Tennessee Refrigeration Trailer Rentals

What drives cold-storage demand in Tennessee

Weather and hazards

• Tornado (Mostly spring (large outbreaks recorded in March and April)): Tennessee averages about 30 tornadoes a year. April 2011 brought a state-record 93 tornadoes, and the March 2000 outbreak caused 25 deaths. Tornado damage can knock out power and spoil food in restaurants, grocers and warehouses, which can create a need for emergency cold storage or a temporary kitchen. Source
• Flood (Year-round; heavy events in spring and late summer): Nashville received 13.6 inches of rain on May 1-2, 2010, and McEwen set a 24-hour state record of 20.7 inches in August 2021. Remnants of Hurricane Helene caused 18 deaths in September 2024. Floods can close kitchens and cut power for days, which can create a need for temporary refrigeration and warewashing while a facility is repaired. Source
• Winter storm (December to February): A February 1994 ice storm left about 770,000 utility customers without power. In February 2021, West Tennessee saw nine straight days below freezing. Ice storms often cause multi-day outages that can threaten stored food and halt commercial kitchen operations. Source
• Earthquake (Year-round): West Tennessee, including Memphis and Haywood County, lies on the edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and the Memphis-Arkansas I-55 bridge sits within it. A major quake could disrupt utilities and distribution across the region, which can create demand for emergency cold storage and temporary food service. Source
• Drought (Late summer to fall): Droughts are common despite abundant rain; a 2016 drought contributed to the Gatlinburg wildfires, which killed at least 14 people and destroyed more than 1,600 structures. Wildfire evacuations and area closures in tourism towns can disrupt restaurants and lodging and often lead to temporary feeding operations. Source

Power outages

• On December 23-24, 2022, TVA ordered rolling blackouts during Winter Storm Elliott after losing roughly 6,700 MW of generation. It was the first time in the utility's history it took that step. Short, repeated outages can interrupt walk-in coolers and kitchens across the TVA region with little warning. Source
• TVA supplies power to about ten million people through 153 local power companies across Tennessee and parts of six neighboring states. Because one wholesale supplier serves most of the state, grid emergencies can affect many local utilities at once. Source
• A February 1994 ice storm cost about $500 million in damage and cut power to roughly 770,000 utility customers in Tennessee. Widespread ice-related outages can last days and can force food businesses to find temporary cold storage. Source

Food and hospitality

• Tennessee has the eighth-most farms in the U.S.; beef cattle and broilers lead livestock, and soybeans, corn, cotton and tomatoes are major crops. Harvest and livestock processing peaks can create short-term cold storage needs at packers and growers. Source
• Food and drink production is Tennessee's second-largest manufacturing sector, with brands such as Bush's Beans, Jack Daniel's, Little Debbie and Mountain Dew made in the state. Food manufacturers and co-packers often need temporary refrigerated capacity during plant outages, expansions or seasonal peaks. Source
• FedEx runs its global air hub at Memphis International Airport, and the Port of Memphis is the fifth-busiest inland water port in the U.S. A large logistics base means many perishable shipments pass through the state and can be held in temporary refrigerated trailers. Source
• Chattanooga opened the world's first Coca-Cola bottling plant in 1899, and food and beverage production remains a major industry in the city. Beverage and food plants rely on cold chains that can be interrupted by outages or equipment failures. Source