If you haven’t heard the exciting news, our customer, Apex Transportation, will be making a special holiday delivery, — the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree — and Omnitracs is along for the ride in Santa’s semi!
Helping Apex with their holiday haul
Apex Transportation is equipping their drivers with Omnitracs ELD and video-monitoring solutions on the approximately 2,000-mile journey from Grand Mesa, CO, to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The company’s trust in Omnitracs for safety and security support as the nation’s eyes are on them reaffirms how our commitment to our customers is reflected in their confidence in us.
President of Apex Transportation Walt Schattinger said, “It is a special privilege for Apex Transportation to be selected to carry the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and represent the state of Colorado during the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C.”
The Colorado-based company has been a leading transportation provider in flatbed services since 1996. The nation’s holiday tree is in the trusted hands of two experienced Apex drivers, Theron Schmalzried and William Hanna. The dedicated truckers each have over 40 years of commercial driving experience under their belts and have won prestigious awards for their driving performance.
A time-honored tradition with Colorado spirit
Every year, a national forest is selected to provide the majestic tree and smaller Christmas trees for D.C. buildings. The annual tradition, with roots as far back as 1964, is beloved by the American people. This year’s tree is a 55-foot tall and 25-foot wide Engelmann spruce. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests in Colorado provided the tree and its miniature companions, holding a virtual cutting ceremony, which you can watch here, yesterday afternoon.
This year’s theme, ‘Experiencing Your Nature,’ will capture Colorado’s majestic natural scenery and diverse population. To contribute to the theme, proud Coloradans are decorating around 10,000 handmade ornaments to adorn the tree.
The tree, which was harvested for over a year, officially starts its trek to D.C. on Tuesday, November 10, and will arrive at the U.S. Capitol Building lawn on November 20. The drivers will be making special stops along the way across Colorado; in Asheville, North Carolina; and at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Local communities residing around these tour stops can participate in the festivities and take photos, sign banners on the truck, and learn more about the GMUG National Forests and the state of Colorado.
We wish Apex Transportation and their dedicated drivers a safe trip and goodwill during this journey, and we will be along for the ride to provide their teams with any support they may need. You can join their journey with our real-time tracking page. Happy hauling-days!