12 ft Refrigerated Trailer
Starting from $1,895 / month
The smallest trailer in the lineup. It fits tight lots and loading areas when a small walk-in cooler or freezer goes down.
Illinois Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Illinois. When a walk-in cooler or freezer fails, our refrigerated trailer and container rentals put cold storage on your site, along with mobile kitchens and dishwashing trailers if the kitchen is down too. We list pages for Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, and Naperville and 16 more Illinois cities and towns, and service is nationwide, so a site anywhere in the state is covered. Hospitals, schools, restaurants, grocers, and distributors rent from us, short term or long term. Call 24/7 or request availability and a quote.
Illinois cities and towns
20 pages: the 5 largest cities, then 15 smaller towns under 10,000 people. Each page has local delivery planning, emergency support, requirements, and routes.
Cities
Largest cities
- Chicago refrigeration rentals 2,664,452 people, Cook County
- Aurora refrigeration rentals 177,563 people, DuPage County
- Joliet refrigeration rentals 150,489 people, Kendall County
- Naperville refrigeration rentals 150,245 people, DuPage County
- Rockford refrigeration rentals 146,120 people, Ogle County
Smaller cities and towns
- Highland 9,961
- Peru 9,780
- Hawthorn Woods 9,373
- Harvard 9,356
- Steger 9,283
- Savoy 8,891
- Rock Falls 8,600
- Monmouth 8,567
- Olney 8,512
- Jerseyville 8,263
- Paris 8,039
- Harrisburg 7,907
- Silvis 7,896
- Vandalia 7,358
- Salem 7,056
What drives cold-storage demand in Illinois
Illinois has hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, and recorded extremes in the state range from about -25 F to 112 F at Jerseyville. Spring and early summer bring frequent thunderstorms and tornadoes; Illinois logged 136 tornadoes in 2023, the most of any state by a wide margin.
The hottest stretch runs june to August. The coldest runs december to February. Both extremes strain commercial refrigeration, and both bring calls for emergency cold storage.
Processors, distributors, school districts, and hospital systems commonly need added cold storage during repairs and seasonal peaks.
Weather and hazards
- Heat wave (July): The July 1995 Chicago heat wave brought 106 F at Midway on July 13 and about 739 excess deaths in a week; power failures worsened indoor conditions. Extreme heat with outages can overload refrigeration and spoil food, which can create a need for emergency cold storage. Source
- Tornado (Spring to early summer): Illinois is among the most tornado-active states, with 136 tornadoes in 2023; an EF4 tornado on February 29, 2012 killed 8 in Harrisburg. Tornado damage often cuts power for days, which can leave food businesses needing temporary refrigeration. Source
- Flood (Spring to summer): A 1996 storm dropped 16.94 inches of rain in 24 hours in the Aurora area (an Illinois record), and the Great Flood of 1993 was the worst upper Mississippi River flood of the century. Floods can interrupt power and force food businesses to discard refrigerated stock. Source
- Winter storm (December to March): The January 25-27, 1978 blizzard dropped roughly 12 to 13 inches on Chicago, and Rockford notes that blizzards occur in winter. Blizzards can disrupt deliveries and power, so operators can need cold storage on short notice. Source
- Earthquake (Any time): A magnitude 5.1 earthquake in 1909, noted in the Aurora article, was among the strongest to strike Illinois. Earthquake damage can disrupt power and food storage, though this is infrequent. Source
Power outages
- The August 10, 2020 derecho cut power to over 800,000 ComEd customers, with about 759,000 out at the peak and more than 100,000 Illinois customers still without power three days later. Multi-day summer outages often exceed safe food-holding times and can create a need for rented refrigeration. Source
- During the July 1995 Chicago heat wave, power failures contributed to indoor temperatures above 90 F at night in some areas. Heat waves that strain the grid can threaten refrigeration at the same time demand for cold storage rises. Source
- Remnants of Hurricane Ike on September 14, 2008 cut power to about 49,000 Illinois customers and caused Des Plaines River flooding that led Cook County to declare a state of emergency. Storm remnants can combine flooding and outages that spoil food. Source
Food and hospitality
- Illinois is the largest U.S. pumpkin producer, and Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International and Archer Daniels Midland are among the major food companies in the Chicago area. Large food manufacturers and growers rely on cold chains that can need temporary refrigerated capacity during outages or peaks. Source
- Illinois food manufacturing was valued at $14.4 billion in 2004, the most recent figure given for the sector on the page. A large food manufacturing base can drive seasonal demand for cold storage. Source
- Chicago is the largest railroad hub in North America, O'Hare was the world's busiest airport by takeoffs and landings in 2025, and the Port of Chicago connects to the Atlantic via the Great Lakes and to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois Waterway. Heavy freight volume can create peak demand for temporary cold staging. Source
- Illinois drew a record 117 million tourists in 2018, who spent nearly $42 billion. Tourism and hospitality can drive demand for rented kitchens, refrigeration and warewashing during peaks. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Illinois
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Illinois, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Illinois Department of Public Health (Food Protection Program). For emergency information, see Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS).
