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.
Rhode Island Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Rhode Island. 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 Cumberland, Coventry, North Providence, and South Kingstown and 10 more Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island cities and towns
14 pages: the 5 largest cities, then 9 smaller towns under 10,000 people. Each page has local delivery planning, emergency support, requirements, and routes.
Cities
Largest cities
- Cumberland refrigeration rentals 36,591 people, Providence County
- Coventry refrigeration rentals 35,819 people, Kent County
- North Providence refrigeration rentals 33,902 people, Providence County
- South Kingstown refrigeration rentals 32,025 people, Washington County
- West Warwick refrigeration rentals 31,151 people, Kent County
Smaller cities and towns
- Little Compton 3,557
- Hopkinton 8,400
- Exeter 6,581
- Jamestown 5,488
- New Shoreham 1,404
- Richmond 8,133
- Charlestown 8,036
- West Greenwich 6,683
- Foster 4,493
What drives cold-storage demand in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sits where northern continental and southern subtropical climates meet, so summers are warm to hot and winters are cool with a mix of rain and snow. The record high is 104 F (Providence, 1975) and the record low is -23 F (Greene, 1996). Block Island has a milder oceanic climate.
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.
Hospitals, universities, grocers, and restaurants here often need a trailer that fits a narrow service lane or a shared loading dock.
Weather and hazards
- Hurricane (August to October): The state's East Coast position makes it vulnerable to tropical storms. Damaging storms include the 1938 New England hurricane, Carol (1954), Donna (1960) and Bob (1991). Storm-related outages and flooding can leave restaurants, markets and caterers needing temporary cold storage or a temporary kitchen. Source
- Other (Year round, worst with tropical storms and nor'easters): Rhode Island's flat shoreline is susceptible to storm surge and coastal erosion, a risk that grows as sea levels rise. Coastal food businesses and seafood handlers can face surge damage that disrupts refrigeration and kitchens. Source
- Flood (Spring and with heavy rain events): In 2010, heavy rain pushed the Pawtuxet River to 21 feet, 12 feet above flood stage, flooding much of West Warwick. Riverside kitchens and cold rooms flooded this way can often be out of service for extended periods. Source
Power outages
- Hurricane Sandy (October 2012) left roughly 148,000 Rhode Island National Grid customers without power at the height of the storm, and rural areas waited the longest for restoration. Multi-day outages of this scale exceed what most food businesses can cover with on-site refrigeration. Source
- Block Island, about 9 miles off the mainland, is served by ferries, and the Block Island Wind Farm about 3 miles southeast has operated since December 2016. Island businesses depend on limited ferry capacity for supplies, so equipment failures there can be especially hard to fix quickly. Source
Food and hospitality
- Galilee (Point Judith) is Rhode Island's largest commercial fishing port, with 230 or more vessels berthed and landings that average roughly $47 million a year per the state. Seafood needs continuous cold chain handling at the dock, which creates demand for refrigerated trailers and containers. Source
- Tourism is Rhode Island's second-ranked industry, supporting about 39,000 jobs, with Newport's Gilded Age mansions and the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals as major draws. Tourist-driven restaurants, hotels and event caterers need extra refrigeration and kitchen capacity in peak season. Source
- State agriculture includes nursery stock, vegetables, dairy and eggs, with milk the largest single product at about $4.6 million in 2017 sales. Dairy and egg producers rely on continuous refrigeration, so equipment failures create urgent storage needs. Source
- Block Island has at least 40 restaurants, most closing outside the tourist season, and takes part in commercial aquaculture and kelp farming. Seasonal restaurants and aquaculture operations can need temporary cold storage and kitchen capacity at peak times. Source
- Cumberland Farms, the convenience store chain, is named after the dairy farm business that began in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Convenience and retail food chains depend on refrigerated distribution. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Rhode Island
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Rhode Island, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Food Protection. For emergency information, see Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA).
- RIDOH guidance for food businesses says that if a power outage lasts more than two hours, food cannot be sold, and operators should note the time the outage starts. A short window to restore cold holding makes quick access to temporary refrigeration relevant for operators. Source
- RIDOH advises food retailers to prepare an emergency plan and supplies in advance, and points to its Office of Food Protection for questions about specific foods after an outage. Temporary cold storage is part of a contingency plan that regulators expect operators to think through. Source
- Selling food at a temporary event requires a Mobile Food Service license from RIDOH, and applications are due at least 30 days in advance. Event caterers using a temporary kitchen or food trailer should plan the permit timeline well ahead. Source
- RIDOH says mobile food establishments must follow the RI Food Code and go through plan review and a pre-operational inspection, with a structural plan covering layout, plumbing and equipment. Mobile kitchens and warewashing units are subject to state plan review before use. Source
- Some towns, including Glocester and Charlestown, also require their own event or mobile food permits in addition to state licensing. Local permits can add steps for temporary kitchens placed in individual towns. Source
Main roads
- I-95: Runs southwest to northeast across the state; Hopkinton is the southernmost Rhode Island town on I-95.
- I-295: A partial beltway encircling Providence on the west.
- I-195: Limited-access link from Providence to Cape Cod.
- RI-4: North-south freeway linking Providence and Warwick (via I-95) with suburban and beach communities along Narragansett Bay.
- RI-146: Runs through the Blackstone Valley, linking Providence and I-95 with Worcester, Massachusetts.
- RI-403: Links Route 4 with Quonset Point.
- US-1: Runs through South Kingstown, alongside Routes 1A, 2, 108, 110 and 138.
- RI-138: Jamestown's only state highway, connecting to North Kingstown and Newport via the Jamestown Verrazzano and Claiborne Pell Newport bridges.
Events that raise demand
- Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals: Held annually at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. Large festival crowds depend on temporary food service and cold storage.
- Washington County Fair: The state's largest fair, held in Richmond since 1970. Fair vendors typically need temporary refrigeration and warewashing.
- Charlestown Seafood Festival (first week of August): Run by the local chamber of commerce and named a Top 100 Event in America in 1988, 1996 and 2008. A seafood festival needs cold storage for perishable product and temporary kitchens.
- Block Island Race Week and Fourth of July (July): Block Island hosts a week-long sailboat race and a Fourth of July parade with a beach fireworks display on July 3. Summer crowds on the island strain restaurant refrigeration and kitchen capacity.
- Cumberlandfest (second weekend of August): A carnival with live entertainment and fireworks at Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland. Town festivals often rely on temporary food prep and cold storage.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Rhode Island
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.
Rhode Island in the Northeast
Service is available across the whole region. See the Northeast page, or go to a neighboring state:
- Connecticut refrigeration rentals
- Delaware refrigeration rentals
- Maine refrigeration rentals
- Maryland refrigeration rentals
- Massachusetts refrigeration rentals
- New Hampshire refrigeration rentals
- New Jersey refrigeration rentals
- New York refrigeration rentals
- Pennsylvania refrigeration rentals
- Vermont refrigeration rentals
- All 50 states
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 Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Rhode Island. We list pages for Cumberland, Coventry, North Providence, South Kingstown, West Warwick, and Little Compton and 8 more cities and towns. If your site is elsewhere in the state, call and we will confirm.
Can I rent a refrigerated container in Rhode Island for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island?
Yes. When a Rhode Island kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Food Protection (https://health.ri.gov/food-safety) 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.