Western Star 5700XE Delivers Tree to Mich. State Capital

The 2018 Western Star 5700XE, which was showcased at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) show in September, traveled from Atlanta to Stephenson, Mich., so a 61-foot white spruce Christmas Tree could be loaded onto a flatbed trailer and delivered to the Michigan state capital.

The truck was driven from the Upper Peninsula to Lansing by Denny Olson, a long-time logger and user of Western Star trucks. 

The 5700XE was equipped with a Detroit DD16 engine with a Detroit DT12 automated manual transmission, which together gives the truck more power to transport the heaviest of loads. The truck, which has an 82-inch High Roof Stratosphere sleeper, sported Western Star 50th anniversary red-and-white paint job with wings on either side of the cab.

It was only fitting that a Western Star delivered the Michigan state tree, according to the manufacturer. The engine, transmission, and axles were built in-state by Detroit Diesel Corp., a Daimler Trucks North America subsidiary located in Redford, Mich.

This marked Olson’s 16th year delivering the state tree, a project of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association and the Michigan Association of Timbermen.

Olson, 71, who is known throughout the Michigan logging community, worked with D&K Truck Co. in Lansing and UP Truck Center in Quinnesec to arrange the logistics of the haul.