Two Nvidia-branded trailers belonging to autonomous-trucking company PlusAI were stolen from outside its warehouse in Fremont, California, on September 23, 2026. The trailers were associated with PlusAI’s work with Nvidia on autonomous-driving technology, but instead of carrying GPUs, servers or other expensive AI equipment, each contained about 20,000 pounds of sand. The pair therefore carried roughly 40,000 pounds, or 20 tons, of sand.
PlusAI uses the material as simulated cargo during autonomous-truck testing to reproduce the weight of real freight. The trailers were later discovered in nearby Newark after an acquaintance of a PlusAI executive spotted them, while police continued investigating the theft.
The two trailers were parked outside PlusAI’s Fremont facility when they were taken overnight. Their locks were broken and the thieves apparently arrived with tractor units, connected them to the trailers and drove away. Both trailers prominently displayed PlusAI and Nvidia branding, reflecting the companies’ work in autonomous trucking and artificial intelligence. Heavy simulated cargo allows autonomous-truck developers to reproduce the conditions of a loaded commercial vehicle without using an actual freight shipment. The added weight can be used to test how a truck responds during acceleration, braking, turning and other driving conditions. PlusAI develops autonomous-driving technology for commercial trucks, meaning its vehicles must be tested under conditions that resemble real-world freight operations. Vehicle behaviour can change significantly depending on how much weight a truck is carrying. Using sand provides a practical way to create a controlled and consistent load. Engineers can adjust the amount of weight while testing different driving scenarios, helping them study how the autonomous system and vehicle respond when operating under the demands of a loaded truck. The Nvidia branding on the trailers reflected the companies’ collaboration in autonomous trucking. PlusAI works with Nvidia on computing and artificial-intelligence technology used in autonomous vehicles.