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•July 2, 2013

Wheel-End Problems: Beyond the Obvious

Wheel-ends function as a system: the spindle, hub, and rim (or wheel), as well as the bearings and the fasteners, all work in concert to keep the wheels in place and the tires running straight and true. If one part of the system is out of whack, the results will be seen and felt elsewhere in the system - usually at the tires themselves.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 27, 2013

Hours of Service: Resetting the Clock

With just days to go before the scheduled implementation of the new and more restrictive hours of service rules, fleets and drivers need to be asking if their electronic onboard recording devices are ready for the change.

On the Road•by Jim Park•June 27, 2013

A Bridge Too Low

The Skagit River Bridge has a history of high-load strikes dating back to the 1970s. Probing reporters have found a litany of strikes, including one very similar to the impact that brought it down, have occutred as recently as last October..

On the Road•by Jim Park•June 20, 2013

When Minutes Count

DOT officers were diligently digging their way through fuel receipts and other bits of evidence to uncover the ugly truth: drivers were cheating on their logs in order to get home for the weekend.

On the Road•by Jim Park•June 13, 2013

Let's Trade our Lead-Acid Batteries for Ultracapacitor Systems

Ultracapacitor engine starting systems represent a sea-change in how we view a truck's electrical systems. The only thing standing in the way of this apparently game-changing technology is our inherently conservative nature regarding new technology.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 11, 2013

5 Deadly Tire Sins

Negligence and apathy consign more tires to early graves than road hazards ever will. Here are the Top 5 reasons you might be straining your tire budget to the breaking point, and how you can stem the financial hemorrhage.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 10, 2013

5 Ways to Succeed or Fail as an Owner-Operator

Sometimes owner-operators are their own worst enemy. They too often do things to undermine their business – like budgeting based on the best of times, not year-long averages. Or they switch carriers to one promising more home time, only to discover they can't make payment with the truck parked in the driveway every night.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 10, 2013

Making the Case for Fuel-Efficient Tires

You get 30% less tread on some fuel-efficient tires, they cost 15% less up front and they run fewer miles to take-off, but does the money saved on fuel because of the lower rolling resistance make up for the shorter overall life? Many fleets are struggling with that question today. The answer is often anything but clear.

Articles•by Jim Park•June 5, 2013

Say Goodbye to Booster Cables

Next to the clang of your cell door slamming shut, there are few sounds more disheartening than the "click, click, click" of a starter that's not getting enough juice. Maxwell Technologies' Engine Start Module is an ultracapacitor starting system that can prevent that.

On the Road•by Jim Park•June 5, 2013

To the Dump, To the Dump, To the Dump, Dump Dump

While you're getting dragged backwards through various knotholes in this year's RoadCheck 2013 event, take heart that a few local cops are patrolling the dumps and the Home Depot and Loews store parking lots looking cars with tons of gravel in their trunks or lifts of plywood on the roof.

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