CB Slang / Mile markers
Yardstick in trucking
Plain-English explanation
Yardstick is CB slang for a mile marker — the numbered signs along the highway that indicate distance from a reference point. The term comes from the yardstick as a measuring tool, repurposed as a metaphor for the markers that measure distance along a highway corridor. A driver mentioning "the yardstick at 88" means mile marker 88 on whatever highway the conversation is about. Mile markers are the single most useful location reference on the CB. An accident, a bear, an alligator, or any other road condition report is nearly useless without a location, and the mile marker is the most precise location reference available when driving a highway. Unlike exit numbers, which can skip or reset, and unlike city or town names, which can cover miles of corridor, the mile marker puts a position to within one mile on most U.S. interstates. On CB radio, yardstick and mile marker are used interchangeably. Some drivers just say "the 88" — skipping both terms and using the number alone when context makes clear they are talking about mile markers. "Bear at the 88" in a conversation already established as being about a specific highway is perfectly understood. The full phrase "yardstick at the 88" is less common than either "mile marker 88" or just "the 88" but is still recognized. For drivers learning to use CB radio effectively, getting used to giving mile marker references with every road condition report is one of the habits that makes their communications most useful to other drivers.
CB slang is road shorthand. It can help with awareness, but dispatch notes, load paperwork, inspection records, and claims still need formal language.
Why it matters in trucking
Mile marker references — yardsticks — make road condition reports on CB actionable. Without a location, a report about traffic or enforcement is not useful. With a specific yardstick, other drivers can calculate how far away the condition is and decide how to respond.
The value is speed and shared awareness. The limit is that slang should never replace exact times, locations, document names, or safety-critical instructions.
Example in real use
A driver says on CB: "Parking lot westbound, starts about the 45 yardstick, runs back to around the 52. Looks like a wreck ahead." Drivers on I-70 westbound know the backup is seven miles long starting at mile marker 45, and anyone at or past exit 50 can still divert.
Where you might hear it
Yardstick is a CB way to say mile marker.
What to check first
- Add highway and direction.
- Use mile marker in formal notes.
- Pair it with lane or shoulder details when reporting hazards.
Common mistakes or confusion
- Giving a road condition report without a yardstick reference — other drivers cannot find or prepare for a condition they cannot locate.
- Confusing yardstick with exit number — exit numbers and mile markers often align but are not always the same; a yardstick is a mile marker, not an exit ramp.
- Not clarifying which highway when giving a yardstick number — on a multi-highway conversation, "the 88" could mean mile marker 88 on any road the driver might be on; specify the highway to prevent confusion.
Related terms
Related guides
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Sources and last updated
Last updated: 2026-05-10