Western Star Trucks has been awarded the highly coveted 2024 Truck of the Year Australasia (ToYA) at today’s Technology Maintenance and Safety (TMS) Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Based on criteria used by the global International Truck of the Year (IToY) awards, the ToYA award also considers the unique characteristics of Australasia.

The award was presented to Penske Australia & New Zealand’s managing director, Hamish Christie-Johnston.

“I am thrilled to receive the 2024 Truck of the Year Australasia award on behalf of our Australia and New Zealand Western Star teams,” said Hamish.

“Since we launched the all-new X-Series in late 2022, we’ve received outstanding feedback from everyone who has driven the trucks.

“From customers to media personnel, the response has been unanimous that the X-Series is a seriously premium package.”

Featuring a powerful integrated driveline, an advanced safety package, and superior comfort, even in the most rugged applications, the X-Series is underpinned by the legendary durability that customers expect from a Western Star.

“This is the most tested Western Star ever. Designed from the ground up, the 47X, 49X, and ANZ-exclusive 48X are engineered specifically for our local market,” said Kurt Dein, head of Western Star Trucks at Penske Australia.

“Over several years, the team at Penske worked closely with Daimler Trucks North America to deliver a product that is lighter, safer, stronger, and more spacious than any Western Star before.

“Thinking back to 2015 when I joined the development process to bring X-Series to market with DTNA, I am so proud to be at the TMS Conference today to accept the award on behalf of the whole team.

“This also means a lot to me when I think back to my grandfather opening one of the first-ever Western Star dealerships.

“It’s an honour to be a part of this public recognition that the X-Series is a superior transport solution in Australasia.”

Highly versatile, the 47X has a short, sloped bonnet that yields payload flexibility, a set-back front axle, and choice of power with the Cummins L9 or the Detroit DD13 Gen 5, either the Detroit DT12, Allison fully automatic, or Eaton Fuller manual transmission, and various sleeper options.

Designed specifically for Australia, the 48X is powered by the 450-525 hp Detroit DD13 Gen 5 or 500-600 hp DD16 engine, features a set-forward front axle, and has a bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) measurement of 113 inches, yielding a flexible solution.

The toughest of the tough, the 49X is powered by the 500-600 hp DD16, has up to 200+ tonnes GCM capability, and is available with multiple cabin options, including the largest cab on the Australasian market, the 72” Stratosphere sleeper.

For more information on the X-Series, visit https://westernstar.com.au.

L-R: Kurt Dein (head of Western Star Trucks, Penske Australia) with Hamish Christie-Johnston (managing director, Penske Australia & New Zealand).

Photo credit: NZ Trucking

Photo credit: NZ Trucking