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.
Minnesota Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Minnesota. 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 Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth and 16 more Minnesota 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.
Minnesota 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
- Minneapolis refrigeration rentals 425,115 people, Hennepin County
- St. Paul refrigeration rentals 303,820 people, Ramsey County
- Rochester refrigeration rentals 122,413 people, Olmsted County
- Duluth refrigeration rentals 87,680 people, St. Louis County
- Bloomington refrigeration rentals 87,398 people, Hennepin County
Smaller cities and towns
- Detroit Lakes 9,981
- Waseca 9,221
- Oak Grove 9,194
- Little Falls 9,095
- Baxter 9,092
- East Grand Forks 8,929
- Thief River Falls 8,821
- Waite Park 8,396
- Virginia 8,291
- Belle Plaine 7,416
- Delano 7,142
- Litchfield 6,541
- International Falls 5,603
- Lake City 5,315
- La Crescent 5,294
What drives cold-storage demand in Minnesota
Minnesota has warm, humid summers (July highs average from the upper 70s in the north to the mid 80s in the south) and long, very cold winters (January highs in the teens to low 20s). The state record low is -60 F at Tower in 1996 and the record high is 114 F at Moorhead in 1936.
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
- Tornado (Spring and summer): Minnesota averages about 46 tornadoes a year (1991-2020), with a high of 113 in 2010 and a low of 15 in 2013. Tornado and severe-storm damage to power lines and buildings can often leave food businesses without refrigeration or a working kitchen. Source
- Flood (Spring snowmelt and summer): The 1997 Red River flood forced a mandatory evacuation of all of East Grand Forks, and in June 2012 Duluth had its worst flood on record after about nine inches of rain in 30 hours. Flooded kitchens and cold rooms can often put food businesses out of service and create a need for temporary cold storage or a temporary kitchen. Source
- Winter storm (November to March): International Falls averages 73 inches of snow a year and has recorded -55 F, and the state record low is -60 F at Tower on February 2, 1996. Extreme cold and heavy snow can often disrupt power and deliveries, and can prompt food businesses to seek backup cold storage. Source
- Heat wave (June to August): Minneapolis has hot, humid summers and has reached 108 F (July 1936); the state record is 114 F at Moorhead. Extreme heat can often overload coolers and walk-in refrigeration, raising demand for extra cold storage at events and food businesses. Source
Power outages
- Overnight thunderstorms on August 2, 2022 knocked out power to more than 60,000 customers in southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities. Summer storm outages can often last long enough to threaten refrigerated food in restaurants and stores. Source
- Overnight storms on June 10, 2026 left over 54,000 Xcel Energy customers without power across Minnesota, according to the utility's outage data. Large storm outages can often interrupt refrigeration for many food businesses at once. Source
Food and hospitality
- Minnesota ranks first nationally in turkeys raised and sugar beets, and second in hogs, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's state profile. Meat, poultry and sugar processing depend on cold storage and refrigerated transport, so temporary capacity can help at harvest or processing peaks. Source
- Minnesota's food processing sector has nearly 1,000 establishments and about 54,700 employees, ranking 12th nationally, with most plants in Greater Minnesota. Food plants often need added refrigerated storage during production surges or equipment repairs. Source
- Hormel Foods is headquartered in Austin, Minnesota, where it began in 1891, and has about 20,000 employees, including Jennie-O turkey plants in Willmar. Meat and turkey processing and distribution rely on refrigerated storage. Source
- The Port of Duluth-Superior is the largest and busiest port on the Great Lakes, handling cargo such as grain, coal, iron ore and limestone. Grain and bulk shipping supports a regional logistics industry that sometimes needs temporary storage and catering. Source
- Bloomington has nearly 8,000 hotel rooms and the Mall of America, with about 11,000 employees there. Large hospitality and retail operations often have heavy food service needs that depend on commercial refrigeration. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Minnesota
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Minnesota, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Minnesota Department of Health (food, beverage and lodging program); Minnesota Department of Agriculture for many food stands. For emergency information, see Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM).
- The Minnesota Department of Health publishes food safety guidance for food establishments during power outages lasting more than two hours, and advises calling MDH or the local health department. Temporary refrigeration can often help food businesses protect inventory, and operators should check with the health authority on food disposition. Source
- The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's outage checklist treats TCS food held between 41 F and 135 F for more than four hours as a problem and says facilities should monitor and record temperatures during an outage. Operators using temporary cold storage should keep temperature logs to support food safety decisions. Source
- A Minnesota special event food stand may operate no more than ten total days in a license period, each stand needs its own license, and the Department of Agriculture advises applying at least 14 days before the event. Event caterers using temporary kitchens or mobile units can often need a special event license, and the licensing agency depends on the menu. Source
- Ramsey County licenses temporary food events in its cities except Saint Paul and Maplewood, where events are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health. Temporary kitchens at events can fall under different licensing authorities by location, so operators should confirm which agency applies. Source
Main roads
- I-35: Runs about 220 miles from the Iowa border to Duluth and splits into I-35E (St. Paul) and I-35W (Minneapolis) in the Twin Cities.
- I-94: Runs about 260 miles from Fargo, North Dakota, through the Twin Cities to Hudson, Wisconsin.
- I-90: Runs about 276 miles from South Dakota across southern Minnesota to La Crosse, Wisconsin.
- I-494: About 43-mile loop around the Twin Cities that serves Bloomington and the airport area.
- I-694: About 31-mile northern loop linking I-94 at Maple Grove and Woodbury.
- I-394: About 10 miles from I-494 in Minnetonka into Minneapolis.
- I-535: Short route linking Duluth with Superior, Wisconsin.
Events that raise demand
- Minnesota State Fair (Late August to Labor Day): The 12-day fair in Falcon Heights drew 1,940,869 visitors in 2025 and set a record of 2,126,551 in 2019. Fair food vendors and nearby caterers often need added cold storage, mobile kitchens and dishwashing capacity.
- Saint Paul Winter Carnival (January): Saint Paul holds its Winter Carnival every January. Winter festivals often need temporary kitchens and cold storage for outdoor food service.
- Grandma's Marathon (June): Held on the third Saturday of June in Duluth, the marathon and related races draw almost 20,000 participants a year. Large race weekends often raise demand for event catering and temporary refrigeration.
- WE Fest (August): WE Fest is a three-day camping and country music festival held each August since 1983 near Detroit Lakes. Multi-day festivals often need mobile kitchens, cold storage and warewashing for vendors.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Minnesota
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.
Minnesota 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 Minnesota.
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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Minnesota. We list pages for Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, and Detroit Lakes 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 Minnesota for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Minnesota. 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 Minnesota?
Yes. When a Minnesota kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Minnesota?
Minnesota Department of Health (food, beverage and lodging program); Minnesota Department of Agriculture for many food stands (https://www.health.mn.gov/communities/environment/food/index.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.