This paper presents a method of optimum parameter tuning of a PID controller to be used in driving an inertial load by a dc motor thorough a gearbox. Specifically, the method uses genetic algorithms to determine the optimum controller parameters by minimizing the sum of the integral of the squared error and the squared controller output deviated from its steady state value. The paper suggests the use of Ziegler-Nichols settings to form the intervals for the controller parameters in which the population to be formed. The results obtained from the genetic algorithms are compared with the ones from Ziegler-Nichols in both figures and tabular form. Comparatively better results are obtained in the genetic algorithm case.