MENU
SEARCHThe 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.
Image of 5700XE being loaded up with the Michigan state capital Christmas tree courtesy of Western Star.
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.
Speaking at the TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and uncertainty around trade policy.
Read More →
More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.
Read More →
HDTX is an intimate event that connects heavy-duty trucking fleet managers with industry suppliers through small-group discussions, educational sessions, and structured one-on-one meetings.
Read More →
New DAT One feature shows top-paying loads directly on an iPhone’s home screen, helping carriers react faster to spot-market opportunities.
Read More →
Optimal Dynamics says its new Scale platform uses AI agents and optimization to help carriers find and secure freight that improves network balance and profitability.
Read More →
DAT Freight & Analytics data shows tightening flatbed capacity, easing produce markets, and softening van and reefer rates.
Read More →
NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.
Read More →
A federal court ruling allows New York City’s congestion pricing program to continue, leaving truck tolls in place for fleets delivering into Manhattan.
Read More →
Fontaine Modification has introduced a new customer portal designed to give fleets real-time visibility into the truck modification process, addressing one of the most common questions fleet managers face: “Where’s my truck?”
Read More →
Strong freight rates, rising volumes and tighter capacity push trucking conditions higher, though diesel prices could temper gains in the near term, FTR cautions.
Read More →
