The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is in place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building, having made the trip from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The Federal Moto Carrier Safety Administration provides this video abiout the trip.
Lynden, an Alaska-based company, was the official designated carrier for the 2024 tree. The company selected drivers Fred Austin and John Schank for the honor of transporting the special tree. Austin and Schank both began working for Lynden in 1975 and have earned numerous honors and designations for outstanding professionalism and skills. Collectively, they have driven over 10 million accident-free miles for Lynden in Alaska. This will be Schank’s second opportunity to carry the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as he previously drove in 2015, the last time a tree was harvested from Alaska and transported to Washington D.C.
The truck pulling this year’s tree is a Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455 horsepower, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem real axles.
