December 2015 Contest Winner

DECEMBER CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to John Schank of Fairbanks, Alaska….SafeTruck’s December 2015 Oversize Load Contest Winner!

The 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree came from the Chugach National Forest in southern Alaska where it grew for almost 90 years. Standing tall at 74 fee and weighing 7,500 pounds, the tree was selected to be the first Lutz Spruce to be presented as the annual Christmas display on the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn. Also selected to haul the tree 4,000 miles from Alaska to Washington D.C., was John Schank, truck driver for Lyndon Transport. Mr. Schank was the 2014 Driver of the Year by the Alaska Trucking Association and has logged 5 million accident-free miles for 38 years on the Alaska highways, making him the perfect choice for this cross-country trip. Mr. Schank left the Chugach National Forest on October 27, loaded the truck, trailer and tree onto a Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) ship for the journey to Seattle. Once on the mainland, Mr. Schank drove across country, stopping in 14 communities, finally arriving at the U.S. Capitol to unload the tree on November 20. The total load was 95’ long, 8’6” wide and 13’6” tall. Weight was approximately 20,000 pounds. Mr. Schank purchased his SafeTruck products from Power and Transmission in Fairbanks, AK.

Interesting facts…Sponsor Kenworth provided the graphic-wrapped truck, Hale Trailer provided the trailer, and Berg Companies supplied the 60-gallon bladder that provided the 40 gallons of water the tree consumed each day of the trip

The Joy Trip Project photographer James Mill’s Flicker travelled with the crew and took many pictures of the events and arrival. Visit his Flicker page to view more photos of Mr. Schank driving towards the U.S. Capitol with the SafeTruck Banner on the trailer! https://www.flickr.com/photos/nwsr8th/albums/72157661514012616

Lynden Transport is a subsidiary of Lynden Incorporated, a family of transportation and logistics companies primarily serving Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, with additional service extending throughout the United States and internationally.

Congratulations to John Schank…. and thank you for transporting the 2015 National Christmas Tree safely from Alaska to Washington DC!