How the AI data centre boom is reshaping automotive logistics and energy storage

The rapid growth of AI data centres and battery energy storage is reshaping automotive logistics networks in North America, as industries increasingly compete for the same specialised transport, warehousing and labour capacity. From heavy-haul equipment and hazmat-certified drivers to high-security freight and additional warehouse space, the shift is creating new pressures for automotive supply chains, but also significant opportunities for logistics providers able to adapt.

There are changing elements within automotive supply chains, with battery factories being reorientated, and growing data centre buildout, which have a big impact on available capacity. Competition for specialised capacity, such as open decks and heavy haul, is increasing, and is often reducing availability for some automotive flows.  

And compounding the existing challenge of driver shortages, there is now a greater need for more specialised drivers and trucks, with regulations around hazmat certification, route planning, permits, and cargo-protection capability.  

On the warehousing side, there is a need for footprint growth to support data-centre projects. And on the people side, more education and investment is needed, with an opportunity to transfer knowledge between automotive and energy and data centre logistics.  

At ALSC Global 2026, industry leaders from OEMs and logistics providers shared their insights into how automotive logistics in North America is being affected by this supply chain shift.  

Capacity competition and driver demand 

Speaking about how warehousing is being changed by hyperscale data centre buildouts, Derek Nolen, corporate logistics manager at Gallagher-Kaiser says: “We've seen an increase of a 500,000 sq.ft footprint as a need to support the data centre projects.” 

He says that alongside that, a lot of capacity for open deck hauling is being taken away from the automotive market, “because pretty much everything that we're shipping is over dimensional”. He adds: “Some of the challenges there when it relates to shipping lithium batteries is that it's Class 9, having hazmat-certified drivers, and then having carriers that are hazmat-certified.”  

Gallagher-Kaiser and its partner carriers have seven asset-based carriers, and of those seven, only one has a hazmat certification. “That’s something that's a little different than what I was used to in the automotive world,” he adds. 

There may be a further impact on driver shortages, too. Since the recent US Supreme Court's Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II which has implications including increased liability for brokers, shippers are now likely to review their own carrier selection and oversight practices, and may enforce more stringent rules on drivers, which will compound the labour availability challenge.  

Chris Brady, director of automotive strategy at CH Robinson, says: “If supply is constrained because there's not enough drivers or carriers that meet those requirements, then that's where we look to our network and have C.H. Robinson as the broker of choice. There's plenty of carriers and capacity out there, and for us, having the right connectivity with those carriers as well as having quick pay programs and things like that, and being the broker of choice, I think will allow C.H. Robinson to keep that advantage of being able to have that agility for our customers.” 

Education as a priority 

To take advantage of this shift in focus, supply chain firms need to invest in sharing knowledge about specialised energy storage logistics.  

Speaking about the trend towards battery energy storage systems, C.H. Robinson’s Brady says that more education is needed around the complexity of the logistics related to that: “As these new opportunities come up, either with OEMs or tier suppliers that are working to have different components for data centre buildouts, a lot of it is about education because it's not a 53-foot truck. It's an 8-axle and you need permits, you need to do route studies, you've got rigging on both ends and how those are pulled up. The complexity in understanding it is very different. As that becomes a new piece of business or a business unit inside of these companies, a lot of it is about education and really starting to build out that knowledge.” 

Higher value goods need higher cost protection

Brady adds that on top of this complexity, there is more need for cargo protection. “So you've got the energy storage, energy transmission on the front end for the buildouts, but then you look on the back end of shipping $27m worth of servers on a single truck. It's a different aspect as well where you need cargo protection,” he says. “Those are places that C.H. Robinson continues to invest.” 

The company completed an acquisition with DeSpir Logistics in June this year for approximately $75m in cash, to enhance C.H. Robinson’s capabilities in secure transportation and cargo escort services for high-value, mission-critical freight across North America.  

Make sure you don't miss the next Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Global

Register now for next year! 21-23 September 2027 | St John's Resort, Plymouth, MI 

At the time of closing the acquisition, C.H. Robinson’s vice-president of capacity, Adam McDonagh, said: “Think of it like this: C.H. Robinson is the large, highly efficient logistics engine with industry leading safety and fraud prevention, while DeSpir is a specialised operations team within it, designed to handle complex, high-risk, high-value freight with the greatest level of control and precision. This is a specialised service that many of our customers need.” 

Brady explains: “DeSpir are focused on cargo protection as well as high value, so for us, we're changing and adapting.” 

Overall, the shift to data centre and energy storage is having strategic effects on automotive logistics networks. Competition for specialised transport is driving providers to expand their capabilities, including asset mix, certifications, and cargo protection. Rather than being seen as a challenge, it’s creating opportunities for carriers and 3PLs that are quick to adapt.