Columbus, Ohio Refrigerated Container Rentals

Numbers for Columbus that matter when planning a rental: how big it is, how spread out it is, and how far the next larger place sits.

Winter storms in Ohio (December to March) can slow or close roads, so tell us your start date early and we plan the trip with the forecast in mind.

• Place: city in Delaware County and Fairfield County, Ohio.
• Population: 913,175 (2023 Census Bureau estimate), number 1 of 20 Ohio places on our list.
• Land area: 220 square miles, about 4,150 people per square mile.
• Elevation: about 791 feet.
• Columbus is the county seat of Delaware County.
• Nearest larger place we list: Chicago, IL, 277 miles northwest.
• Other places we list within 50 miles: 2.

Emergency support for Columbus runs through one number, (888) 385-5513, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have these details ready:

In Ohio, calls like this often follow winter storm and heat wave. For this kind of event, a refrigerated container rental holds bulk product, and a 12 ft trailer covers a small kitchen's cooler and freezer.

For official emergency information in Ohio, see Ohio Emergency Management Agency. We are not an emergency agency; for danger to life, call 911.

• The address in Columbus (and the Delaware County location if it is outside town limits).
• What failed: a walk-in cooler, a freezer, a compressor, or the power itself.
• How much product is at risk, and whether it must stay at 32°F (cooler) or near -5°F (freezer).
• The power available at the site and whether a truck can reach the spot.
• Keep doors closed until the unit arrives so the product holds its temperature as long as possible.

The kinds of operations that rent refrigeration in a city like Columbus are hospital systems, universities, hotels and convention venues, large grocers, food distributors and processors, and stadium and event operators.

Ohio ranks 3rd in egg production, 1st in Swiss cheese and 3rd in tomatoes, and Fremont has the world's largest ketchup processing plant. Eggs, cheese and produce are temperature-sensitive, so equipment failures can create demand for temporary refrigerated trailers.

The Port of Toledo is the fifth-busiest on the Great Lakes, and Cleveland's port connects to the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Port and freight activity can create short-term cold staging needs.

Columbus customers use refrigeration trailers in three common ways: as emergency cover for a failed walk-in, as extra capacity during a peak (a harvest, a festival, a holiday week), and as temporary cold storage during a renovation. See rental prices for what each unit costs, or how to plan your site before delivery.

Demand also rises around events in Ohio: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (September); All-American Soap Box Derby / National Hamburger Festival (Akron) (Summer (Hamburger Festival mid-July)). Food-heavy festivals can often require rented refrigerated trailers and warewashing.

Renting a refrigerated trailer in Columbus is simple, but a few items decide whether it runs smoothly on the first day.

An Ohio temporary food service license covers an event of no more than five consecutive days and is not renewable. Short rentals of a temporary kitchen for an event often need a temporary license from the local health district.

A mobile food service operator applies to the board of health in the district where its business is headquartered; out-of-state operators are licensed by the district where they first operate. A mobile kitchen brought in from out of state can need licensing from the first Ohio health district it operates in.

• Customer type: commercial or industrial only (restaurants, grocers, healthcare, schools, hospitality, distributors, government). We do not rent to residential customers.
• Power: 220V, single phase, 40 to 60 amps for the 20 ft trailers, with a NEMA plug. Ask your electrician to confirm the circuit at your Columbus site before delivery.
• Placement: a firm, level surface with room for the trailer, its door swing, and the delivery truck. Soft ground, steep slopes, and overhead lines are the usual problems.
• Access: send the gate or door width, any low clearances, and the best approach into the property.
• Permission: if you rent the property, get the owner or manager's approval to place a trailer. For food-safety questions, contact Ohio Department of Health (food safety rules in OAC 3701-21, enforced mainly by local health districts).
• Paperwork: your quote lists the unit, the rental length, delivery, setup, servicing, and minimum terms. An inquiry does not reserve equipment.

Rates are the same nationwide. Rentals start from $1,895 / month for a 12 ft trailer, and the price sheet prints a separate rate for 1-6 days, 8-14 days, 15 days to 1 month, and more than 3 months. See every rate. Delivery to Columbus, setup, servicing, and minimum terms are confirmed in your quote.