In a festive start to the holiday season, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, affectionately dubbed ‘Spruce Wayne,’ was transported by a Kenworth T680 and recently made its inaugural stop in the contiguous United States. The event took place at Renton’s Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, marking a celebratory occasion for the local community.
A vibrant gathering welcomed the impressive 74-foot Sitka spruce, beautifully adorned with 10,000 ornaments crafted by students and community groups from Alaska. Before its arrival in Seattle, this iconic tree had been celebrated in Wrangell and Ketchikan and traversed a 900-mile sea route from the Tongass National Forest.
Bryan Sitko, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for operations, expressed, “Kenworth is headquartered in Washington state, employing more than 1,250 people locally, so this was a special opportunity for us to participate in this fantastic program that signifies unity and joy, and spreads holiday cheer across the country.”
Organized by the City of Renton, the event was the sole Washington state celebration during this tour. Attendees enjoyed a glimpse of the wrapped-up tree, delighting in food, music, and diverse holiday festivities. Distinguished speakers included Brandon Raille, U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lead, Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone, Congressman Adam Smith, and Bryan Sitko.
Adding excitement to the event was Kenworth’s SuperTruck 2 demonstrator vehicle. Displayed locally for the first time, this futuristic truck, built in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, has set new performance benchmarks. “Joining the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree at the Renton whistlestop event was Kenworth’s SuperTruck 2 demonstrator vehicle,” noted the company. Earlier this year, it achieved a remarkable 136% improvement in freight efficiency, earning the DOE Vehicle Technology Office Team Award.
Prior to the community celebration, a special preview was held for PACCAR employees at Kenworth’s Renton manufacturing facility. Employees had the chance to view the wrapped tree, autograph the trailer banner, and convey their well wishes for the 3,000-mile trip to Washington D.C.
The Kenworth T680 transporting the tree features a unique design honoring Alaska’s National Forests. It’s equipped with a 76-inch sleeper, PACCAR Powertrain, and real-time GPS tracking through Kenworth’s TruckTech+ technology, allowing the public to follow the tree’s journey via the Kenworth Tree Tracker 2024.
For the 11th year running, a Kenworth truck is poised to deliver the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, with a scheduled arrival on November 22 at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. The tree lighting ceremony will occur in early December, signaling the start of the festive season.
For insights into Kenworth’s SuperTruck 2 advancements in fuel efficiency and emerging Class 8 vehicle technologies, visit Kenworth World’s Best Magazine.
