Jim Park

Former HDT Equipment Editor

Jim Park served as Heavy Duty Trucking's equipment editor from 2006-2024. Specializing in technical and equipment content, Park is an award-winning journalist who has been covering the trucking industry since 1998.

Before joining HDT, Park was a truck driver and owner-operator for 20 years and served as an editor for HighwayStar magazine, which ceased production in 2011. He maintained his commercial driver’s license to bring a real-world perspective to Test Drives, as well as to features, videos and podcasts about equipment spec’ing and trends, emissions regulations and developments, maintenance and drivers.

He is the recipient of 16 Jesse H. Neal honors (both finalist and Neal awards), including “Best Range of Work by a Single Author” in 2020.

Photo Galleries•by Jim Park•February 27, 2019

Meet a Mack Snowplow Built for Tough Alaskan Winter [Photos]

Equipment Editor Jim Park shares photos from Valdez, Alaska, where he joined Mack Trucks' video crew filming an episode for season 2 of the Road Life series. The series is about Mack customers and their trucks, and this episode features a Mack Granite snowplow specially built for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

News•by Jim Park•February 22, 2019

Transtex in Talks to Buy SmartTruck Trailer Aero Assets

SmartTruck apparently is shutting down its operations and selling the assets related to its TopKit Class 8 trailer aero systems to another trailer aero device provider, Transtex.

Articles•by Jim Park•February 22, 2019

Tougher Tires for Regional Trucks

Regional tires are designed to handle the rigors of city driving, curb strikes, and high-scrub environments.

Videos•by Jim Park•February 21, 2019

On the Spot... Detroit Active Brake Assist 5.0 [Video]

Detroit Assurance 5.0 from Daimler Trucks can bring a truck to a complete stop to avoid a collision or minimize the severity of the impact. Equipment Editor Jim Park shares this demonstration of Active Brake Assist 5.0 from Las Vegas where it launched earlier this year.

News•by Jim Park•February 19, 2019

Daimler Trucks North America Sold Out for 2019

In a seeming repeat of last year's performance, Daimler Trucks North America said it is effectively sold out for the remainder of the 2019 model year. The company sold a record 175,950 units in 2018. It was the largest year ever for retail sales in the history of the company, said Richard Howard, DTNA’s senior vice president – sales and marketing.

News•by Jim Park•February 15, 2019

AeroX Package Boosts Freightliner Cascadia Fuel Efficiency by 5%

With new aerodynamic options and upgrades, the New Cascadia tractor is now 35% more fuel-efficient than the first-generation Cascadia rolled out in 2007.

Articles•by Jim Park•February 14, 2019

Stay On Top of Your Lighting Problems

Lighting can drive any technician to drink. Some tips to stay ahead of the problems and avoid all that grief.

On the Road•by Jim Park•February 7, 2019

The Trucking Industry Lets Down Driver in Humboldt Crash

A tragic collision involving a bus with a junior hockey team and a tractor trailer took 16 lives. The contrite driver pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing – but should he shoulder all of the blame? Blog commentary by Equipment Editor Jim Park.

Articles•by Jim Park•February 4, 2019

Q&A: Wabco's Morrison on Active Steering Advances

In our January issue, HDT Equipment Editor Jim Park explored how advances in steering are soon going to make driving easier, and will be an important part of the move toward more automation in trucks. Here's a more extended interview on the topic with Jon Morrison, president of the Americas at Wabco.

Articles•by Jim Park•January 29, 2019

Preventing Truck Air System Freeze-ups

Air system maintenance on trucks is critical in the winter; less than a teaspoon of water could disable a truck in a winter deep freeze. Here's why, and what you can do about it.

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