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.