- IDPH supports the retail food program but does not directly regulate most establishments; local health departments license restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores and food trucks. Renting a temporary kitchen or mobile unit can mean working with the local health department where it will operate. Source
- Illinois has adopted the 2022 FDA Food Code (Illinois Food Code, Part 750), and IDPH requires local departments to use a uniform inspection report. Food-code requirements for cold holding and warewashing can apply to temporary equipment. Source
- Temporary food establishments must contact the local health department before setup, and food must be prepared at the approved site or an approved kitchen, not at home. Event kitchens can need permits and an approved prep site before opening. Source
- IDPH's retail food page does not describe plan review and directs operators to their local health department; its site also links a "Food Safety During a Disaster or Emergency" page. Plan review for temporary structures can differ by county, so operators often confirm locally. Source
Main roads
- I-55: Runs about 294 miles from East St. Louis to Chicago.
- I-57: Runs roughly 360 miles from near Cairo north to Chicago.
- I-80: Runs about 164 miles from Rock Island County to Lansing.
- I-90: Runs about 107 miles from South Beloit through Rockford to Chicago.
- I-94: Runs about 62 miles from Russell to Lansing through the Chicago area.
- I-88: The Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway runs from Silvis to Hillside.
- I-70: Runs about 160 miles from East St. Louis to the Indiana line in Clark County.
- I-39: Runs about 123 miles from Normal to South Beloit.
Events that raise demand
- Lollapalooza (Late July to early August): The four-day festival in Chicago draws an estimated 400,000 people; the 2025 edition ran July 31 to August 3. Large music festivals often rely on temporary refrigeration and mobile food service.
- Illinois State Fair (August): The 11-day fair in Springfield drew 723,079 visitors in 2025. State fairs often use extra refrigerated storage and temporary kitchens.
- John Deere Classic (Silvis) (July): The PGA Tour event at TPC Deere Run is held in July the week before the Open Championship. Tournament weeks can often use rented refrigerated trailers and mobile kitchens.
- Prime Beef Festival (Monmouth) (Week after Labor Day (September)): The festival opens with one of the largest parades in western Illinois. Beef-themed events can often use rented refrigeration and mobile cooking.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Illinois
Each card shows the lowest printed price. Open a unit for the full price row.
Equipment
20 ft Refrigerated Trailer
Starting from $1,895 / month
The workhorse. A 20 ft trailer comes as a 32°F cooler or as a low-temperature freezer configuration, so you can match what failed.
20 ft Refrigerated Container
Starting from $2,995 / month
A stationary cold storage box for bulk product, built for longer projects, seasonal peaks, and renovations.
40 ft Refrigerated Container
Starting from $3,995 / month
The largest cold storage option. It takes pallets and bulk product for food distribution, disaster response, and large facilities.
Illinois in the Midwest
Service is available across the whole region. See the Midwest page, or go to a neighboring state:
Rental terms at a glance
Rentals run by the week or by the month, with short-term and long-term options, and we answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Setup on site takes about 1 hour for a refrigeration unit and about 5 hours for a kitchen or dishwashing trailer; a ramp adds 4 to 6 hours and stairs add 5 to 15 minutes. GPS tracking is possible on request. Delivery, setup, servicing, and minimum terms are confirmed in your quote, and an inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Cold storage down? Call now.
Emergency refrigeration rentals in Illinois.
If a walk-in cooler or freezer has stopped holding temperature, call now. Tell us your city and state, what failed, how much product is at risk, and what power is on site. Keep doors closed to hold the cold while we work out the right trailer or container for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I rent a refrigerated trailer in Illinois?
Call (888) 385-5513 or send the quote form with the address, what failed, the temperature you need, and the power at your site. We confirm the unit, availability, delivery, and terms in your quote. An inquiry does not reserve equipment.
Which Illinois cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Illinois. We list pages for Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, and Highland and 14 more cities and towns. If your site is elsewhere in the state, call and we will confirm.
Can I rent a refrigerated container in Illinois for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Illinois. Rent short term or lease for months, and see the full price rows on each unit page.
Do you rent mobile kitchens and dishwashing trailers in Illinois?
Yes. When a Illinois kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Illinois?
Illinois Department of Public Health (Food Protection Program) (https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/food-safety.html) is the state agency to start with. Local health departments may add their own rules, so check before placing temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen.
What to send for a fast quote
- The city and state where the unit will sit
- What failed and how much product is at risk
- Cooler (32°F) or freezer temperature needed
- Power available at the site: voltage, phase, and amps
- Access: gate or door width, surface, and where the unit will be placed
- How long you expect to need it
Prefer to talk? Call (888) 385-5513 any time.