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.
Missouri Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Missouri. 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 Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and Columbia and 16 more Missouri 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.
Missouri 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
- Kansas City refrigeration rentals 510,704 people, Cass County
- St. Louis refrigeration rentals 281,754 people, St. Louis city
- Springfield refrigeration rentals 170,188 people, Christian County
- Columbia refrigeration rentals 129,330 people, Boone County
- Independence refrigeration rentals 120,922 people, Clay County
Smaller cities and towns
- Harrisonville 9,852
- Clinton 9,416
- Warrenton 9,298
- Chillicothe 9,044
- Park Hills 8,759
- Perryville 8,506
- Carl Junction 8,379
- Nevada 8,262
- Dexter 7,878
- Pacific 7,554
- Aurora 7,512
- Cameron 7,324
- Sullivan 6,829
- Macon 5,495
- St. Robert 5,457
What drives cold-storage demand in Missouri
Missouri has a humid continental climate with hot, humid, wet summers and cool, sometimes cold winters; the Bootheel in the southeast is humid subtropical. Summer humidity has trended upward since the mid-20th century, and the state record high is 118 F while the record low is -40 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
- Tornado (Spring, though major tornadoes have also struck in other months): An EF5 tornado hit Joplin on May 22, 2011, killing more than 150 people, Missouri's deadliest. An EF3 tornado up to 1.8 miles wide killed five in St. Louis on May 16, 2025. Tornado damage can destroy kitchens and cold storage and cut power, which often creates a need for temporary refrigeration and kitchens. Source
- Flood (Spring and summer): The Mississippi crested at 49.6 feet in St. Louis in 1993, about 20 feet above flood stage. 2019 brought the worst Midwest flooding since 1993, and St. Louis set a 24-hour record of 8.6 inches on July 26, 2022. Flooding can close food businesses and force relocation of stock, and can create a need for temporary cold storage and warewashing. Source
- Ice storm (November to February): A November 30 to December 1, 2006 storm brought up to 2 inches of freezing rain and sleet plus 18 inches of snow, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Ice storms often cause multi-day outages that can spoil refrigerated food and stop commercial kitchens. Source
- Heat wave (June to August): In August 2023 Kansas City saw a heat index of 121 F, and St. Louis recorded a deadly 1966 heat wave with highs of 101-106 F. A 2012 drought led to disaster declarations in all 114 counties. Extreme heat can overload refrigeration systems and increases the need for temporary cold storage at events and food businesses. Source
- Earthquake (Year-round): The 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes were centered in Missouri's Bootheel, and the I-55 corridor passes near New Madrid. A major quake in southeast Missouri could disrupt utilities and distribution and create demand for emergency cold storage. Source
Power outages
- The November 30 to December 1, 2006 ice and snow storm left hundreds of thousands of Missouri customers without power. Large ice-related outages can last days and can force food businesses to find temporary cold storage and cooking facilities. Source
- The Missouri River stayed above flood stage for 62 days at Jefferson City and 94 days at St. Charles during the 1993 flood, and the St. Louis floodwall held with just over two feet to spare. Prolonged river flooding can disrupt utilities and access to food businesses along the Missouri and Mississippi. Source
Food and hospitality
- Missouri is a major beer-brewing center and home to Anheuser-Busch, with a wine industry along the Missouri River dating to 19th-century German immigrants. Breweries and wineries rely on temperature-controlled storage. Source
- Kansas City became a major meatpacking center after Texas cattle drives and the refrigerated boxcar, and the USDA announced in 2018 it would relocate research agencies there. A long history in meat and agriculture means substantial cold chain infrastructure and demand. Source
- Missouri's Bootheel is the state's most fertile region, with cotton and rice as the predominant crops. Harvest cycles can create seasonal storage demand. Source
- Gilster-Mary Lee, a food manufacturer, is one of the two largest employers in Perryville. Food manufacturers depend on cold chain and storage capacity during outages or peaks. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Missouri
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Missouri, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). For emergency information, see Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is the state agency responsible for public health programs, including regulating and licensing health and child care facilities. Anyone setting up a temporary kitchen or cold storage for food service should confirm permit requirements with the state or local public health agency. Source
- FDA guidance in the archived federal power-outage page says refrigerated food should be safe if power was out no more than 4 hours and the door was kept shut; this is federal, not Missouri-specific, guidance. Outages longer than that can force food businesses to discard stock or move it to temporary refrigeration. Source
Main roads
- I-70: 250 miles across Missouri through Kansas City, Independence, Columbia and Warrenton to St. Louis; traffic in Columbia can congest during University of Missouri sporting events.
- I-44: The state's longest interstate at 293 miles, from Joplin through Springfield, St. Robert and Sullivan, passing north of Pacific to St. Louis.
- I-55: 210 miles from the Arkansas line through New Madrid, Cape Girardeau and Perryville to St. Louis.
- I-35: About 115 miles from Kansas City north through Cameron to the Iowa line.
- I-49: Runs concurrent with US 71 through Nevada in west Missouri and near Joplin.
- I-435: Loop near the western edge of Independence; I-470 follows MO-291 south into Lee's Summit.
Events that raise demand
- American Royal (September to November): An eight-week season of livestock shows and the world's largest barbecue contest in the Kansas City area; economic impact is over $62 million a year. Barbecue and livestock events need large-scale cold storage and food prep.
- Missouri State Fair (August): An 11-day fair in Sedalia that drew about 350,000 visitors in 2023. A large fair raises demand for vendor refrigeration and dishwashing.
- Santa-Cali-Gon Days (Labor Day weekend (early September)): Independence holds this Labor Day festival marking its role as a starting point for the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails. Large street festivals need temporary food service.
- Roots N Blues Festival and True/False Film Festival: Columbia hosts both annual festivals, along with the Show-Me State Games. Multi-day festivals need temporary food service.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Missouri
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.
Missouri 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 Missouri.
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 Missouri?
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 Missouri cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Missouri. We list pages for Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Independence, and Harrisonville 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 Missouri for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Missouri. 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 Missouri?
Yes. When a Missouri kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Missouri?
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) (https://health.mo.gov/) 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.