California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

Two CDTOA Members Play Support Roll Transporting Tree

Early in December each year, the Speaker of the House hosts a lighting ceremony on the lawn of the United States Capitol Building and with a simple flip of a switch, powers the 10,000 LED lights that illuminate the tree. Hundreds of people who are fortunate enough to be in Washington D.C. attend the lighting ceremony and many thousands more will find their way to the Capitol to take in the sight.

Since 1964, it has become an honor for one of the National Forests to be asked to provide the Tree. The appointed National Forest, in turn, engages help from diverse partners throughout its respective state. The opportunity to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree becomes a statewide celebration and civic event, leaving a lasting impression on all who are fortunate enough to be involved. With the exception of the Forest Services staff involvement the cost of this has been paid for by private donations.

2011 will be only the fourth year California has contributed the Tree, the last time was in 1995. Known as "The People’s Tree", the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the Stanislaus National Forest located in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, about 50 miles east of Sonora, CA.

Top: Retired Royal Trucking driver, Duane Brusseau next to the truck pulling the Capitol X-Mas tree. Bottom: Royal Trucking driver, Tom Crise next to the support truck which holds 5,000 ornaments and lights for the People’s Tree.

The Forest Service recommends 8 to 10 trees to the superintendent of the Capitol grounds, who makes the final selection of which tree will be the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Several aspects are taken into account during the selection, including the shape and fullness of the tree, the tree color, foliage condition, and species characteristics of needle retention and branch pliability. Of course, access to the tree for ease of cutting, loading, and transporting are also considered.

It is estimated that the tree selected will be approximately 60 feet tall. Imagine a 6-story tall building—that is about how tall the Tree will be. Placed on its side, it will rest in a custom-made cradle that supports the branches, preventing damage and maintaining the tree’s perfect shape. The base of the tree will be fitted with a rubber bladder filled with fresh water nightly. The tree will absorb approximately 60 gallons of water each day throughout its journey to Washington, D.C.

The Tree was cut on November 5. Two CDTOA members in the Bay area are playing a key roll in transporting the tree from were it was cut to the Capitol lawn in Washington D.C. Both Royal Trucking (Concord) and San Jose Transport (Gilroy) donated trucks and a specialty 60 ft. expandable flatbed trailer used in rail-related loads for this effort. Royal recently announced that they had been chosen as the carrier to transport the 2011 tree and reached out to San Jose Transport for the special trailer. Royal thanked longtime driver, Tom Crise and his family for nominating them to be the truckers for this “once-in-a-life-time job”. Tom and Duane will be Royal’s representative and drivers for the 3-week, 4,500 mile journey to Washington D.C. Both Jeff Becker of Royal and Jim Vergara of SJT said they were very proud that their companies played a key part of this effort. The tree convoy will be escorted by federal officials mostly from the forest service and have 24-hour-a-day law enforcement protection. A second full-sized semi-truck and van trailer (also donated by Royal and Mack) was needed to transport all the ornaments and 100 smaller trees destined to be placed in federal offices, congressional and senate offices, the National American Indian Museum, and the United States Supreme Court.

The Royal truck, compliments of Mack Truck is transporting the tree across the country in a showcase of clean diesel technology, one of the many pieces of modern diesel technology that will play a roll in moving the Tree. From the diesel-powered crane that placed the Tree in the clean diesel truck that will transport it across the country using ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, (none of it purchased on California by the way) for the diesel-powered backup generators that will provide power for the 12 ceremonies in communities along the journey designed to help celebrate this national event, clean diesel technology plays a critical role in this holiday project, as it does in the daily lives of all Americans. 

The truck is a SmartWay-certified Pinnacle axle back model sleeper that meets California’s 2010 emission standards, which are the strictest in the country. The emissions from this truck are near zero; “it's as clean as a compressed natural gas truck”, according to the manufacturer. The Mack truck is also fitted with an mDrive AMT automated manual transmission which gives up to 1.5 percent improved fuel efficiency, better drivability and enhanced driver satisfaction by automating gear shifting. Designed and engineered to work exclusively with MP engines, the mDrive has 12 forward and four reverse speeds, and is available in direct drive or overdrive. It has a torque capacity of 1,920 lb./ft. and a dry weight of 615 pounds. The driver interacts with mDrive through a dash-mounted control pad containing manual input and hold shift buttons, with an integral display indicating the current gear. Duane confirmed that it was unique driving with a push-button transmission. In addition, the Mack Co-Pilot driver display in the center of the instrument panel provides the driver with transmission status, including the number of up-shifts or downshifts available, the current gear and the current operating.

The Tree will also make frequent stops in communities across the nation on its way to Washington, D. C. One of the stops was in Rancho Cucamonga, where some of these photos were taken. The national tour will take an additional 12 days.

Trimming the Tree - Some neat facts!

The citizens of California will make the 5,000 ornaments used to decorate the tree. The ornaments will be 9 to 12 inches tall and must be made to withstand 3 weeks of harsh winter weather.

• 10,000 LED Christmas lights are strung throughout the tree.
• It takes more than a week for the U. S. Capitol architect and his team to decorate.
• The Tree is topped by the same single star ornament used each year.
• The Tree will be placed into a hole nearly five feet deep and cemented into place.
• Although the Trees are varied heights, when installed they can be no taller that 60 feet, because the Capitol landscape crew does not have a basket crane to place ornaments taller than that!
• An additional 2,000 ornaments will be made for the 100 companion trees displayed throughout Washington, D. C. offices and buildings.

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California’s gift to the people of the United States will be a beautiful red fir from the Stanislaus National Forest. All aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act will be observed throughout the process of selecting and removing the tree. In January 2012, when the holiday concludes, the tree will be chipped into mulch and placed throughout the Capitol Complex.

Top: The Tree will also make frequent stops in communities across the nation on its way to Washington, D. C. One of the stops was in Rancho Cucamonga, where some of these photos were taken. The national tour will take an additional 12 days.
Mid: A viewing window at the rear of the trailer provided a close-up view of the very top of the 60 ft. tree

The exterior of the trailer is wrapped in vinyl so visitors from across the country could sign like it was a card. The signed banner will be displayed at the Capitol’s lighting ceremony.