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.
Michigan Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Michigan. 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 Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, and Sterling Heights and 16 more Michigan 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.
Michigan 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
- Detroit refrigeration rentals 633,218 people, Wayne County
- Grand Rapids refrigeration rentals 196,608 people, Kent County
- Warren refrigeration rentals 136,655 people, Macomb County
- Sterling Heights refrigeration rentals 133,306 people, Macomb County
- Ann Arbor refrigeration rentals 119,381 people, Washtenaw County
Smaller cities and towns
- Marysville 9,917
- Muskegon Heights 9,815
- Alma 9,364
- Charlotte 9,242
- Lapeer 9,128
- Greenville 8,989
- Benton Harbor 8,875
- Houghton 8,508
- Flushing 8,243
- Menominee 8,207
- Hillsdale 7,998
- Three Rivers 7,928
- Big Rapids 7,912
- St. Johns 7,699
- Ludington 7,597
What drives cold-storage demand in Michigan
Michigan has hot summers and cold winters in the southern and central Lower Peninsula, with shorter, warmer summers farther north and in the Upper Peninsula. Heavy lake-effect snow lasts until about mid-February, and parts of the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula get almost 160 inches of snow a year; the state record high is 112 F and the record low is -51 F.
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
- Ice storm (Winter (December 2013)): The December 20-23, 2013 ice storm cut power to about 380,700 Michigan homes and businesses, hardest in Ingham, Genesee and Lapeer counties; Consumers Energy called it the worst ice storm in 10 years. Ice storms can cause multi-day outages that spoil refrigerated stock and can create a need for emergency cold storage. Source
- Winter storm (December to March): The January 25-27, 1978 blizzard dropped up to 52 inches at Muskegon, led Michigan's governor to declare an emergency, and left about 100,000 cars abandoned on highways. Blizzards can block deliveries and power, so operators can need cold storage on short notice. Source
- Winter storm (Winter (January 2019)): In the January 2019 cold wave the governor declared a state of emergency on January 28, Flint hit -14 F on January 31, and a Consumers Energy compressor station fire led to a request to set thermostats to 65 F. Extreme cold can strain energy supply and threaten kitchens and food storage. Source
- Flood (Spring (April 2013)): The Grand River crested at 21.85 feet in Grand Rapids on April 21, 2013, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing more than $10 million in damage. River flooding can cut power and force food businesses to discard refrigerated stock. Source
- Tornado (Spring to summer): Michigan averages about 17 tornadoes a year, mostly in the extreme south; the April 1974 Super Outbreak brought a deadly tornado near Coldwater and Hillsdale. Tornado damage can cut power and leave food businesses needing temporary refrigeration. Source
Power outages
- The December 2013 ice storm cut power to about 380,700 Michigan homes and businesses, and roughly 60,000 customers were still out nearly a week later; Consumers Energy called it its largest Christmas-week storm in 126 years. Week-long winter outages can spoil restaurant and grocery inventory and can create a need for rented refrigeration. Source
- In January 2019 a fire at a Consumers Energy compressor station in Macomb County on January 30 led the governor and the utility to ask residents to set thermostats to 65 F until midnight on February 1 to avoid heat interruptions. Cold-snap supply stress shows how energy disruptions can threaten kitchens and food storage. Source
Food and hospitality
- MDARD describes Michigan agriculture as a $104.7 billion industry. A very large food and farm economy can need seasonal and emergency cold storage across growers and processors. Source
- Detroit's Eastern Market covers 43 acres with more than 150 businesses, runs a nightly wholesale market on weekdays from April to November, and is a hub for wholesale food distribution. Wholesale and market operations can need temporary refrigerated capacity at peaks or after equipment failures. Source
- Detroit has a port on the Detroit River, and the Detroit-Windsor crossing is the second-busiest international crossing in North America. Cross-border freight can create short-term cold staging needs. Source
- Clinton County ranks first in Michigan for total mint production, and Traverse City is nicknamed the "Cherry Capital of the World.". Specialty crop harvests can create seasonal demand for temporary cold storage. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Michigan
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Michigan, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Food and Dairy Division. For emergency information, see Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.
- MDARD, created in 1921, has a Food and Dairy Division and a mission that includes protecting the state's food supply. MDARD is a starting point for confirming licensing rules for temporary or mobile food operations. Source
- The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division runs the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates state agency activity during emergencies and disasters. During declared emergencies, state coordination can affect how food relief and temporary facilities are organized. Source
Main roads
- I-75: Michigan's longest highway, about 396 miles from the Ohio line through Detroit, Flint and Saginaw, over the Mackinac Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie; the only freeway in the Upper Peninsula.
- I-94: About 275 miles from the Indiana line through Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor and Detroit to Port Huron.
- I-96: About 192 miles from Norton Shores near Muskegon through Grand Rapids and Lansing to Detroit.
- I-69: About 202 miles from the Indiana line through Coldwater, Charlotte, the Lansing area and Flint to Port Huron; the last Michigan Interstate completed (1992).
- I-196: Gerald R. Ford Freeway, about 81 miles from the Benton Harbor area to Grand Rapids.
- I-696: Walter P. Reuther Freeway, a 28-mile Detroit-area route from Novi to St. Clair Shores.
Events that raise demand
- Woodward Dream Cruise (Third Saturday in August): The one-day classic car event draws roughly 1.5 million spectators and about 40,000 vehicles. Huge one-day crowds can often use temporary refrigeration and mobile food service.
- National Cherry Festival (July): Traverse City's eight-day festival draws over 500,000 people each July. Food-centered festivals can often rely on rented refrigerated trailers and mobile kitchens.
- Tulip Time Festival (Early to mid-May): Holland's festival runs from the first Saturday in May through the second Sunday; a 2022 news report projected 500,000 visitors. Multi-day festivals can often use temporary kitchens and cold storage.
- Ann Arbor Art Fairs (Third week of July): The fairs run Thursday to Sunday and draw over half a million visitors. Large downtown fairs can often use rented refrigeration and mobile food service.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Michigan
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.
Michigan 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 Michigan.
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 Michigan?
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 Michigan cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Michigan. We list pages for Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, and Marysville 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 Michigan for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Michigan. 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 Michigan?
Yes. When a Michigan kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Michigan?
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Food and Dairy Division (https://www.michigan.gov/mdard) 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.