This specially-decaled Kenworth T680 will transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree across the country in November.Kenworth announced this week it’s once again been tapped to transport the official U.S. Capitol Christmas tree across the country, the third straight year.
The truck manufacturer announced this week that a specially-decaled T680 will haul the 52nd U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on a 2,800-mile journey across the country, making 26 stops along the way in various communities.
The 80-foot Englemann Spruce will be cut Nov. 2 and loaded onto a trailer specially designed for the tree. The truck, equipped with a 76-inch sleeper, Paccar MX-13 engine, Eaton-Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission and Kenworth TruckTech+, will begin its journey in McCall, Wash.
Gary Amoth, owner of Gary Amoth Trucking, will be the primary driver of the tree-hauling truck. The truck and Amoth were chosen by local Kenworth dealer, Kenworth Sales Co.
During its tour, the truck and tree will make several stops in Idaho, Amoth’s home state, before continuing on through Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. It will arrive Nov. 27 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where it will be uncrated and prepared for its final trip to the Capitol the next day. It will be accompanied by the Great Big Idaho Potato Truck, a Kenworth T680 hauling a 6-ton, 28-foot long replica of an Idaho russet potato, which will be filled with some of the 8,000 ornaments Idaho school children crafted.
“It is an honor for Kenworth to participate in this event delivering the ‘The People’s Tree’ for the third year in a row,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “We’re especially proud that two Kenworth T680s will play key roles in completing this important tour, which offers Americans the opportunity to see this national symbol of celebration. Both trucks provide tour drivers comfortable work environments and their colorful and attractive graphics offer visitors at each stop a strong visual reminder of the origin of this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.”
