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.

News•by Jim Park•July 1, 2014

NACFE Releases Confidence Report on Idle Reduction Solutions

A new report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency helps fleets choose the right idle reduction solution for their operation. NACFE examines the pros and cons of 19 separate technologies, and provides a tool to help fleets compare different solutions.

On the Road•by Jim Park•July 1, 2014

Driver Tries Citizen's Arrest on a Cop with Interesting Results

This amusing video surfaced on YouTube recently. In his On the Road blog, Jim Park compares it to a parable of sorts about glass houses and throwing stones. In this case, the bad guy had the humility to admit he was wrong, but it doesn't always go so smoothly.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 24, 2014

Wheel-end Maintenance Saves Tires, Brakes

A little extra diligence in the shop, or a bit of mechanical assistance, can help fleets avoid the irritants associated with loose wheel bearings, like irregular tire wear, premature brake relining and even wheel-offs.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 23, 2014

Turn to Technology to Keep Tires at Proper Inflation

We know from experience that many fleets don't do a great job at tire inflation management. And we know there's little point in looking to drivers for help in the matter, so what's left to do? Enter technology.

News•by Jim Park•June 23, 2014

Former FMCSA Head Supports Restart Amendment, Slams Critics for 'Political Opportunism'

Former FMCSA Administrator Annette Sandberg supports the trucking industry's push for a study on the impact of the current restart provision while rolling the restart rules back to pre-July 2013. Sandberg says the trucking industry supports suspending the restart restrictions because they believe that good public policy comes from good data and a good understancfing of the facts, not from emotional appeals.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 9, 2014

Inflate your Tires, Not Your Fuel Bill

For as hard as fleets work for a 1% gain in fuel efficiency, it's hard to imagine giving up something like 2-4% in fuel efficiency to something as simple as maintaining correct inflation pressure, especially today when almost every inflation or monitoring system on the market offers payback in less than a year.

News•by Jim Park•June 6, 2014

Economic Watch: U.S. Employment Grows by 217,000, Trucking Adds 1,500 Jobs

Four consecutive +200k monthly non-farm payroll reports is impressive, but it will take more than headline improvement to thrust the economy above current trend growth. Employment gains thus far have not yet led to wage pressures. Without adequate income growth, the consumer remains limited in spending capacity, which is restraining near-term growth prospects.

News•by Jim Park•June 5, 2014

Law Firm's "Serial Killer" Ad Provokes Strong Response from Trucking

An ad placed in Maxim magazine by a Texas-based law firm specializing in truck crash litigation characterized truckers as serial killers. Response from trucking was swift and furious.

News•by Jim Park•June 3, 2014

Tilting Support Columns Force Closure of I-495 Bridge in Delaware

The Delaware DOT closed the 1-813 bridge over the Christina today because an inspection showed four of the 37 support columns are tilted as much as four percent out of vertical alignment. Bridge engineers and consultant are on the scene and are placing tilt sensors to monitor the bridge. Detours for north and southbound I-495 traffic have been posted.

News•by Jim Park•June 2, 2014

TransForce to Acquire Transport America

TransForce says the transaction will provide the Quebec-based carrier with critical mass in the U.S. truckload sector.

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