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.
California thieves found sand inside the Nvidia-branded trailers
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.The company’s autonomous-driving truck cabs remained inside the facility and were not stolen. The stolen trailers were later located in Newark, California, roughly half a mile from PlusAI’s Fremont warehouse.
What was inside the stolen trailers
The trailers contained about 20,000 pounds of sand each, giving them a combined load of approximately 40,000 pounds, or 20 tons. The sand was being used as simulated cargo during PlusAI’s testing programme.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.
Why PlusAI uses sand to test autonomous trucks
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.
How the stolen trailers were found
The trailers were eventually spotted in Newark, close to PlusAI’s Fremont facility. An acquaintance of a PlusAI executive reportedly noticed the trailers and sent a photograph to the executive after recognising them.The company contacted authorities, who located and recovered both trailers. The sand was still inside, allowing PlusAI to recover both the vehicles and their testing cargo.
What police said about the theft
The Fremont Police Department investigated the theft after the trailers were reported missing. Security footage reportedly showed two unidentified tractor units near the PlusAI facility around the time of the incident.PlusAI said the tractor units did not belong to the company. Investigators were working to identify the people involved and determine how the trailers were taken from the facility.
The connection between PlusAI and Nvidia
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.Nvidia’s technology is widely used in AI development and autonomous-driving systems, making its branding highly recognisable in the technology industry. However, the trailers themselves were being used by PlusAI for autonomous-truck testing, with the confirmed cargo consisting of sand rather than Nvidia computing equipment.The theft produced an unexpected discovery when two trailers carrying prominent technology-company branding turned out to be loaded with 40,000 pounds of sand. The trailers had been taken from PlusAI’s Fremont facility but were found only about half a mile away in Newark.Both trailers and their simulated cargo were recovered, while investigators continued working to identify the people responsible for the theft.