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On the Road

Jim Park

Jim Park

Former HDT Equipment Editor

Straight talk on trucking from a driver turned award-winning journalist.

On the Roadby Jim ParkMay 23, 2019

Thoughts on Achieving 11 MPG

It's easy to get excited and stay excited about fuel economy when you can see positive change coming from your efforts. When I saw the numbers creeping up into the 10s on a recent test drive in a Peterbilt 579 EPIQ, I started pushing for 11. And it worked.

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On the Roadby Jim ParkApril 30, 2019

What Went Wrong in Colorado's Deadly Truck Crash?

Each day, thousands of truck drivers in places like western Pennsylvania and California and Montana and West Virginia manage to get their trucks down similarly dangerous mountain grades. What went so horribly wrong in Lakewood? HDT's Jim Park, who was a driver for 20 years, digs into the possibilities in his On the Road blog.

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On the Roadby Jim ParkFebruary 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.

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On the Roadby Jim ParkDecember 21, 2018

2019: The Future in Truck Technology Begins

This year hasn't yet faded from the rear-view mirror, and HDT's Jim Park is already looking forward to 2019. The technology advances we have been watching over the past few years look finally to be coming to fruition, and some of those new bits will be hitting the street in 2019, some within the first few months of the New Year.

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On the Roadby Jim ParkOctober 19, 2018

On the Road to Cracking 10

Rarely do editors get to evaluate fuel economy on test drives. On a recent three-day "Performance Tour" trip in a Mack Anthem, Equipment Editor Jim Park turned in a trip average of 9.5 mpg, with a high of 10.4 on the second leg of the trip. Read how Mack's new engine technology made that possible.

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On the Roadby Jim ParkSeptember 4, 2018

Truck Tire Blowouts Don't Have to Be Deadly

A fatal accident in New Mexico is a sobering reminder that proper reaction and proven driving techniques are key to ensuring that a truck remains under the driver's control in the event of a tire blowout — even a steer tire failure.

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