A Christmas tree for the Pope

These days, when Pope Francis looks out at St. Peter’s Square from his window, he sees a magnificent Christmas tree. The fir tree in question is from Ledro in the heart of Trentino and has travelled some 650 kilometres on a 34-metre-long semi-trailer pulled by a MAN TGS 26.540 6x2. The brand-new truck is part of the transport company Santoni Srl’s fleet, and the journey to the Vatican City was its maiden trip.

The Christmas tree was carefully selected from the fir trees earmarked for felling in the forests of Ledro. These trees are PEFC-certified – a mark of guaranteed sustainable forestry. The tree for the Pope was taken from one of the plots that was set to be felled in any event. If it had not been destined for Rome, the fir tree’s final journey would have taken it to a sawmill.

Overnight journey to Rome

Santoni Srl was involved in this special operation from the outset: From felling the Christmas tree and supporting the loggers with the company’s own crane, to the onward transport to Rome. For its long journey, the fir tree was secured with nets and ropes to reduce its dimensions to less than 3.5 metres in width and 29 metres in length. Once that was done, the largely overnight journey to the Pope could begin.

“It was extraordinary that this very special shipment coincided with the first official journey by our new MAN TGS 26.540,” said CEO Giacomo Santoni. “And, of course, I absolutely wanted to get behind the wheel myself. Partly because I personally had chosen this vehicle, and partly because it wasn’t just any old shipment. I was very relieved that everything went smoothly – because I felt the burden of responsibility on my shoulders. At the same time, I felt vindicated in my choice of truck.”

Customised truck

The MAN TGS 26.540 6x2 is equipped with a turbo diesel D26 Euro 6e, a reliable 12.4-litre six-cylinder engine with a top performance of 540 HP (397 kW) and a torque of 2,650 Nm. It also has an automatic transmission, a retarder, a power take-off and a hydraulic system that was produced with “customised care” by Alpi Gru from Trento. Another feature of this vehicle is the fifth wheel coupling with adjustable longitudinal position. This not only enables the truck to be combined with different types and lengths of semi-trailers, but also helps to optimise the axle load distribution. Santoni Srl also specifically requested the two lifting eyes on the front cross-member under the radiator grille, which ensure the sturdy attachment of ropes and guy wires.