Hauling ‘Sugar Bear’
From California to Washington, D.C., Sugar Bear had quite the journey.
In late October, the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree left the Mad River Ranger District of the Six Rivers National Forest headed for the nation’s capitol building. As of press time, the 84-foot white fir nicknamed “Sugar Bear” was scheduled to arrive at the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building on Nov. 19.
The journey started with a harvest ceremony on Oct. 23 and included remarks by USDA Forest Service leadership, local elected officials and project partners. The people’s tree was harvested using a two-person crosscut saw, which celebrates decades of U.S. Forest Service crosscutting tradition.
Sugar Bear was transported on the 3,300-mile journey by a Kenworth T680 Next Generation.
The tree was scheduled to make stops in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri and Maryland before arriving in Washington, D.C.
System Transport, which is headquartered in Cheney, Wash., was designated as the tour’s official carrier.
The company used six drivers to make the trip. A blog on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website provided a little information about each of the drivers.
Bill Brunk
The over-the-road driver from Cheney, Wash., has 10 years of experience.
“Trucking was a natural fit for Bill, who spent his early career in the construction industry,” the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website said in its blog. “When work slowed during the Great Recession, he started driving and has been on the road since.”
Brunk said he was most looking forward to getting to see his grandkids react to him hauling the tree across the country.
John Schnell
Hailing from Kennewick, Wash., Schnell has been a trucker for 15 years.
“I know that I am doing what God has planned for my life,” Schnell said about his profession.
He said he is honored to be a part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree team.
Jeremy Bellinger
Bellinger, from Spokane, Wash., has been a truck driver for 21 years.
“Jeremy has always been fascinated by the sights on the road,” the blog wrote. “As a kid, he enjoyed seeing the country during his family’s cross-country road trips. He enjoyed it so much, he decided to make it his career by getting into trucking.”
Mike English
From Alturas, Calif., English is an over-the-road truck driver with 23 years behind the wheel.
Before trucking, he worked in a gold mine. When the mine closed, he turned to trucking.
English said that hauling the Capitol Christmas Tree is a great opportunity and that he relishes the opportunity to transport “really cool” cargo.
Terry Jefferson
Jefferson, who is from Spokane, Wash., has been a local truck driver for 37 years.
Before the trek, Jefferson said he expected the oversized haul to be challenging.
“It isn’t every day that drivers’ skills are challenged by hauling a trailer over 100 feet long,” he said.
Robert Lee
Lee, from Cheney, Wash., has been a trucker and yard shop manager for two years. He also will be used on the tour for his mechanical support.
He said being a part of the tour is special “because Christmas is the time of year that brings people and families together.” LL