A special Kenworth T880 undertakes an important mission this fall — transporting the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to more than 30 community celebrations before a final stop for setup, decoration and the tree-lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C.

As part of its tour efforts, the Kenworth T880’s distinctive decal design was unveiled in advance of the 2014 Capitol Christmas Tree-cutting ceremony Oct. 29 near Cass Lake, Minn. The Kenworth design features a night shot of the U.S. Capitol, brightly lit and colorfully arrayed Christmas tree, official seal of the 2014 Capitol Christmas Tree project, and logo of Wille Transport, a long-time Kenworth customer based in Cohasset, Minn. During the tour, two Wille Transport drivers will pilot the Kenworth T880 and a Kenworth T680 Advantage on a journey of nearly 2,000 mi.

The T880 is Kenworth’s flagship heavy haul vocational truck equipped with a comfortable 52-in. mid-roof sleeper, powerful and fuel-efficient 500-hp Paccar MX-13 engine with 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque, and Eaton Fuller 13-speed transmission. The T880 will pull a trailer specially designed for the Capitol Christmas Tree — a nearly 80-ft. white spruce from Minnesota’s Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Another 70 Christmas trees, donated by Minnesota Tree Growers Association, will be transported by the Kenworth T680 Advantage with 76-in. sleeper, Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission, Diamond VIT interior Kenworth Idle Management System, and Kenworth’s new, factory-installed aerodynamic package. Those trees will be used to decorate the inside of the U.S. Capitol building and other federal sites throughout Washington, D.C. The T680 Advantage also will bring 10,000 ornaments created by children and others from Minnesota communities to adorn the Capitol Christmas Tree and the smaller trees.

“The annual lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is a true American tradition. It is a special honor for Kenworth to participate in this year’s 50th anniversary Capitol Christmas Tree tour,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “The T880 heavy hauler is engineered with the proper specs to handle this important move, and the graphics are a tribute to the tree’s destination.”

The tour’s first stops are at the Itasca State Park and Bemidji in Minnesota Nov. 2. A complete tour schedule and additional information may be found at the 2014 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Web site (www.capitolchristmastree.com) so the public can track the truck’s progress.

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