Vermont Refrigeration Trailer Rentals

What drives cold-storage demand in Vermont

Weather and hazards

• Flood (Summer and fall, plus spring thaw): Tropical Storm Irene (August 2011) dropped 3 to 7 inches of rain in under 18 hours, causing the worst flooding in southern and eastern Vermont since 1927. The July 9 to 11, 2023 flood brought 4 to 9 inches of rain, with a record 12.1 inches in Montpelier for July. Flooded kitchens and cold rooms, or lost power and road access, can often create a need for temporary refrigeration and a temporary kitchen. Source
• Ice storm (December to March): The January 1998 ice storm brought 1 to 2 inches of ice, dairy losses and widespread tree and utility damage across the Northeast, costing about $2 billion. Ice-storm outages can often last long enough to threaten stored milk and food. Source
• Winter storm (November to April): Nor'easters can bring heavy snow, sleet or freezing rain and strong winds, and in February 2023 Arctic air pushed wind chills in Burlington below -40 F. Severe winter weather can interrupt power and deliveries for food businesses. Source
• Drought (Summer to fall): Vermont recorded 71 weeks of moderate drought or worse during 2020 to 2021, and farmers had to buy feed as Lake Champlain ran low. Drought stress on farms and food producers can raise reliance on stored product. Source
• Heat wave (June to August): Days at or above 87 F averaged 19 per year in 2020 to 2024 versus a long-term average of 13.1. Hotter summers put more load on refrigeration and can increase demand for extra cold storage at events. Source

Power outages

• Green Mountain Power, which serves roughly 280,000 customers, had restored about 21,000 customers by July 11, 2023 during the flooding, and Washington Electric Cooperative reported nearly 500 outages. Flood-related outages can interrupt cold storage and kitchens in affected towns. Source
• A local newspaper noted that the July 2023 storms did not cause the widespread power outages that Tropical Storm Irene did in 2011, which came with high winds. Tropical remnants can combine flooding and wind-driven outages. Source
• The January 1998 ice storm brought heavy utility damage and dairy losses in Vermont. Prolonged ice-storm outages put farm milk cooling and commercial refrigeration at risk. Source

Food and hospitality

• A 2025 Vermont Agency of Agriculture report put the annual economic impact of the dairy industry at $5.4 billion, with over 480 dairy farms and over 156 processors. Milk, cheese and yogurt depend on continuous refrigeration from farm to processor. Source
• Vermont produces more than 41 percent of the nation's maple syrup according to a state annual report, and set a record of 1,990,000 gallons in 2016. Maple producers and packers need storage and food-safe operations in late winter and spring. Source
• The state tourism department estimates that 2.5 million visitors spend about $500 million during the fall foliage season, and calls fall Vermont's biggest draw. Fall peaks strain restaurants and caterers, which can need extra cold storage and warewashing. Source
• Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory is in Waterbury, and C&S Wholesale Grocers was Brattleboro's largest employer in 2011 with about 1,200 employees. Ice cream makers and grocery distributors require large-scale refrigerated and frozen storage. Source
• Waterbury hosts Ben & Jerry's factory tours and state office complexes, and its tourism peaks in October foliage season. Visitor-heavy attractions concentrate food service and cold-chain needs. Source