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.
Texas Refrigeration Trailer Rentals
Rental refrigeration is available throughout Texas. 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 Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin and 16 more Texas 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.
Texas 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
- Houston refrigeration rentals 2,314,157 people, Fort Bend County
- San Antonio refrigeration rentals 1,495,295 people, Bexar County
- Dallas refrigeration rentals 1,302,868 people, Collin County
- Austin refrigeration rentals 979,882 people, Bastrop County
- Fort Worth refrigeration rentals 978,468 people, Denton County
What drives cold-storage demand in Texas
Summers are hot statewide, and the humid Piney Woods and Gulf Coast make the heat feel more intense, with record highs near 120 F in the west. Winters are mild on the coast and in the south but coldest in the Panhandle, where Arctic blasts bring freezing temperatures and snow. Texas averages about 139 tornadoes a year, mostly in spring.
The hottest stretch runs june to September. The coldest runs december to February. Both extremes strain commercial refrigeration, and both bring calls for emergency cold storage.
Restaurants, hotels, grocers, and large event venues often rent refrigeration trailers when equipment fails during peak heat.
Weather and hazards
- Hurricane (June to November): Hurricane Beryl came ashore near Matagorda on July 8, 2024, and Hurricane Harvey hit as a Category 4 in August 2017 with more than 40 inches of rain in many areas. Storm-driven outages and flooding can leave restaurants, grocers and food warehouses without refrigeration, which often creates a need for emergency cold storage. Source
- Flood (Spring through fall): Harvey was described by Harris County flood officials as the third 500-year flood in three years, and over 17,000 rescues were made. Flooded kitchens and warewashing areas can force food businesses to rely on temporary kitchens and dishwashing capacity while they repair. Source
- Winter storm (December to February): The February 2021 winter storms left over 5 million people without power at the peak and disrupted water service for more than 12 million. Extended freezing-weather outages and boil-water advisories can disrupt walk-in coolers and make commercial dishwashing impractical, which can call for temporary refrigeration and warewashing. Source
- Wildfire (Late winter to spring, and during drought): The Smokehouse Creek Fire began on February 26, 2024 in the Panhandle, burned about 1.06 million acres and killed an estimated 15,000 cattle; it was started by downed power lines. Large fires can disrupt rural power and displace ranch and plant operations, which can create demand for temporary cold storage and field kitchens for crews. Source
- Tornado (April to June): Texas averages about 139 tornadoes a year, more than any other state, most often in North Texas and the Panhandle. Severe storms and tornadoes can cut power to food facilities for days and damage kitchens, which can lead to a need for temporary cold storage or kitchens. Source
Power outages
- In February 2021 ERCOT ordered rotating outages and the grid came within about 4 minutes 37 seconds of total failure; more than 5 million people lost power at the peak. Prolonged grid emergencies can leave commercial refrigeration without power and often drive demand for independent, generator-backed cold storage. Source
- Hurricane Beryl (July 2024) knocked out power to more than 2.7 million customers, about 2.2 million of them CenterPoint customers in the Houston region, with outages lasting days. Multi-day post-storm outages can spoil large amounts of refrigerated inventory, which can create a need for temporary refrigerated trailers. Source
- Hurricane Harvey in 2017 left roughly 336,000 people in Texas without electricity. Storm outages combined with flooding can strand food businesses without both power and working kitchens. Source
Food and hospitality
- Texas leads the nation in cattle, usually with more than 16 million head, and is also a large producer of rice, onions, watermelons, cantaloupes and Rio Grande Valley grapefruit. Livestock and produce handling depends on cold chain storage, and harvest peaks can create demand for temporary refrigerated capacity. Source
- The Port of Houston ranks first in the U.S. for international waterborne tonnage and second for total cargo tonnage. Port and distribution activity often needs overflow refrigerated storage for imported and exported perishables. Source
- The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to 23 Fortune 500 companies, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the world's busiest transportation hubs. A major air and rail distribution hub concentrates food distributors and caterers that can need extra refrigerated or kitchen capacity. Source
- San Antonio draws about 32 million visitors a year to attractions such as the River Walk, the Alamo, SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Tourism-heavy hospitality operations can need temporary kitchens and dishwashing during peak seasons or renovations. Source
- Aransas Pass is home to a shrimp fleet that sails from Conn Brown Harbor, and Texas also ranks among the top wine-producing states. Seafood and beverage producers rely on cold storage near the coast, particularly around hurricane season. Source
Rules, agencies, and roads in Texas
We rent to commercial and industrial customers only. Before you place temporary refrigeration or a temporary kitchen in Texas, check local rules. The state agency to start with is Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Retail Food Establishments program. For emergency information, see Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM).
