The 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.
A Kenworth 100th Anniversary T680 Signature Edition, assembled by employees at Kenworth’s manufacturing plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, recently returned to the plant with special cargo — the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
The T680 Signature Edition, operated by Werner Enterprises drivers Tim Dean and Jesus Davila, stopped at the Kenworth Chillicothe plant for a private event on Nov. 8 so Kenworth employees could see “The People’s Tree” before it completes its journey to Washington, D.C.
This year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, a 63-ft. Norway Spruce, was harvested from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia on Nov. 1. Since its harvest, Davila and Dean have transported the tree to communities throughout West Virginia for special events as part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour.
This year’s tour theme is “Endlessly Wild & Wonderful.”
“Our employees take a lot of pride in building Kenworth trucks, and for the T680 Signature Edition to return to where it was built with this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, was really special,” said Doug VanZuiden, Kenworth Chillicothe plant manager. “This event was a great way for us to kick off the holiday season, and we look forward to the tree lighting ceremony at our nation’s capital.”
Werner Enterprises is this year’s official designated tour carrier and selected Dean and Davila to transport the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Kenworth supplied the T680 Signature Edition, which is equipped with a 76-in. sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455 hp, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles.
This year marks the 10th consecutive year that a Kenworth truck will deliver the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The tree will be delivered on Nov. 17 to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The annual tree lighting ceremony will be held after the Thanksgiving holiday.
For more information, visit www.kenworth.com.
This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.
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