The T680, assembled at the Chillicothe plant, stopped in on November 16 so employees could look over “The People’s Tree” before it wrapped up its trip to Washington, D.C. The truck was driven by Michael Porter, a Swift Transportation driver based out of the Phoenix terminal. He has been hauling the tree from town to town as part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour.

This year’s tree is a red fir nicknamed “Silver Belle.” It came out of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and has made community stops across the country. The tour theme for 2025 highlights the Spirit of the Silver State.

Kenworth employees take extra pride in seeing their work roll in with a haul like this. Plant manager Doug VanZuiden said, “Our employees take great pride in assembling The World’s Best Trucks and welcoming back the T680, built right here in Chillicothe, has become a special way for our employees and their families to kick off the holiday season.”

Knight Swift was chosen as this year’s tour carrier and selected Porter to handle the run. Kenworth provided a specially wrapped T680 featuring Nevada forest artwork along with a seventy-six-inch sleeper and the full PACCAR Powertrain, including the PACCAR MX 13 engine, PACCAR TX 12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX 40 tandem rear axles.

The tour also featured real-time GPS tracking using Kenworth’s TruckTech Plus connected technology. Anyone following the journey could check the tree’s location through the Kenworth Tree Tracker map.

This is the twelfth straight year a Kenworth will deliver the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Silver Belle is scheduled to arrive on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on November 21. The annual lighting ceremony will take place in early December.

More details about the tour can be found on the official 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website.

Source: Kenworth, The Trucker

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This year’s event showcased over 60 Kenworth trucks, from brand-new models to vintage classics. Highlights included a 1923 Kenworth, along with trucks from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, complemented by the latest trucks assembled at the local plant. The assembly plant, which started operations on March 4, 1974, saw its first truck, a Kenworth W900, roll off the line the following day.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, the parade’s grand marshal, Dan Murphy, led the 1923 Kenworth. Murphy’s long tenure at Kenworth Chillicothe began in 1974. He rose from a production specialist to a section supervisor before becoming a liaison engineer. He retired in May of this year.

The parade’s conclusion featured a T680 high-roof sleeper truck decorated with a commemorative anniversary wrap showcasing historical images of Chillicothe, prominent local landmarks, and memories from past parades. The grand finale was a live performance by The Mantz Brothers band from Nashville, staged atop a trailer pulled by the T680, transforming it into a concert venue.

Jack Schmitt, the assistant plant manager at Kenworth Chillicothe, reflected on the parade’s significance: “The Kenworth Truck Parade is an esteemed June tradition in Ross County. Celebrating our 50-year legacy of producing ‘The World’s Best Trucks’ here in Chillicothe makes this year particularly special. We extend our gratitude to our community and to the drivers who join us each year to make this event a success.”

Leading up to the parade, various events were held at the Kenworth Chillicothe plant for drivers and their families. These included plant tours and a behind-the-scenes look at where many Kenworth trucks are made. On parade day, the plant also hosted an employee event.

In a show of community support, Kenworth Chillicothe partnered with the United Way of Ross County for a 50/50 raffle, raising funds for the organization. Raffle tickets were sold by employees and United Way members, and additional funds were received from VIP sponsorships along the parade route. Altogether, the initiative raised over $37,540 for the United Way of Ross County.

The Kenworth Chillicothe plant, situated on a 120-acre site approximately 50 miles south of Columbus, Ohio, began operations in 1974. Spanning 622,000 square feet, the facility is equipped with advanced technological tools, including robotic assembly and a modern paint facility.

Since October 2021, the multi-level paint facility has employed bell spray head technology to improve paint quality and efficiency. In recognition of these innovations, in 2022, the plant received two Manufacturing Leadership Awards from the National Association of Manufacturers.

Source: The Trucker

Photo: Kenworth

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