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.

Articles•by Jim Park•May 31, 2017

Align the Truck Before the Need Arises

Your tires will tell you if your vehicle is running straight and true. Don't wait 'till it's too late. Part 3 in a special National Tire Safety Week series.

Articles•by Jim Park•May 30, 2017

Keep up the Pressure

Under-inflation is the leading cause of blowouts while contributing to poor fuel economy and premature wear. This is the second in a special five-part series for National Tire Safety Week.

Articles•by Jim Park•May 29, 2017

Regular Tire Inspections Save Time in the Long Run

National Tire Safety Week is more for consumers and passenger car drivers, but given tires' third-place ranking in trucking fleets' operating costs, we figured a few timely reminders wouldn't hurt. This is part one in a five-part series for National Tire Safety Week.

Articles•by Jim Park•May 23, 2017

What's Ahead for Wide-Base Single Tires?

Could the next round of greenhouse gas reduction rules push more fleets over to wide-base single tires? It seems likely, given not only their relatively low rolling resistance but weight savings as well.

Articles•by Jim Park•May 18, 2017

Are Your Brakes up to Snuff?

With all the advantages provided by today’s advanced safety systems, what a shame it would be if they couldn’t live up to their potential because of poorly maintained foundation brakes or inadequate friction material.

Articles•by Jim Park•May 2, 2017

New Refrigerants on the Way

Transport refrigeration units will soon be subject to tighter regulations on the use of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants.

News•by Jim Park•May 2, 2017

Alcoa Looks to Detroit for Styling

Alcoa is looking at the potential of producing a black version of the Dura-Bright Evo wheel. The company brought a few prototypes to the Mid-America Trucking Show, trying to see if people noticed them and asked about them.

On the Road•by Jim Park•May 2, 2017

Electric Semi: More Sizzle than Steak?

The first image of Tesla's Electric Semi seem to show exactly the wrong type of electric truck. Is this for the benefit of investors or the trucking industry? Equipment Editor Jim Park explores the question in his On the Road blog.

Articles•by Jim Park•April 28, 2017

To Outset, or Not to Outset

Fleets spec’ing wide single tires need to decide upfront whether to trade the vehicle as is or to spec axles and wheels for a later conversion to duals.

Articles•by Jim Park•April 27, 2017

Driving Volvo’s SuperTruck

What you can see of Volvo’s SuperTruck vehicle is pretty spectacular, though fairly plain at heart. It’s what you can’t see that stirs the imagination. Equipment Editor Jim Park explains in this first-person Test Drive.

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