Trucker Life · Multi-state · November 3, 2026

The Capitol Christmas Tree Reaches Lolo, Montana, on Nov. 3 With Four Veteran Truckers and a Custom Kenworth T680 on a 2,000-Mile Trip to Washington

By Big Rig Daily Staff

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is on the road, and its next listed stop is Lolo, Montana, on Nov. 3, 2026. The 2026 tour kicked off on Oct. 29 in Grangeville, Idaho, according to CDL Life. A 76-foot Engelmann spruce will be hauled by truck about 2,000 miles before it arrives on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 20. Big Rig Daily's earlier report covered the tree's Idaho send-off.

The truck

For the tour, Kenworth provided a specially decaled T680 with a 76-inch sleeper. It uses a PACCAR MX-13 engine, a PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. CDL Life says Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspectors checked the truck to make sure it was ready for the trip.

The truckers

Idaho-based building materials maker Boise Cascade was chosen as this year's hauler and provided four veteran transportation professionals:

• Monte Cook of Spokane, Washington, a veteran truck driver and Boise Cascade operations leader with 33 years of experience and nearly 3 million miles.
• Phil Cramer of Laurel, Montana, an operations manager whose 22-year career includes 1.5 million safe driving miles.
• Fred Holmes of Salmon, Idaho, a former Boise Cascade driver and current product manager with more than 20 years in the industry.
• Tianne Larrimer of Sugar Land, Texas, a military-trained logistics professional with more than 30 years of experience across Army service, heavy hauling and flatbed transportation.

The tour schedule

The tour lists these stops:

• Nov. 3: Lolo, Montana.
• Nov. 4: Salmon, Idaho.
• Nov. 5: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Twin Falls, Idaho.
• Nov. 6: Idaho Falls, Idaho.
• Nov. 7: Gardiner, Montana.
• Nov. 9: Sheridan, Wyoming.
• Nov. 10: Custer, South Dakota.
• Nov. 12: Mitchell, South Dakota, and Albert Lea, Minnesota.
• Nov. 13: Peoria, Illinois.
• Nov. 14: Richmond, Indiana.
• Nov. 16: Morgantown, West Virginia.
• Nov. 17: Hagerstown, Maryland, and Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
• Nov. 19: Joint Base Andrews, Maryland (military ID access only).

Earlier stops were Grangeville (Oct. 29), Lewiston (Oct. 30), Moscow (Oct. 31) and Orofino and Kamiah (Nov. 1), all in Idaho.

What is not known

The tour schedule gives towns and dates but not times, so anyone planning to visit should check local announcements. The schedule can change, and Big Rig Daily's Nov. 3 date for Lolo may be out of date after that day.

Quick facts

• Tree: 76-foot Engelmann spruce from Idaho.
• Distance: about 2,000 miles; arrival at the West Lawn on Nov. 20, 2026.
• Hauler: Boise Cascade, with four veteran truckers.
• Truck: custom Kenworth T680 with a 76-inch sleeper.
• Nov. 3 stop: Lolo, Montana.

FAQ

Where does the tree end up?

On the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., where it is due Nov. 20.

Who is driving?

Four Boise Cascade professionals, Monte Cook, Phil Cramer, Fred Holmes and Tianne Larrimer.

Can the public see it?

The tour lists community stops by town and date. Joint Base Andrews on Nov. 19 is open only to those with military ID.

A question for readers

Truckers, if the Capitol Christmas Tree came through your town, would you stop by to meet the people who drive it?

Save this story for later

Save this to Pinterest