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.
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.
Truck manufacturers look to up the voltage on electrical systems
TORONTO, Ont. -- Vehicle electrical engineers are like kids in a sandbox these days. The transition to 48-volt vehicle architecture represents nearly endless potential for improvement in efficiency and functionality of electrical components. It's almost like starting from scratch -- in more ways than one.
Q&A with Nikola Motor CEO Trevor Milton
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz -- Nikola Motor CEO Trevor Milton has introduced his Nikola Two hydrogen-electric truck to the world. We sat down with him to discuss his thoughts on fueling infrastructure, the competition, hydrogen vs. electric trucks, and why he thinks truck drivers will be eager to switch from diesel.
Will emission-reducing tires sacrifice traction?
TORONTO, Ont. -- Drivers fret about traction all the time. They get pretty excited even if they just perceive that a certain tread type doesn't look grippy enough. But will the next round of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission cuts and their demands for tires with lower rolling resistance cause traction problems or compromise braking?
Is your truck getting the most out of its oil?
TORONTO, Ont. -- The last truck I owned was a 1991 Peterbilt 379 with a Detroit Series 60 engine. I had to change the oil in that thing every 10,000 miles (16,000 km). At about $200 a pop every time I pulled the drain plug, oil changes took a significant bite out of my maintenance budget. I'm not in a big hurry to buy another truck, but I have to say I'm envious of current truck owners who can get away with two or three oil changes per year -- in some cases, maybe only one.
Searching for the right wheel bearing adjustments
TORONTO, Ont. -- The tolerable end play for truck wheel bearings lies somewhere between the thickness of a human hair and a sheet of paper. In other words, it's perfectly acceptable to adjust wheel bearings so that they are just a little bit loose, but not too loose. How do you set your end play?
