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.
Test Drive: Paccar unveils 12-speed automated transmission
Paccar is the latest North American truck manufacturer to bring a proprietary automated transmission to market. Called the Paccar Automated Transmission, it's a 12-speed, twin countershaft design that was conceived as an automated transmission, which is to say, it was designed that way. It's not a manual box fitted with add-on shift-actuators. Paccar says it's the lightest automated transmission currently in production. At just 657 pounds, it is nearly 200 pounds lighter than Eaton's Advantage AMT. The addition of the automated transmission completes Paccar's goal of having a fully integrated proprietary powertrain. Paccar says its new transmission has been performance-optimized for MX-series engines and the new 40,000-pound drive axles unveiled in October 2016.
Data Driven: ELD’s can open door to big data
If knowledge is power, then Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) could be the most powerful device on the truck. Sure, the device at its most basic is responsible only for monitoring hours of service, but the potential of networking and integrating data is impossible to ignore. Why settle for simple electronic logging when it can serve as a total fleet management solution in a box? A friend of mine drives for a 10-truck floral distribution company and makes regular runs from Ontario's Niagara region to Chicago, Michigan, and western New Jersey. The picture he paints of his distribution manager would be amusing if it were not (most likely) true. The manager must be a fellow who grew up trucking in the '60s, and still listens to eight-track tapes of Red Sovine and Dave Dudley. The routes are badly planned, trucks are frequently diverted en route, the vehicles are always breaking down, and all communication with drivers is done over the -telephone. And he doesn't believe in ELDs. My friend says his boss will wait until the last possible moment to equip his fleet - and then only because he must.
Kenworth projects strong vocational market
RENTON, WA -- The first half of 2017 has been good to the trucking industry, and to the vocational market in particular, and going into the second half of the year the underlying economic fundamentals look equally promising. That's the view from Renton, Washington, where Paccar vice president and Kenworth general manager Mike Dozier addressed reporters at a press event on Friday, July 21.
IN PRINT — Log Jam: U.S. deadline for ELDs approaches
There are still plenty of questions being posed by drivers, owner-operators and small fleets as the industry moves ever closer to the U.S. mandate for Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). Here are a few things to consider before the December 18 deadline arrives.
IN PRINT — Tanks a Lot: Leave some tanker spec’ing to experts
TORONTO, ON -- There used to be good money in the liquid bulk business. The required equipment is so specialized that it presented somewhat of a barrier to entry into the market. That's still the case, but there are more players in the game now, and competition is keeping rates at near-1980s levels. Fleets, both private and for-hire, are now trying to make up for the low rates by optimizing their trailer spec's to increase utilization and carrying capacity.
The Downspeeding Decision: Can it work with Canadian spec’s?
Spec'ing powertrains for Canadian operations is a tricky job. Americans take their powertrain spec's pretty seriously as well, but how tough is it to get something that will move 80,000-pound loads on interstate highways? To be fair, our southern neighbors are always pushing the proverbial envelope, but tricky takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to downspeeding.
Electric Semi: More sizzle than steak?
A few days ago we got our first glimpse of what might be Tesla's Electric Semi, as company CEO Elon Musk calls it. It looks futuristic, but it also looks like a high-roof over-the-road sleeper truck - which is exactly the wrong application for a fully electric drivetrain.
Alcoa considers black aluminum wheels
Are you ready for black aluminum wheels? Alcoa is dipping its foot into Detroit auto culture to see if there's enough interest in a black Dura-Bright wheel for trucks. Many of the full-size North American pickup trucks now offer black wheels as an option, and the company believes there's is significant interest in the black Detroit look to warrant producing such a wheel for trucks.
IN PRINT — Rust Never Sleeps: There are ways to combat corrosion
It's too bad that corrosion isn't a line item on a budget. Maybe it's best that it isn't. The figure would shock you. It's one thing to track replacement costs for brake parts and wheels that are prematurely removed from service, but many of your electronics-related problems likely relate to corrosion, too. Emissions systems faults, Antilock Brake System faults, lighting and more probably stem from corrosion. Your budget line item should probably include downtime as well as the cost of the failed part.
When good isn’t good enough
Should "professional" drivers be held to a higher standard when it comes to care and control of their vehicles, and indeed, the actions they take or don't take to avoid a collision? An Ontario appeals court judge thinks they should be and has ruled accordingly. I think the decision opens some dangerous doors for Ontario truck drivers.
