The T680, assembled at the Chillicothe plant, stopped in on November 16 so employees could look over “The People’s Tree” before it wrapped up its trip to Washington, D.C. The truck was driven by Michael Porter, a Swift Transportation driver based out of the Phoenix terminal. He has been hauling the tree from town to town as part of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour.

This year’s tree is a red fir nicknamed “Silver Belle.” It came out of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and has made community stops across the country. The tour theme for 2025 highlights the Spirit of the Silver State.

Kenworth employees take extra pride in seeing their work roll in with a haul like this. Plant manager Doug VanZuiden said, “Our employees take great pride in assembling The World’s Best Trucks and welcoming back the T680, built right here in Chillicothe, has become a special way for our employees and their families to kick off the holiday season.”

Knight Swift was chosen as this year’s tour carrier and selected Porter to handle the run. Kenworth provided a specially wrapped T680 featuring Nevada forest artwork along with a seventy-six-inch sleeper and the full PACCAR Powertrain, including the PACCAR MX 13 engine, PACCAR TX 12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX 40 tandem rear axles.

The tour also featured real-time GPS tracking using Kenworth’s TruckTech Plus connected technology. Anyone following the journey could check the tree’s location through the Kenworth Tree Tracker map.

This is the twelfth straight year a Kenworth will deliver the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Silver Belle is scheduled to arrive on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on November 21. The annual lighting ceremony will take place in early December.

More details about the tour can be found on the official 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website.

Source: Kenworth, The Trucker

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The milestone transmission didn’t just head out the door quietly. It was delivered straight to Werner Enterprises, one of the earliest adopters of the Endurant and a longtime partner of Eaton Cummins. Werner has relied on the Endurant for years as part of its ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and reliability for its drivers.

The celebration took place at the Kenworth Truck Plant in Chillicothe, Ohio. At the event, a Kenworth T680 fitted with the 500,000th transmission came off the production line, where Eaton Cummins presented Werner with a commemorative plaque.

“We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Werner, a partner since the beginning of the Endurant journey,” said Josh Mejeur, regional director at Eaton Cummins. “This reflects both the strength of our partnerships and the value customers find in the Endurant platform.”

Scott Reed, senior vice president of maintenance at Werner, emphasized the company’s long relationship with Eaton: “Werner has worked with Eaton for more than 40 years, and we were proud to receive the first Endurant transmission. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to innovation and reliability for our drivers and customers.”

The Endurant family has grown significantly since its launch, now including models like the Endurant HD, Endurant HD V, Endurant HD N, Endurant XD, Endurant XD Pro, and Endurant XD N. These variants are designed to serve both highway applications and demanding vocational work.

Key features of the Endurant transmissions include a lightweight build, advanced software that improves shifting performance, and driver-friendly operation aimed at reducing fatigue and maximizing uptime.

For fleets, hitting the half-million production mark is a sign of both the product’s staying power and the industry’s ongoing shift toward technology that balances durability with driver comfort.

This report is based on information released by Eaton Cummins and Werner Enterprises.

Source: Trucking Info

The post Eaton and Werner Mark Half-Million Endurant Transmission Milestone appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

More than 50 trucks—ranging from custom builds to vintage showpieces—rolled through downtown Chillicothe for the June event. Among them: a 1923 Kenworth, the same year the company was founded, a standout 1966 Kenworth W923, and a crowd-favorite 2000 Kenworth K100E cabover.

“The Kenworth truck parade has become a special Ross County community tradition,” said Jack Schmitt, assistant plant manager at Kenworth’s Chillicothe facility. “The event wouldn’t be possible without the drivers who travel to Chillicothe to share their passion for Kenworth trucks, or without the community support that makes this parade a successful event each year.”

Capping off the event was the first public appearance of the Kenworth W900 Legacy Edition, leading the final leg of the parade and turning heads as a symbol of the model’s storied history. This special edition truck is a commemorative nod to the W900’s last production run.

Before the parade, Kenworth hosted exclusive activities at the Chillicothe plant for participating drivers and their families. Guests toured the state-of-the-art facility, which has seen nearly $400 million in upgrades since 2018, including robotic assembly lines and a cutting-edge paint system.

The Chillicothe plant, which opened in 1974, is set on a sprawling 120-acre site just 50 miles south of Columbus and spans 622,000 square feet. It remains a major hub for Kenworth’s production of modern trucks.

As part of the day’s community outreach, Kenworth teamed up with the United Way of Ross County to hold a 50/50 raffle and VIP-area fundraiser. Local volunteers sold tickets along the parade route, helping raise more than $43,000 for the nonprofit’s community programs.

Also in attendance was Army veteran Cory Troxell, who gained recognition in 2024 as the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award recipient. He now drives a Kenworth T680 and joined the festivities as a special guest.

For those who appreciate classic iron and trucking culture, Chillicothe continues to be the place where Kenworth’s heritage comes to life—and where its legacy rolls on.

Looking for More Trucking Action in Ohio?
Mark your calendar for the Kuhnle Brothers Semi Stampede, coming to Kuhnle Motorsports Park in Thompson, Ohio, June 27–29. The event promises a weekend full of Quebec-style uphill, side-by-side semi-truck drag races.

Practice kicks off Friday, with races continuing all weekend. Presale tickets are available through June 26 at 5 p.m., with discounts on weekend and single-day passes for adults and kids. Children under five get in free, and camping passes are also available.

Among the competitors: Kevin Bruns of Gallatin, Tennessee, who plans to race his 2019 International LoneStar.

A second drag racing weekend is already in the works for September, so stay tuned for more details.

Source: Overdrive
Image Source: Kenworth

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