By Phil Brink
Publication Date: 2026-09-30 14:43:00
Two PlusAI trailers disappeared overnight from the company’s Fremont, California, warehouse on Sept. 24. One displayed both PlusAI and NVIDIA branding. Whoever took them broke the hand locks before pulling the trailers away from their docks. Inside sat something far less valuable than high-end technology: 40,000 pounds of sand.
PlusAI discovered the equipment missing the following morning. Its vehicle operations team immediately contacted police and filed insurance reports. Employees also reached out to neighboring facilities seeking security footage. Fremont Police received the stolen vehicle report at approximately 9:34 a.m.
The sand inside had a legitimate purpose. PlusAI uses simulated loads during manual testing of its trucks. Consistent weight helps engineers evaluate handling, braking and other driving dynamics. Those conditions more closely resemble real freight operations.
An unexpected text changes everything
The case took an unusual turn later that afternoon. A friend of PlusAI’s vice president of legal spotted both trailers outside her Newark office. The location sat only minutes from the company’s Fremont warehouse. She thought PlusAI had brought the equipment there for a display.
She photographed the trailers and texted the executive a congratulatory message. The picture quickly caught the company’s attention. PlusAI sent its vehicle operations team to the location and contacted authorities. Employees soon confirmed they had found…
