The T680, assembled at the Chillicothe plant, stopped in on November 16 so employees could look over “The People’s Tree” before it wrapped up its trip to Washington, D.C. The truck was driven by Michael Porter, a Swift Transportation driver based out of the Phoenix terminal. He has been hauling the tree from town to town as part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour.

This year’s tree is a red fir nicknamed “Silver Belle.” It came out of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and has made community stops across the country. The tour theme for 2025 highlights the Spirit of the Silver State.

Kenworth employees take extra pride in seeing their work roll in with a haul like this. Plant manager Doug VanZuiden said, “Our employees take great pride in assembling The World’s Best Trucks and welcoming back the T680, built right here in Chillicothe, has become a special way for our employees and their families to kick off the holiday season.”

Knight Swift was chosen as this year’s tour carrier and selected Porter to handle the run. Kenworth provided a specially wrapped T680 featuring Nevada forest artwork along with a seventy-six-inch sleeper and the full PACCAR Powertrain, including the PACCAR MX 13 engine, PACCAR TX 12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX 40 tandem rear axles.

The tour also featured real-time GPS tracking using Kenworth’s TruckTech Plus connected technology. Anyone following the journey could check the tree’s location through the Kenworth Tree Tracker map.

This is the twelfth straight year a Kenworth will deliver the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Silver Belle is scheduled to arrive on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on November 21. The annual lighting ceremony will take place in early December.

More details about the tour can be found on the official 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website.

Source: Kenworth, The Trucker

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In response to intensifying wildfire conditions, Washington state has enacted an emergency fuel delivery waiver. The state’s proclamation, issued on Friday, August 2, reveals, “Multiple new and ongoing wildfires throughout Washington, resulting from a prolonged hot and dry climate combined with wind and fire-fuel conditions, (have) created an active burning environment challenging the availability of limited firefighting resources throughout the region.” To address potential fuel shortages impacting firefighting efforts, the state has temporarily relaxed hours-of-service regulations for commercial fuel transport vehicles across Washington.

The emergency order underscores the urgency, stating, “The large number of fires in the Pacific Northwest has created a large-scale fuel supply shortage for firefighting activities in the Western United States.” Access to sufficient fuel is pivotal for effective firefighting strategies, especially as ongoing wildfires rapidly deplete available resources. As of now, reports from Washington’s Department of Natural Resources reveal that wildfires have scorched a staggering 252,782 acres and continue to pose considerable challenges, with six major fires still burning.

Fire Reports and Evacuations

Among the active wildfires, the Pioneer fire near Stehekin, WA, has triggered Level 3 evacuation orders, while North Cascades Highway remains closed with no reopening timeline yet available.

Regional Fire Emergencies

The wildfire crisis isn’t confined to Washington alone; neighboring Oregon has declared its own state of emergency since mid-July, which extends to August 26. The Oregon Department of Forestry indicates that as of Monday, August 5, there are 31 major active fires, ravaging approximately 1,387,541 acres. Additionally, in Canada, provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta have declared wildfire emergencies, set to last until August 31, including the largest wildfire in a century within Jasper National Park.

Stay informed on the latest updates regarding the fire emergency and ongoing responses in Washington and its surrounding regions as they confront these destructive wildfires.

Source: Land Line

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The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has started a major project to repair the bridge deck, update expansion joints, and add a polyester concrete overlay. This work began on July 22 and is slated to last 50 days.

Key Points to Note

• Lane Reductions: Southbound I-5 will see three lanes reduced to two narrow lanes, potentially causing delays of up to 90 minutes.

• Directional Signs: Non-local and freight traffic should follow signs to stay on I-5, avoiding city and county roads that could suffer even longer delays.

• Truck Detours: Janet Matkin, WSDOT’s communications manager for Rail, Freight, and Ports, strongly advises truck drivers to avoid Green Mountain Road. “Some trucks have ended up stuck in people’s yards because this road is not appropriate for freight,” she said.

During this period, lane reductions will persist around the clock until mid-September.

Source: Land Line

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The TA Express in Littlefield, located at 3224 East Rincon Road off Interstate 15, is a franchised site designed to cater to professional drivers and motorists. Alongside fueling services, the site offers three quick-service dining options—KFC, Del Taco, and Sbarro—and provides convenience items.

The array of amenities includes a store with hot and cold beverages, snacks, and merchandise. Additionally, the site features nine diesel fueling positions with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), 20 gasoline fueling lanes, 210 truck parking spaces, 141 car parking spaces, nine showers, a driver’s lounge, pet area, and laundry facilities.

As part of the grand opening, TravelCenters of America will contribute $2500 to a local food bank.

In Blaine, the newly established franchise location at 1300 Boblett St., just off Interstate 5 and a few miles from the U.S./Canadian border, offers various amenities for professional drivers and the general public.

Dining options include quick-serve restaurants such as Jamba, Cinnabon, Pizza Hut Express, and Hardy’s (coming soon). The site provides 30 truck parking spaces, 65 car parking spaces, showers, and upcoming facilities like laundry and a pet area. Similar to the Littlefield location, this expansion aims to not only meet the needs of truckers and travelers but also contribute to the local community through a planned donation to a food bank.

Source: The Trucker

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