O Christmas Tree transportation tips

By Lisa Mussman
Northwest Kansas
Public Affairs Manager

No matter if you prefer to go faux or with the real deal, Christmas trees are an essential part of holiday decorating. A recent survey from AAA found that nearly 84 million Americans plan to purchase a real tree this holiday season and face the task of transporting it home safely.

A loosely-secured tree may not only cause damage to your vehicle, it can also have devastating consequences to other motorists. Over a four-year period, a separate study from AAA found road debris was responsible for more than 200,000 crashes, which resulted in nearly 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.

But there’s no need to get your tinsel in a tangle. You can be rocking around the Christmas tree in no time by following these Christmas tree transport tips from AAA:

• Get in gear: be sure to take a strong rope or nylon ratchet strap, old blanket, gloves and, most importantly, the right vehicle! One with a roof rack is ideal, but a truck, SUV or van can work just as well.
  
  
• Wrap it up: ask the lot or store to wrap your tree in netting before loading it. You can also secure loose branches with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage.
  
  
• Take cover: if you’re transporting the tree on a roof rack, cover the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches or damage to your vehicle.
  
  
• Face forward: place the tree on the roof rack of in the truck bed with the trunk facing forward. Or, if your vehicle is large enough, place the tree inside.
  
  
• Tie it down: secure the tree at the bottom, center and top with rope or ratchet straps. Be sure to loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk and above one of the branches to further minimize movement. Make sure it’s completely secure by giving it a few tugs afterwards.
  
  
• Take your time: driving at higher speeds can create airflow that can damage your tree and loosen your tie-downs. Slow down!

All of us at KDOT wish you a very safe and happy holiday season!