CB Radio 10-Codes Quick Reference Chart
This is your quick-reference chart for the top 20 most-used 10-codes in trucking. Each code includes the meaning, a real CB radio example, and when you are most likely to hear it on channel 19. Bookmark this page or save it for quick reference on the road.
Omer Qazi
Founder & CEO, O Trucking LLC
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Editorial Team
Written by Omer Qazi, founder of O Trucking LLC, drawing on 9+ years dispatching for owner-operators. Learn more about us.
O TruckingCB Radio 10-Codes Quick Reference Chart (2026)
Top 20 CB 10-Codes Reference Chart
The following chart contains the 20 most frequently used 10-codes on trucking CB radio, ranked roughly by how often you will encounter them:
| # | Code | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10-4 | Message received / Yes | “10-4, appreciate it driver” |
| 2 | 10-20 | Location | “What's your 20?” |
| 3 | 10-9 | Repeat last message | “10-9 on that, you broke up” |
| 4 | 10-10 | Transmission complete / Standby | “That's all I got, 10-10” |
| 5 | 10-33 | Emergency — clear channel | “10-33, 10-33 — rollover at the 180” |
| 6 | 10-36 | Current time | “What's the 10-36?” |
| 7 | 10-1 | Receiving poorly | “You're coming in 10-1, driver” |
| 8 | 10-2 | Receiving well | “Coming in 10-2, go ahead” |
| 9 | 10-7 | Out of service / signing off | “Going 10-7, shutting down for the night” |
| 10 | 10-8 | In service / available | “10-8, back on the road” |
| 11 | 10-3 | Stop transmitting | “10-3 on the chatter, emergency traffic” |
| 12 | 10-6 | Busy / stand by | “10-6, driver. Give me a minute” |
| 13 | 10-13 | Weather / road conditions | “10-13 westbound: ice on bridges past the 200” |
| 14 | 10-42 | Traffic accident | “10-42 at the 165, blocking the granny lane” |
| 15 | 10-34 | Need help / assistance | “10-34, broke down at exit 92” |
| 16 | 10-5 | Relay message | “Can you 10-5 that to eastbound traffic?” |
| 17 | 10-11 | Talking too fast | “10-11 driver, slow it down” |
| 18 | 10-17 | Urgent business | “10-17, need directions to the shipper” |
| 19 | 10-19 | Return to base / heading back | “10-19, heading for the house” |
| 20 | 10-100 | Bathroom break | “Stopping for a quick 10-100” |
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How to Read the Chart: Codes in Context
Understanding how these codes fit into actual CB conversations makes them easier to remember. Here are examples of multi-code exchanges:
Standard Bear Report Acknowledgment
“Eastbound, bear at the 142 sitting in the median.”
“10-4, driver. What's your 20?”
“Just passed the 140 westbound.”
“10-4, appreciate it. 10-10.”
Emergency Channel Clear
“10-33, 10-33. Rollover at the 180 southbound. Truck on its side, driver needs help. Can someone call 911?”
“10-4, calling it in now. What's the mile marker again? You came in 10-1.”
“Mile marker 180 southbound I-35. 10-4?”
“10-4, mile marker 180. 911 is on the line.”
A Note on Standardization: Codes Are Not Universal
One thing new drivers should understand before keying up: 10-codes are not standardized nationwide. There is no single official rulebook that every CB user follows. The set you hear on channel 19 grew out of the old APCO public-safety codes but evolved its own trucking flavor over decades, and meanings can shift by region, by agency, and even by who taught the driver.
A few examples of where confusion creeps in:
- The same number can mean different things to police, fire, and CB users — which is part of why many public-safety agencies have shifted toward plain language.
- Some codes on this chart (like 10-100 for a bathroom break) are CB and trucking slang, not formal codes you would find in an official agency manual.
- Regional CB communities sometimes attach their own local meanings to less common numbers.
The practical rule: treat the chart above as the codes most commonly used among truckers, not a legal standard. If you ever hear a code you are unsure about, just ask “say again in plain language” — no veteran will think less of you for it. For the full picture of which codes are worth memorizing, see our essential CB codes for new truckers.
When to Use 10-Codes vs Plain Language
Modern CB communication is a blend of 10-codes and plain language. Here is when each works best:
Use 10-codes for: Quick acknowledgments (10-4), standard requests (10-9, 10-20), signing off (10-7, 10-10), and emergencies (10-33). These are faster than saying the full phrase.
Use plain language for: Detailed bear reports, road condition descriptions, specific directions, and any complex information. Plain language leaves no room for misinterpretation.
For a deeper analysis of when to use each format, see our 10-codes vs plain language comparison.
Practice the Top 5 Out Loud
10-Codes Chart FAQ
Common questions about the CB radio 10-codes quick reference chart
What are the top 5 most important CB 10-codes to know?
The five most critical CB 10-codes for truckers are: (1) 10-4 — message received/affirmative, (2) 10-20 — location ('What's your 20?'), (3) 10-9 — repeat your last message, (4) 10-33 — emergency traffic, clear the channel, and (5) 10-10 — transmission complete, standing by. With just these five codes, you can handle acknowledgments, ask about locations, request repeats, respond to emergencies, and sign off properly. These codes are heard dozens of times daily on CB channel 19.
Should I memorize all the 10-codes or just the common ones?
Focus on the common ones first. In practice, about 10-15 codes account for nearly all 10-code usage on CB channel 19. Start with 10-4, 10-9, 10-10, 10-20, and 10-33. Once you are comfortable with those, add 10-1, 10-2, 10-7, 10-8, and 10-36. You will pick up the rest naturally by listening on the CB. Many experienced truckers use plain language for most communication and only use 10-codes for quick acknowledgments and standard responses.
Can I use 10-codes and plain language together?
Absolutely, and most truckers do exactly that. A typical exchange might mix both: 'Hey driver, what's your 20?' (10-code for location) followed by a plain language answer: 'Just passed exit 220 northbound on I-65.' Then a 10-4 to acknowledge. The key is clarity — use whichever form communicates your message most efficiently. If the person you are talking to seems confused by a code, switch to plain language immediately.
What does 10-33 mean and when do I use it?
10-33 means 'emergency traffic' — it is the most urgent code in the system and demands that all other users clear the channel immediately. Use 10-33 only for genuine emergencies: serious accidents with injuries, vehicle fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, or any situation where immediate communication is needed to coordinate help or prevent additional injuries. When you hear 10-33, stop transmitting immediately and listen. Lives may depend on the channel being clear.
Are CB 10-codes standardized across the country?
No. There is no single nationwide standard, and meanings can differ by region, agency, and tradition. The widely circulated 'APCO' 10-code set and the trucking codes you hear on CB channel 19 overlap heavily but are not identical, and some numbers carry different meanings between police, fire, and CB users. That is exactly why drivers lean on plain language for anything detailed or safety-critical: if there is any doubt about what a code means, say it in plain words. The chart on this page reflects the codes most commonly used among truckers, which is the version that matters on the highway.
Do truckers still use 10-codes in 2026?
Yes, but in a more limited way than in the CB heyday. Quick acknowledgment and status codes — 10-4, 10-20, 10-9, 10-10, 10-33 — are still heard daily on channel 19, especially among long-haul drivers. At the same time, many public-safety agencies have moved toward plain language for clarity, and a lot of everyday CB chatter is now plain English too. The practical takeaway for a new driver: learn the dozen or so common codes on this chart so you understand what you hear, then speak in whatever form — code or plain language — gets your message across fastest and clearest.
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