Photo gallery: Kenworth T680 delivers U.S. Capitol Christmas tree from Montana

Photo gallery: Kenworth T680 delivers the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree

Following a two-and-a-half week, nearly 3,500-mile journey from northwestern Montana, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was lit in a special ceremony on Dec. 6 on the Capitol’s West Lawn. The 79-ft. Englemann spruce, nicknamed “Beauty of the Big Sky,” was adorned with thousands of LED lights and ornaments handmade by children from Montana and topped with a 5-ft. tall star made of copper mined and processed in the Treasure State. Ridley Brandmayr, an 11-year-old Bozeman, Montana, boy who lost his fingers on his right hand in an accident this summer, lit the tree, with U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan presiding over the ceremony.

After being harvested on Nov. 7 in a remote area of the Kootenai National Forest in Montana, the tree was transported from Libby, Montana, by a specially decaled Kenworth T680 Advantage to 23 stops, including the driver’s hometown of Plains and childhood home near Fargo, North Dakota, before arriving at the Capitol on Nov. 27.

The Kenworth T680 Advantage was driven by Larry Spiekermeier, an owner-operator contracted with Billings, Montana-based Whitewood Transport. During his 49-year career as a truck driver, Spiekermeier has amassed 3.5 million accident-free miles—1.6 million of those miles with Whitewood Transport. He was twice honored as driver of the year by the Motor Carriers of Montana.

“Having the opportunity to watch as ‘The People’s Tree’ was lit up at the U.S. Capitol was an incredible way to end what has been the crown jewel experience of my 49 years of driving trucks. That experience was made even more special as I was joined by my wife, children and several others in my family at the ceremony,” Spiekermeier said.

The T680 Advantage featured the PACCAR Powertrain equipped with the PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission with column-mounted shifter, and PACCAR 40,000-lb. tandem rear axle. The T680’s specifications include a 76-in. sleeper with Kenworth’s “Driver’s Studio” option, TruckTech+ remote diagnostics system, predictive cruise control, idle management system, driver performance center, and GT703 seats.

“Once again, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour has joined young and old from all walks of life across this nation to celebrate a tradition that brings communities together and allows us to share our many talents,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “We’re grateful for the tremendous efforts made by Whitewood Transport and Larry Spiekermeier to safely transport ‘The People’s Tree,’ to the U.S. Capitol, where it is now displayed and enjoyed by many during this special time of year. It was an honor to provide a Kenworth truck to transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree for the fourth consecutive year.”

View a photo gallery of the truck and tree’s journey from Montana to Washington, D.C., below.

(Note: Credit for all photos: James Edward Mills / Choose Outdoors).

Larry Spiekermeier

You May Also Like

PACCAR TX-12 Pro automated transmission introduced in Kenworth trucks

The new transmission will get its start in the Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks.

PACCAR-TX-12-PRO-automated-transmission

PACCAR has introduced the new TX-12 Pro automated transmission for Class 6-7 and light Class 8 vocational applications. The company says it builds upon the existing PACCAR TX-12 transmission.

Currently, the new transmission is available with select Kenworth Class 8 models, including the T680 and T880 equipped with the PACCAR MX-11 or PACCAR PX-9 engines. Later this year, the transmission will be available in Kenworth Class 6-8 medium duty models, including the T280, T380, and T480 equipped with the PACCAR PX-9 engine.

Class 8 orders strong in February

Even when seasonally adjusted, ACT says preliminary order numbers for February are up 5% over January.

ACT-Class-8-Feb-truck-orders
Kenworth delivers 15-liter natural gas-powered truck to UPS

The truck is equipped with the Cummins X15N, which Kenworth says will meet CARB and EPA Requirements for both 2024 and 2027.

Kenworth-delivers-CNG-truck-to-UPS
ACT Research: 2024 could see trucking recovery

Despite trucking demand remaining weak, ACT Research says imports and international data indicate positive trends in 2024.

ACT-for-hire-index-Jan-24
Navistar progressing toward autonomous hub-to-hub transport

Autonomous truck testing is underway, and the company expects customer pilots to be delivered later this year.

Navistar-Autonomous-partnership-Plus-international-truck

Other Posts

PACCAR Parts presents Dealer of the Year awards at Kenworth Dealer Meeting

Dealer of the Year awards were given out for both TRP and Kenworth parts and service dealers.

PACCAR-Parts-dealer-of-the-year-Kenworth-Northeast-group
FTR Trucking Conditions Index falls in December

FTR says the drop was mostly due to higher capital cost and a deterioration in freight rates, a trend that could stretch into 2024.

FTR-TCI-december-2023
Fullbay: Repair shop sales and labor rates rose in 2023

A new report shows that counter sales and labor rates rose significantly in 2023 from the previous year.

Fullbay-TMC
ACT Research: Trailer orders dip as cancellations climb

Preliminary data for net trailer orders in January seems to follow a continued softening trend, according to ACT Research.

ACT-Research-Trailer-Net-Orders-down-Cancellations-up-Jan-2024