Christmas is coming to the Capitol. A 2,800 mile journey will bring the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Willamette National Forest in Oregon to Washington D.C. Its mode of transportation is the all-new Kenworth W990.

The new W990 will be bringing the Capitol Christmas tree to Washington D.C., delivered by Central Oregon Truck Co. This company will employ a team of drivers to help deliver this tree, including Central Oregon’s CEO Rick Williams and business partner Phil Taylor.

“It is an honor for us to take the Capitol Christmas tree,” Central Oregon CEO Rick Williams said. “Kenworth wanted to have their new platform, the W990, involved in that, so we are driving the W990 from Oregon back to D.C. Hauling this precious cargo and the joy it brings to Americans across the country will certainly be one of the most memorable loads of a lifetime.”

The W990 set course on November 9, 2018 and is scheduled to arrive at the Capitol shortly after Thanksgiving. The Capitol Christmas Tree will make stops in communities along the route to Washington D.C. and will be lit by the Speaker of the House, Paul D. Ryan, on Wednesday, December 5, 2018.

For those interested in tracking the tree, please visit here.

This article appeared in Transport Topics on October 2, 2018.

About the W990

This new model was released in September of 2018, as a modern take to the W900. The W990 sets a new industry standard in performance, specifically in the operations of line and heavy haulers. The model sets a bold presence, with a solid 131.5 inches from front bumper to the back of the cab, and a proven 2.1 meter cab platform – the proven standard of the T680 and T880.

The W990 features similar configurations to other 2.1 meter cabs currently in production – a day cab, a 40-inch flat top, 52″ and 76” mid-roof sleepers. All W990’s come standard with the Paccar MX-13 engine (1850 lbs.-ft of torque and rated with 510 horsepower). Additionally, the W990 comes with an optional 12-speed automated Paccar transmission, 40K tandem rear axles, and Kenworth’s TruckTech + remote diagnostics system. The instrument panel’s Nav+HD seven-inch display provides drivers with roadside assistance, vehicle analytics, and hands-free calling.