Jim Moss, president of Kona Communications (publisher of Truck Parts & Service and Successful Dealer magazines), passed away on April 20 at his home in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, after a brief illness. Moss was 82.

Moss was a figure in the truck parts and service aftermarket for decades. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Moss went to work alongside his father at Chilton as a sales rep. He left Chilton to form his own company and in 1966, he started Fleet Distribution magazine. He led the magazine through its development as Heavy Duty Distribution and eventually Truck Parts & Service. Moss was one of the trucking industry pioneers who had the vision to see the role service would play in the commercial vehicle aftermarket.

Moss was also founder of the Council of Fleet Specialists and played a significant role in the formation of the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network, which involved the merger of CFS and the National Wheel & Rim Association. He was also one of the early proponents of an all-industry meeting and was instrumental in bringing key aftermarket company executives together for the first planning meeting that lead to the development of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week. In 2015 Moss was honored with the President’s Award by CVSN for his tireless efforts on behalf of the truck parts distributors.

He sold the Kona brands to another publisher in 2007.

“Jim loved the truck parts business,” says Denise Rondini, HDT’s aftermarket editor, who worked with Moss for 25 years. “Jim was passionate about the industry and about the people in it. He was always willing to share his knowledge with others for the betterment of the industry. The aftermarket lost a great advocate with the passing of Jim Moss. He will be missed by the many people he came in contact with during his long tenure in the aftermarket.

“I am not sure there is anyone who cared more about the aftermarket or did more to raise its status than Jim Moss. His influence will live on for decades to come.”