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.
Driving Force: Axles are at the heart of an electric revolution
TORONTO, Ont. -- We're at the dawn of a new era in the propulsion of heavy trucks. Electric powertrains are opening new packaging and integration possibilities, including driven axles. Traditional transmissions, driveshafts, power dividers or differentials are no longer required.
Deep Trouble: Repairing trucks and trailers after a flood
TORONTO, Ont. -- Water isn't kind to electronics or brakes or air systems or engines. The last thing short of a fire you could want to happen to your truck is to have it submerged in flood. Actually, a fire might be preferable -- the damage is obvious, and you'll get less argument from the insurance company about replacing it.
Quick Spin: Reviewing the Mack LR
TORONTO, Ont. --When I was just four years old, my mother liked to remind me, I once told a kids' TV show host that when I grew up I hoped to become either an astronaut or a garbageman. Talk about hedging your bets. I'll likely never make it onto orbit, but I did finally get a drive in a garbage truck. Mack's new LR model, actually, and it was worth the wait.
Carry That Weight: 5 secrets to spec’ing better liftgates
TORONTO, Ont. -- Much rides on your liftgate spec'ing decision: your cargo, your customers' satisfaction, and literally, your drivers. Short-spec’ your liftgate and you put all that and more at risk. You can buy a liftgate for any vehicle from a pickup truck to a tractor-trailer, and units that can handle weights ranging from 600 to 3,000 kg. They come in various configurations. Some with fold-away platforms and some with sliding platforms...
Bosch unveils emerging safety, self-driving tech
FLAT ROCK, Mich. -- With technology about to transform transportation as we know it, global automotive technology supplier Bosch is right in the thick of things. The company has an extensive list of partnerships with new and established "mobility" manufacturers extending across automation, connectivity and electrification ...
