Four professional truck drivers are taking turns behind the wheel of a specially decorated Kenworth T680 to deliver this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Idaho to Washington, D.C. The trip began October 29 in Grangeville, Idaho, with the 76-foot Engelmann spruce scheduled to arrive at the Capitol on November 20.
Boise Cascade, an Idaho-based building materials company, is handling the transportation. The drivers will make public appearances along the route, giving communities an opportunity to see the tree and meet the people responsible for delivering it.
The annual tradition, now in its 56th year, brings a tree from one of America’s national forests to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This year’s spruce was harvested from the Lochsa-Powell Ranger District of Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.
Meet the Four Drivers Behind the Delivery
Boise Cascade selected four transportation professionals with more than 100 years of combined industry experience to share the cross-country assignment.
Monte Cook, of Spokane, Washington, brings 33 years of trucking experience and nearly 3 million miles behind the wheel. He also serves in an operations leadership role at Boise Cascade.
Phil Cramer, of Laurel, Montana, is a Boise Cascade operations manager with 22 years of experience and 1.5 million safe driving miles.
Fred Holmes, of Salmon, Idaho, previously worked as a Boise Cascade driver and now serves as a product manager. His transportation career spans more than 20 years.
Tianne Larrimer, of Sugar Land, Texas, has more than 30 years of experience in logistics and transportation. Her background includes military service, heavy hauling, and flatbed operations.
Kenworth recommended Boise Cascade for the transportation assignment, citing the company’s trucking experience and ties to Idaho. The company regularly transports wood products and building materials, although this year’s delivery comes with a much different destination and schedule.
Boise Cascade CEO Jeff Strom described the trip as a special assignment for the company and praised the drivers selected to represent it at stops across the country.
A Kenworth T680 Built for the Holiday Haul
Kenworth supplied a T680 with a custom exterior wrap depicting a snow-covered river winding through Idaho’s national forests. The design reflects the 2026 tour theme, Over the River and Through the Woods.
The truck has a 76-inch sleeper and a PACCAR powertrain consisting of an MX-13 engine, TX-12 automated transmission, and DX-40 tandem rear axles.
Driver-assistance equipment includes Kenworth DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, and lane-keeping assistance with torque-assisted steering.
Inside the sleeper, the truck features Kenworth’s Diamond VIT interior in charcoal, heated and cooled leather seats, a refrigerator, and a rotating work table.
The T680 will pull an extended trailer carrying the tree throughout the trip. Commemorative banners attached to the trailer will be available for visitors to sign during public tour stops.
For Kenworth, this marks another year supporting the Capitol Christmas Tree program. The manufacturer has supplied trucks for the annual delivery since 2014.
More Than 2,500 Miles and 21 Tour Destinations
The tree’s journey covers approximately 2,530 miles, according to Boise Cascade’s official tour information, with 21 destinations scheduled along the way.
Following the October 29 departure from Grangeville, the truck made appearances in Lewiston and Moscow, Idaho, before visiting Orofino and Kamiah on November 1.
The next scheduled public stop is November 3 in Lolo, Montana. The route then continues through additional Idaho and Montana communities before heading east through Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Several upcoming stops include:
- November 3: Lolo, Montana
- November 4: Salmon, Idaho
- November 5: Craters of the Moon area and Twin Falls, Idaho
- November 9: Sheridan, Wyoming
- November 12: Mitchell, South Dakota, and Albert Lea, Minnesota
- November 13: Peoria, Illinois
- November 14: Richmond, Indiana
- November 16: Morgantown, West Virginia
- November 17: Hagerstown, Maryland, and Littlestown, Pennsylvania
The tour also includes a November 19 stop at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where access is restricted to individuals with military identification.
At public events, visitors can photograph the truck and tree, meet the drivers, and sign the trailer’s commemorative banners. The celebrations are free to attend.
The complete schedule and event details are available through the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website.
Follow the Truck’s Progress Across the Country
Kenworth is providing live GPS tracking for the third consecutive year, allowing the public to follow the truck as it travels toward Washington.
The tracking system uses PACCAR Connect, Kenworth’s connected vehicle platform. An interactive map is available on the Capitol Christmas Tree website, where visitors can check the truck’s location and upcoming appearances.
While the Boise Cascade team transports the tree, Alaska Airlines is helping move thousands of handmade ornaments created by Idaho residents. Those decorations will accompany the state’s contribution to the annual Capitol display.
The tree is expected to reach the West Lawn on November 20, ahead of the lighting ceremony planned for early December.
For Cook, Cramer, Holmes, and Larrimer, the assignment brings together decades of professional trucking experience and a delivery that will be followed by communities across the country. Their names will be associated with a holiday tradition that has relied on professional drivers to carry the nation’s Capitol Christmas Tree for generations.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: November 5, 2026
Source: Truckers News
Image Source: Kenworth, Truckers News
