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Driving change through trucking merchandise

Icon Research / 03 Dec, 2024

South Australian truck driver, James ‘Jimmy’ Cresshull spends his days navigating the long haul between Adelaide and Darwin.

Jimmy, who drives for Neil Mansell Transport, delivers essential goods from frozen food to sterilised clinical products.

However, it’s his passion project, a trucking merchandise business called Truckin Republic that he runs in his spare time that Jimmy finds most impactful.

Finding the perfect match 

Jimmy’s journey to support cancer research began with a desire to make a difference in his own way. Using his talent for designing merchandise, including T-shirts, caps, and hoodies, he started brainstorming how he could contribute to a cause close to his heart. 

When the Icon Cancer Foundation-branded truck, supported and owned by Nolan’s Interstate Transport caught his eye, he immediately knew this was the perfect match. Jimmy reached out to the Nolan family to pitch his idea, and soon, a partnership was born. 

Launching at a landmark event 

The Icon Cancer Foundation Trucking Merchandise line debuted at the Lights on the Hill Dual Memorial Convoy in Gatton, Queensland—a prominent event on the trucking calendar. The launch was an overwhelming success, with the merchandise selling out on the day and additional orders flowing in after the event. 

Over just seven weeks, Jimmy sold an incredible 952 items of merchandise, raising almost $5000 for Icon Cancer Foundation. Orders came from across the globe, from as far away as Svenljunga in Sweden and Colorado in the USA. 

Lessons from the road 

“It was a lot of hard work but very worthwhile,” says Jimmy. 

“My partner and I learned a lot from this—like the need to have more stock ready ahead of events. We completely underestimated how popular the shirts and caps would be.” 

Jimmy’s unique perspective as a truck driver has helped his merchandise stand out in a competitive market. 

“Event merchandise is a very saturated market, but I think my point of difference is that I’m a truck driver and I understand what truck drivers want.”  

A lifelong connection to merchandise 

Jimmy’s connection to event merchandise goes back to his first truck driving job at just 18-years-old. Ironically, he worked for an event merchandise company with contracts for V8 Supercars and Cricket Australia. 

“I would work in the factory in Adelaide helping produce the merchandise, then drive the truck to the event, where I’d help sell the stock,” says Jimmy.

“There were days when I couldn’t believe this was my job. It was great. And then I just kept driving trucks after that job.” 

Looking to the future 

For now, Jimmy sees Truckin Republic as a hobby, but he hopes it might become his main job someday.  

“It was an absolute pleasure teaming up with Icon Cancer Foundation and the Nolans family to do this project and I hope we can do it again next year.” 

Supporting vital cancer research 

Icon Cancer Foundation (ICF) is deeply grateful for the funds raised through Truckin Republic. The funds will directly support vital research, helping to improve treatments and outcomes for patients. 

ICF works closely with Icon Cancer Centres network of doctors and healthcare professionals, raising funds to support their independent research.  

Jimmy’s story is a powerful reminder of how passion, creativity and determination can make a difference in the most unexpected ways. 

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