Swift Transportation -- Radio Questions

Most newer Freighliners and Internationals are already pre-wired for cb's and have internal antennas hidden in the upper structure. In FL, it's behind the sunglasses holder on the driver side, and Intl has a shelf in the top center.

DIY install is pretty easy. I'd suggest you find a good basic CB on sale and give it a try yourself.

If you aren't happy or have issues, then have a CB shop tech take a look at it.

We don't use our CB much, but it is handy in traffic jams.

More of a "plug-and-play" type on the newer freight shakers... Could probably give that a shot. May save myself $$$

Most newer Freighliners and Internationals are already pre-wired for cb's and have internal antennas hidden in the upper structure. In FL, it's behind the sunglasses holder on the driver side, and Intl has a shelf in the top center.

DIY install is pretty easy. I'd suggest you find a good basic CB on sale and give it a try yourself.

If you aren't happy or have issues, then have a CB shop tech take a look at it.

We don't use our CB much, but it is handy in traffic jams.

I have a 2016 FL and I tried plugging it in to the truck's internal antenna but I can never pick anything up. Don't know if it's my cb or the antenna.

I just recently upgraded. My mentor gave me a radio, plugged it in for me, and I rarely get anything coming through as well. I sure can't transmit. Taking it to a cb shop when I come off home time.

This is close to the "Is it plugged in?" question:

Are you set on channel 19?

Ive got a Uniden Bearcat 980SSB, but im really not sure we hats goong on with it. I've heard other drivers on it, but when I ask for a radio check, nothing came back. Even though the radio shows transmission is being made.

And of course, I'm on 19

Hey CJ, It sounds to me that your new radio is fine but it's the antenna that is junk. Those built in the frame antennas that come in the Freightliner are not very good at all for "getting out", "talking", or transmitting. The built in the frame antennas will sort of "hear" or receive ok and are better than nothing. You can hear "skip" or distant signals in the late morning and in the early afternoon but they just won't transmit more than 300 or 400 yards. You can use this to talk in a truck stop or to the shipper while parked closeby inside the facility. But if an Eastbound driver passes you and you are Westbound, you guys have about 10 seconds to communicate...which is not long enough. I recommend you get a good antenna mount and antenna and mount it outside, run the coax in to your radio, put an SWR meter on it to get it matched. I like the 4 foot length antennas. There are many to choose from. The actual mount must be in contact with the trucks ground because the trucks frame/ground is actually the second half of the antenna. The whip is only the first half. You can have a CB shop check the SWR for you and it shouldn't cost you much more than $20.00 or so. You could also have the CB shop bench test and check your radio just to make sure it is good. Or you could have the CB shop do the whole deal. For the Freightliner, Loves sells a 2 bolt mount for $29.99 that uses 2 of the mirror mount bolts to hold it secure. I took some pics of these here and there and I just need to get the pics posted. Good luck and drive safe...keep the Shiney side up. We gone bye bye. .

Thanks, ironmike. I'll run it by a cb shop soon and see what all I can do. Depending on price of course. But $30 ain't bad