Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.

Articlesby Jim ParkApril 20, 2012

Volvo Brings XE16 Package to LCV, High GVW markets

TORONTO -- Volvo Trucks is adding two XE powertrain packages to its 16-liter D16 engine: a 140,000-pound-GVW option for the North American LCV market, and an 80,000-pound-GVW configuration for fleets demanding superior performance and exceptional fuel economy

Read More →
Articlesby Jim ParkApril 13, 2012

Owner-Operators: Empty Nesters

Bob and Linda Caffee were living a comfortable life in southwest Kansas. They had a nice house on a 7-acre spread. He was a diesel mechanic, and she worked in administration at the local courthouse.

Read More →
Articlesby Jim ParkApril 13, 2012

Owner-Operators: Today's New Breed

Think the owner-operator is dead? Think again. Today's independents are smarter, more professional and more business-savvy than ever

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Articlesby Jim ParkMarch 26, 2012

Kenworth's T680: A Home Run Waiting to Happen

When I first saw the T680 on the show floor at the Mid-America Trucking Show, I thought, that's the same as the T700. That truck is only two years old, and I was wondering why the truck maker was introducing its replacement after such a short lifespan

Read More →
Articlesby Jim ParkMarch 20, 2012

Regional Trucks Have Room to Optimize and Specialize

Chances are, within the next five years you'll be in the market for a regional-spec tractor or maybe a whole fleet of them. The North American supply chain is changing

Read More →
Articlesby Jim ParkMarch 20, 2012

Which Engine Displacement is Right for Your Regional Truck?

The powertrain is a necessarily large part of the spec'ing exercise, and a great deal goes into the decision: anticipated lifecycle; annual miles; average horsepower per mile; vehicle weight; terrain and more

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Articlesby Jim ParkMarch 20, 2012

Regular Tire Pressure Checks are Worthwhile

Weekly tire pressure checks might seem unrealistically ambitious, but given what's at stake in terms of tread wear and tire life, it's a worthwhile goal. Regular tire inspections should, obviously, include pressure checks

Read More →
Articlesby Jim ParkMarch 15, 2012

Protecting Your Investment With Proper Tire Inspections

There's more to a proper tire inspection than kicking it with a cold boot

Read More →
Articlesby Jim ParkFebruary 21, 2012

TMD Friction's Air Disc Brake Pad Overcomes Disc/Drum Incompatibility

A new air-disc brake pad friction material from TMD Friction of North America, Textar T3070, is first TMC approved replacement option for newer tractor designs with air disc brakes on steer axles and drum brakes on drive axles

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Articlesby Jim ParkFebruary 14, 2012

On/Off Highway Tires: One Size Won't Fit All

A racehorse would do about as well dragging a plow through a muddy field as a plow horse would do plodding down the back stretch at Churchill Downs.

Read More →