For Mark D’Agostino, his truck is not just his livelihood; it’s his home away from home.
As a haulier, Mark’s prime mover must have the comfort and capabilities of a home and office on wheels. Spending large chunks of time on the road carrying bitumen, under often hot and dirty conditions, Mark heavily relies on a prime mover that will get him to where he needs to be, in comfort.
That is why the bitumen haulier, who operates as CRL Transport, chose a Western Star 49X fitted with the 60-inch (152cm) sleeper as his home away from home.
“It has enough grunt to satisfy the workload, but also the sleeping room I need when I’m on a job,” says Mark.
“I can spend weeks, even months, away from home at a time, so important features for me are space and comfort.”
Background
D’Agostino took the leap into bitumen haulage more than 10 years ago. After building up his business, he now works exclusively with a large aggregate supplier company, relying on the Western Star brand to get the job done for close to a decade. As Mark is on the road for long periods at a time, reliability is paramount for his business.
“I started the business with another brand but made the switch to Western Star in 2019 and haven’t looked back,” he explains.
“I upgraded to a 49X Star in 2025. The sleeper model appealed to me because it has the room I need and can handle the road.
“I often drive difficult roads in challenging conditions. I need a truck I can trust.”
Specifications
The 49X 60-inch sleeper model that Mark has chosen features premium overhead LED dimmer lights, adjustable to suit reading, computer work, or updating logs. There are also baggage doors and large storage cabinets. On hot or noisy nights, Mark benefits from insulated sidewall windows that can be tilted for ventilation.
The award-winning 49X is part of Western Star’s toughest truck series ever, with a stronger frame, greater field of vision and smart headlights designed to last the truck’s lifetime.
Service
Despite the obvious benefits of providing the comforts of home on the road, what really sealed the deal for Mark with his prime mover is the service he receives from the Western Star dealership network.
“The experience has been excellent. There are some great people at the Westar Truck Centre in Derrimut, Victoria, which is close to where I’m based. They’ve really looked after me.”
He recalls one incident when he needed urgent help and the Westar team delivered.
“I hit a couple of big roos one night and the bumper needed to be repaired quickly. I hadn’t had the truck long,” Mark says.
“I rang them up, and they said they would get it in as soon as possible. “It was fixed the next day and I was back on the road that afternoon. They really came through on that promise.”
Detroit engine
Previous Western Star trucks have been powered by Cummins’ engines, but Mark has the Detroit DD16 under the hood of the 49X, and it hasn’t taken long for the Detroit engine to win him over.
“When you look at how Detroit has applied the technology to their engines over the years, I think the DD16 is going to perform well. I chose the 49X with confidence!
“Honestly, you can’t take the smile off my face knowing that this is still a new truck for me and that it’s only going to get better.”
Built to last When Mark came to trade in his previous truck, the 49X’s final selling point was its thorough testing. In this line of work, where reliability is paramount, it pays to invest in the best. And with Western Star’s legendary durability, toughness is in its DNA.
“Speaking to the Westar team about the design of the vehicles, I know a lot of work has gone into strengthening the cabs,” Mark says. “When I was considering buying a 49X, I went online and watched all the videos of the testing they did for Australian conditions, and that made up my mind.
“I need a heavy-duty vehicle for some of the places I drive. “Simply put, this truck is strong, rugged and tough. I know it will hold up.”
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