KIRKLAND, Wash., Oct. 12, 2015 – A specially decaled Kenworth T680 will transport this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 3,000 miles to 10 community celebrations en route to the annual tree-lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The Kenworth T680’s distinctive decal design was unveiled in advance of the Oct. 27 tree-cutting of the 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree near Seward, Alaska. The T680 was made available for the tour by PacLease, which provides customized full-service lease, rental and contract maintenance programs featuring Kenworth trucks. The design features the Chugach Mountains and the U.S. Capitol beneath a northern starry sky with the words “From the Northern Lights to Capitol Lights.” It also includes:
- The official 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree seal
- A comprehensive map of the tour route
- The Alaska state logo of Lynden Transport, a long-time Kenworth customer
The 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is a 74-foot Lutz spruce, which will be shipped from Anchorage by Totem Ocean Express to the Port of Tacoma. Lynden Transport driver John Schank, who has logged more than 5 million miles on the treacherous Dalton Highway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, will then pilot the T680 from Seattle on its 3,000-mile journey to the nation’s Capitol. The T680 will pull a trailer specially designed for the Capitol Christmas Tree.
The T680 76-inch mid-roof sleeper is equipped with a fuel-efficient 485-hp PACCAR MX-13 engine with 1,650 lb-ft of torque. The truck also features an Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated manual transmission and Kenworth TruckTech+.
Kenworth’s 76-inch mid-roof sleeper is optimized for liquid bulk tankers, flatbed haulers and other truck operators that prefer a lighter weight, more aerodynamic truck combined with all the comforts of a high-roof sleeper for driver retention and recruitment. Compared to Kenworth’s 76-inch high-roof sleeper, the sleeper offers a 100-pound weight savings for additional payload capacity and less aerodynamic drag with up to a 5 percent fuel economy savings* for flatbed applications, depending on load conditions.
“The tour of ‘The People’s Tree’ offers millions of Americans an opportunity to see our nation’s symbol of celebration,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “The Kenworth T680 mid-roof 76-inch sleeper offers the perfect spec’d truck to complete this important tour. It provides a comfortable work environment and the truck’s inspiring graphics offer visitors at each stop a nice reminder of the tree’s origin and destination.”
The tour will also include a stop at Kenworth’s plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, where the truck was built, plus a community event in Chillicothe on Tuesday, Nov. 17. For more information, visit the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website. The public can track the truck’s progress at TracktheTree.com.
Kenworth Truck Company, a PACCAR company, is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth's website is Kenworth.com.
*Individual fuel economy improvement will vary depending on use, road conditions and other factors.