# The Heavy Haul Operator Riding the AI Data Center Wave

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulkloads-podcast-431537/the-heavy-haul-operator-riding-the-ai-data-center-wave
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulkloads-podcast-431537/the-heavy-haul-operator-riding-the-ai-data-center-wave.md
Podcast: [Bulkloads Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulkloads-podcast-431537)
Published: 2026-04-21T04:59:00+00:00
Episode link: https://bulkloads.libsyn.com/the-heavy-haul-operator-riding-the-ai-data-center-wave
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bulkloads/Kendal_Mast_Podcast_Audio.mp3?dest-id=744231
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bulkloads-podcast-431537/episodes/the-heavy-haul-operator-riding-the-ai-data-center-wave
Duration seconds: 2204

## Resource

Watch episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QILNrGk8Sfs He started with one truck at 18 years old — and went bankrupt within a year. Most people would have quit. Kendal Mast didn't. Today, KM Wood Products runs 60+ trucks, hauls some of the heaviest freight in the country, and has quietly become one of the biggest players in AI data center freight — with 65% of their entire fleet dedicated to it. But the road here wasn't straight. Kendal rebuilt this company from zero multiple times, survived COVID with his family living in the truck, fired his entire driver pool to save key contracts, and learned million-dollar lessons the hard way. This is one of the most raw, honest conversations we've had on the BulkLoads Podcast. If you're an owner-operator, a small fleet owner, or just someone trying to build something real — this one's for you. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode ⏱ TIMECODES 00:00 — Starting with one log truck at 18 01:02 — Switching to wood chips and surviving early failure 01:33 — Going OTR, hiring owner operators, and pivoting to flatbed 02:24 — COVID hits — lays everyone off and starts over with his family in the truck 03:05 — How he rebuilt to 60 trucks 04:11 — The partner situation that nearly destroyed key contracts 07:01 — Fleet breakdown: RGN, step deck, tanks, and heavy haul 08:02 — The 99-load gas plant project that changed his entire strategy 09:32 — Why he only chases projects with 20+ loads 10:56 — Oversized and super load regulations explained 12:43 — How permitting works state to state 14:18 — Managing fuel costs and surcharges in heavy haul 16:16 — Why the freight market is finally turning in 2026 17:00 — AI data centers driving 65% of their freight volume 19:01 — Moving MARTA tram cars into Atlanta 20:19 — How he connected with Jesse Bounds…

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## Transcript

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