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.
Montana Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Montana. 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 Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, and Bozeman and 16 more Montana 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.
Montana 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
- Billings refrigeration rentals 120,864 people, Yellowstone County
- Missoula refrigeration rentals 77,757 people, Missoula County
- Great Falls refrigeration rentals 60,422 people, Cascade County
- Bozeman refrigeration rentals 57,305 people, Gallatin County
- Helena refrigeration rentals 34,464 people, Lewis and Clark County
Smaller cities and towns
- Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 9,673
- Havre 9,330
- Whitefish 9,163
- Miles City 8,438
- Lewistown 6,149
- Sidney 6,112
- Polson 5,613
- Hamilton 5,268
- Glendive 4,796
- Dillon 4,176
- Hardin 3,709
- Shelby 3,270
- Glasgow 3,180
- Libby 3,169
- Deer Lodge 3,030
What drives cold-storage demand in Montana
Average daytime highs run from about 28F in January to about 84F in July, with a statewide record high of 117F and a record low of -70F near Rogers Pass in 1954. Most larger cities get 30 to 50 inches of snow a year, and mountain ranges can see about 300 inches, mostly from November to March. Chinook winds east of the mountains can raise temperatures by 50F to 60F within hours.
The hottest stretch runs july to August. The coldest runs december to February. Both extremes strain commercial refrigeration, and both bring calls for emergency cold storage.
Resorts, lodges, hospitals, and event operators rely on short-term refrigeration for busy seasons and breakdowns.
Weather and hazards
- Wildfire (July to September): In 2017 wildfires burned an estimated 1.3 million acres in Montana, including the 270,723-acre Lodgepole Complex, and most of the town of Seeley Lake received evacuation orders. Bark beetles and warmer weather have increased fire severity. Fires and evacuations can cut power and shut kitchens, which can create a need for emergency cold storage and temporary kitchens for crews and evacuees. Source
- Other (December to February): Extreme cold: Montana holds the contiguous U.S. record low of -70F (1954), and Glasgow's record low is -59F and Havre's -57F. Deep cold can stress equipment and interrupt power and deliveries, which can create emergency needs. Source
- Other (winter and spring): Chinook winds of 25 to 50 mph can warm temperatures by 50F to 60F for 10 days or longer; at Loma in 1972 the temperature rose 103F in a day. Wild temperature swings and wind can damage equipment and power lines. Source
- Flood (late winter to spring): A March 1944 ice jam on the Yellowstone River caused flooding that reached Miles City. Ice-jam and river flooding can isolate towns and take out kitchens and cold rooms. Source
- Tornado (June to August): A June 20, 2010 tornado brought golf-ball-size hail and damaging winds to Billings, and a 1961 F4 tornado hit Glendive. Severe storms can disrupt power and damage rooftop refrigeration. Source
Power outages
- NorthWestern Energy, which took over the former Montana Power Company, serves Montana; after electric industry unbundling around 2000, the territory was exposed to high spot energy prices. A single main utility means regional events can affect many customers at once. Source
- A 1989 train wreck in Helena caused an explosion, a citywide power outage and evacuations. Large outages can spoil refrigerated inventory across a whole city. Source
- Shelby, near the Rocky Mountain Front, has constant wind, severe winters and summer lightning and hail. Wind and storms can damage power lines in northern Montana, creating food-storage emergencies. Source
Food and hospitality
- Glacier National Park recorded 3,136,557 visitors in 2025, with summer from June to early September the busy period. Gateway-town restaurants and lodges can need extra cold storage and temporary kitchens in peak season. Source
- Billings has a Western Sugar Cooperative plant that processes sugar beets, and Great Falls has a 197-acre AgriTech Park (Cargill is among its tenants) on a former rail yard. Food processing and storage facilities depend on cold-chain capacity. Source
- Great Falls has a long milling history: Royal Milling (founded 1892) made half the state's flour within seven years, and Montana Flour Mills opened in 1916. Grain and flour logistics are a core part of the area's food economy. Source
- Sidney's sugar beet factory operated from 1925 until it closed in April 2023, and the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project irrigates 51,429 acres. Irrigated crop areas in eastern Montana can generate harvest-season storage demand. Source
- Glendive is described as the agricultural and ranching hub of eastern Montana, and Miles City is the commercial hub of southeastern Montana. Ranching and farm trade centers need cold storage for meat and produce. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Montana
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Montana, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. For emergency information, see Montana Disaster and Emergency Services.
- CDC guidance says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for up to 4 hours without power and a full freezer for about 48 hours; after that, perishable food such as meat, fish, eggs and milk should be discarded. The 4-hour window is why operators often need replacement refrigeration quickly after a power loss; confirm Montana retail and temporary food rules with the local health department. Source
- Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, within the Department of Military Affairs, is the lead emergency management agency and publishes preparedness resources, a situational awareness dashboard and drought resources. Operators can check the dashboard for active emergencies when planning temporary kitchens or cold storage. Source
Main roads
- I-90: About 552 miles across southern Montana through Missoula, Butte, Bozeman and Billings; passes include Lookout Pass (4,725 ft), Homestake Pass (6,375 ft) and Bozeman Pass (5,760 ft).
- I-15: About 396 miles from Monida Pass (6,870 ft, the route's high point) through Dillon, Butte, Helena, Great Falls and Shelby to the Sweetgrass border crossing.
- I-94: Begins at I-90 on Billings' east side and runs east through Miles City (Exits 135, 138, 141) and Glendive (Exits 210 to 215).
- US-2: About 667 miles across northern Montana through Libby, Browning, Shelby, Havre and Glasgow; the stretch from Browning east is called the Hi-Line.
- US-93: Serves Missoula, Hamilton, Polson and Whitefish.
- US-87: Has its northern terminus in West Havre and intersects US-191 in Lewistown.
- US-191: Runs through Bozeman and intersects US-87 in Lewistown.
Events that raise demand
- Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (May): Held each May since 1951, drawing about 20,000 visitors to a town of roughly 8,000 people. A visitor surge many times a town's population can require temporary kitchens, cold storage and warewashing.
- MontanaFair (August): Held in August at MetraPark in Billings. Fair concessions can need temporary refrigeration and dishwashing.
- Eastern Montana Fair (late August): Held in Miles City, typically drawing about 17,000 attendees. Vendors and caterers can need temporary refrigeration.
- Little Big Horn Days (June (third weekend)): Held in Hardin with a Custer's Last Stand reenactment, a PRCA rodeo and Crow Native Days. Rodeo and reenactment crowds can create temporary food service demand.
- Whitefish Winter Carnival (first weekend in February): Features a parade, a penguin plunge into Whitefish Lake and snow sculptures. Winter festivals bring crowds that can need temporary kitchens and cold storage.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Montana
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.
Montana in the Mountain West
Service is available across the whole region. See the Mountain West 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 Montana.
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 Montana?
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 Montana cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Montana. We list pages for Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, and Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 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 Montana for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Montana. 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 Montana?
Yes. When a Montana kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Montana?
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (https://dphhs.mt.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.