emphatically “I turn it off every time I hear it That song and ‘Wolf Creek Pass ’ Another addition to the growing collection of truckin’ songs. “Wolf Creek Pass” tells the story of truckers wildly driving their load of chickens down a dangerous pass when they hit a tunnel lower than their chicken load. Then the feathers fly•Strange, Page 2, Col. 3CB laajiMjiSmokey BearLaw enforcement officers.Bear in the bushesPolice or highway patrol car sitting along side the roadBear in chicken coopPolice or highway patrol parked in a truck weighing scales buildingSuicide jockeyTrucker carrying dangerous, load, such as dynamite or gasoline.Breaker oneCode used by citizens’ band radio operators to get on the air.10-20 or 20Trucker’s destination or present location.* **..’S-VF VWhat’s up ahead?i c\a Trueker Bill Lesko of Napa, Calif., demonstrates hisCB radio. Although watched with increasing Message understood, end wariness by officials, CB radio is generally con-of message sidered beneficial to truckers and police.(Gazette photos by Marilyn Newton)
Newspaper Details
Nevada Evening Gazette
Reno, Nevada, US
Fri, Jan 23, 1976
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NY, USA 18 Nov 2020
Other Publications Near Reno, Nevada
Nevada State Journal
Reno Evening Gazette
Weekly Reno Gazette
Weekly Nevada State Journal
Reno Weekly Gazette and Stockman
