The Christmas Tree to be displayed at the U.S. Capitol Building for the 2024 holiday season is ready to begin its journey from Alaska to Washington, D.C. The 4,277-mile trip from Anchorage to D.C. will take three weeks because it involves stopping along the route for special events to recognize the company delivering it to the West Lawn of the Capitol, as well as the contributions of the trucking industry in general.
“It’s a huge honor for a trucking company or driver to be selected to haul the national tree,” said ICSA Executive Director Karen Rasmussen. “It’s also a major undertaking, often requiring an overlength trailer, special permits, securement of the tree to minimize damage, and drivers with exemplary safety records,” she said. “When I headed the Arizona Trucking Association, I was privileged to assist with arrangements for two different Arizona carriers that were selected to transport national Christmas trees.”
This is the second time in the last 10 years that Anchorage-based Lynden Companies will haul the tree, from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska to the West Lawn of the Capitol Building. Lynden last hauled the Christmas tree from Alaska to D.C. in 2015.
Not all of the trip will be by truck. Following its first whistlestop in Ketchikan October 30, the tree and tractor-trailer will be loaded onto an Alaska Marine Lines barge for travel to Seattle. From Seattle, the tree’s 4,000-mile journey involves stopping at parks, plazas, schools, memorials, and main streets in a series of community events on its way to Washington, D.C.
Use this link to follow the tree along its journey or visit one of the many tour stops.
Looking back on the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, as well as his first term in office, President Trump was a vocal supporter of trucking, highlighting trucks on the White House lawn and as background images for campaign rallies and speaking positively about the industry.
Each January, ICSA recommends its members log on and take the online training to become TAT certified in spotting and reporting trafficking.
Since May 2020, truckers have been able to file DataQs requesting that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) evaluate the preventability of 16 specific crash types.