American truckers are benefiting from AI data center boom, and that’s exactly why they don’t share the same opinion of the majority of Americans

AI data centers are creating a boom in the demand for trucking

by · TechRadar

News By Benedict Collins Published 8 September 2026

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter

  • AI data centers are creating a much needed boom for the American trucking industry
  • But the boom might not last for long as the requirements for truckers fall significantly once construction finishes
  • Moratoriums and poor opinions of AI data centers could also quell the demand

American truckers are being hired by AI data center developers to ship goods and construction materials to rural data center projects, with the trucking industry across the US seeing a boom in demand.

As a result of this, truckers have a significantly higher opinion of AI data centers than their compatriots. But this freight hauling boom is having some knock on effects on truckers themselves, the businesses they work for, and the rest of America.

A shortage of truckers is boosting pay, but the price of fuel - which has been steadily increasing since the outbreak of the war with Iran - and the increased maintenance that comes with an active fleet are costing companies a fortune.

Latest Videos FromTechRadarWatch full video here:

Will the trucking boom last?

With many AI data centers being built in rural areas where land prices are cheap, much of the construction materials, components, and generators are being taken by road in regions where infrastructure isn’t built to sustain such traffic. This is having a knock-on effect on local trucking with fleets being hired to help upgrade local infrastructure to meet new demand.

In the short-term, the AI data center boom has been good for business, and has provided many trucking companies with some stability in work. The war in Iran has pushed fuel prices to new all-time highs, with diesel reaching $5.85 a gallon, making it increasingly expensive to fuel fleets of trucks especially at a time when demand for trucking has dropped substantially.

But given the mass opposition to AI data centers being seen across the US, and the accompanying moratoriums on construction multiple states are putting into place, the boom may be somewhat short-lived in the long term.

This is especially true once the current demand for capacity is met. Once a data center is built it only requires a small workforce, and the demand for freight drops off a cliff.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors