Jim Park
Jim Park was a CDL driver and owner-operator from 1978 until 1998, when he began his second career as a trucking journalist. During that career transition, he hosted an overnight radio show on a Hamilton, Ontario radio station and later went on to anchor the trucking news in SiriusXM's Road Dog Trucking channel. Jim is a regular contributor to Today's Trucking and Trucknews.com, and produces Focus On and On the Spot test drive videos.
Save wheel money through refinishing
TORONTO, Ont. -- Nasty-looking wheels, all covered with rust and cracked paint, are pretty well an invitation to a roadside DOT inspection. Rusty wheels may not reflect the attention to detail your fleet usually brings to the maintenance game, but they don't send the right message to the creeper cops. For about half the cost of a new steel wheel, refinishing is a cost-effective alternative to new wheels.
Trailer electrical system maintenance is about more than lights alone
TORONTO, Ont. -- As trailers become more complex – thanks to onboard telematics and diagnostics systems, more auxiliary equipment, and more-sensitive electronics – maintenance demands will become more complex as well. Is your wiring in good shape?
Breaking 11 mpg on an ‘Epiq’ test drive
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- 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.
Daimler’s Lane Keep Assist helps keep trucks in the lane
Lane Keep Assist, the first Level 2 automation technology from Daimler Trucks, isn't quite a self-steering technology. It's designed to help drivers battle crosswinds and uneven pavement geometry. It will keep the truck straight in a lane, but drivers still have to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. Equipment editor Jim Park filed this report from Oregon's Interstate 5.
Adaptive Cruise to Zero eases pain of stop-and-go traffic
Daimler Trucks' new Adaptive Cruise to Zero feature relieves the stress of stop-and-go driving by managing acceleration and braking automatically. It will even bring the truck to a full stop and then relaunch, all with no driver input. Equipment Editor Jim Park put it to the test in morning rush-hour traffic in Portland, Ore. He says it works like a charm.
Understand Hyliion’s hybrid electric drive
Hyliion founder and CEO Thomas Healy explains how the hybrid electric drive saves fuel by adding power to the drive line, but only when it's needed. Equipment editor, Jim Park, reports from Hyliion's Austin, Texas headquarters, where he found out how the system works.
Understand how Hyliion’s electric drive system performs
How does Hyliion's hybrid electric drive system perform? Equipment editor, Jim Park, took the 6X4HE for a spin around the city of Austin and reports on how the system generates its own electricity and then delivers it to the drive wheels. In the right application, Hyliion says it can deliver up to 15% fuel savings.