- Retail food establishments in Texas are regulated under the Texas Food Establishment Rules, 25 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 228, which incorporate the federal Food Code; DSHS publishes the rules and guidance. Any temporary kitchen or storage used by a food business needs to meet these state rules, so confirm requirements with the permitting authority before setting up. Source
- DSHS defines a temporary food establishment as one operating no more than 14 consecutive days at a single event; a single-event permit is valid 14 days and a multiple-event permit two years. A temporary kitchen set up for an event or short emergency use generally falls under this permit category. Source
- DSHS lists Mobile Food Vendors as a separate permit category and notes that operations inspected and permitted by a city, county or public health district are exempt from DSHS permitting. Mobile kitchens are often permitted locally, so customers should check with the city or county health authority where the unit will operate. Source
- DSHS keeps a registry of local food establishment ordinances, showing that many Texas cities and counties, such as McKinney, adopt their own food establishment regulations alongside the state rules. Local rules can add requirements for temporary or mobile setups, so local plan review or permit checks often apply. Source
- Federal CDC guidance says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe about 4 hours without power, a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half full), and perishable food above 40 F should be discarded. These time limits are why food businesses often seek backup refrigeration quickly during an extended outage. Source
Main roads
- I-10: The longest Texas Interstate, about 877 miles from El Paso to Orange via San Antonio and Houston; flooding and hurricanes have closed the Houston-Beaumont section.
- I-20: Runs east-west from the Louisiana line near Waskom through Dallas, Fort Worth and the Midland-Odessa area.
- I-27: Short route from Lubbock north to Amarillo, where it meets I-40.
- I-30: Runs from Fort Worth through Dallas to the Arkansas line at Texarkana.
- I-35: Runs from Laredo to the Oklahoma line and splits at Hillsboro into I-35E (Dallas) and I-35W (Fort Worth), reuniting in Denton.
- I-40: Crosses the Panhandle from the New Mexico line at Glenrio to the Oklahoma line near Shamrock, passing Amarillo.
- I-45: Runs from Galveston through Houston to Dallas.
Events that raise demand
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (March): Described as the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world, it drew a record 2,735,695 attendees in 2025 and includes a barbecue contest with over 250 teams. Huge crowds and food vendors can create demand for temporary refrigeration, kitchens and warewashing around the venue.
- State Fair of Texas (Late September to mid-October): The State Fair of Texas is held annually at Fair Park in Dallas over roughly three weeks. Large fair food operations can need extra cold storage and temporary kitchen capacity.
- South by Southwest (SXSW) (March): SXSW is an annual film, interactive media and music festival in Austin, alongside the Austin City Limits Festival. Festival catering and pop-up food service can use temporary kitchens, cold storage and dishwashing trailers.
- San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (February): The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is a major annual event in the city, which also hosts the Alamo Bowl. Stock show and bowl-game crowds can raise short-term demand for temporary food service and cold storage.
Refrigeration equipment to rent in Texas
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.
Texas in the Southwest
Service is available across the whole region. See the Southwest 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 Texas.
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 Texas?
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 Texas cities do you serve?
Service is nationwide, so we serve commercial and industrial customers across Texas. We list pages for Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and Sanger 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 Texas for a long project?
Yes. A 20 ft or 40 ft refrigerated container suits renovations and seasonal peaks in Texas. 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 Texas?
Yes. When a Texas kitchen is down, we rent mobile kitchens and commercial dishwashing trailers to pair with refrigeration.
Who regulates food safety in Texas?
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Retail Food Establishments program (https://www.dshs.texas.gov/retail-food-establishments) 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.