AI data centers are creating a much-needed boom for the American auto industry. But the boom may not last long, since after construction is completed, the requirements for truckers will decrease significantly. Moratoriums and poor publicity about AI data centers could also dampen demand. American truckers are being hired by artificial intelligence data center developers to deliver goods and construction materials to rural data center projects, with the trucking industry experiencing a boom in demand across the US. As a result, truckers have a significantly higher opinion of AI data centers than their compatriots. But this trucking boom is having some impact on the truckers themselves, the businesses they work for and the rest of America. A shortage of truck drivers is driving up wages, but fuel prices, which have been rising steadily since the war with Iran began, and the increased maintenance associated with active fleets are costing companies a fortune. Latest videos fromTechRadar Will the cargo boom continue? Because many AI data centers are built in rural areas where land prices are low, much of the building materials, components and generators are shipped by road to regions where the infrastructure is not built to support such traffic. This has a knock-on effect on local freight transport, with fleets being hired to 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 operational stability. The war in Iran has pushed fuel prices to new all-time highs, with diesel hitting $5.85 a gallon, making it increasingly expensive to fuel truck fleets, especially at a time when demand for trucking has dropped significantly. But given the widespread opposition to AI data centers across the US and the accompanying construction moratoriums being imposed in many states, this boom may be short-lived in the long term. This is especially true once current capacity demand is met. Once the data center is built, it will require only a small workforce, and the demand for cargo transportation will plummet. Sign up for the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, views, features and advice your business needs to succeed! AI companies take note. Artificial intelligence data centers are one of the key topics of the US midterm elections. Anti-data center candidates are seeing a surge in support, while some of the biggest artificial intelligence companies are funneling money through SuperPACs to candidates likely to support building data centers. This is unlikely to help the reputation of artificial intelligence and the companies behind it, as new attention is drawn to money, which often determines the direction and policies of American politics. So the trucking boom is a lesson for AI companies. If you provide real, tangible benefits to people’s lives and work, opinion improves. By using CNBC Follow TechRadar on Google News. And add us as your preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Post navigation County Championship: Henry Cullen leads Worcestershire rally against Northamptonshire QB Stock Market Week 1: Predicting how all 32 rookie players will fare in 2026