where to rent a reefer trailer? it's been mission impossible

Desert Trailer Systems - Phoenix, AZ

 

Nobody knows what part of the country you live in...because everyone has a bad habit of not filling in their profile....then asks a "region specific" question.
Have you talked to Brown National Lease? Are they even in your region?
<---------I'm from Iowa.

 

Did you try plm? That always seemed to be the only place I could find one when we needed an extra when I was a trans manager in Atlanta. If they won't rent you one direct try talking to ideallease. they dont have trailers but have sources such as plm they get them thru for their customers. So you would end up with a plm trailer but billed thru ideal. Not sure what either of these two requirements are. We already had am account at both at both companies I managed at.

 

Reefers are expensive to rent or lease. They will charge for miles ran, hours on the unit, & that's above whatever monthly rental fee. Carrying physical damage on it. You're better off buying one imo.

 

Fleet Equipment- Memphis,TN

H&P Leasing - Flowood,MS

Both rent to Owner Operators. Both require you to fill out a credit app.

 

Try compass in Illinois

 

You're probably not going to get around the business experience requirement on any commercial equipment rental or lease. It helps if you also have established business credit with other trade accounts. The time to set up these accounts is ahead of time, not when you need one right now. Also, expect it to take a few days to get an account set up somewhere.

I explored this about a year ago. I had one going in the shop for a few weeks for a major repair and wanted a service replacement. I have 6 yrs in business and strong business credit references. The only one local that would rent to me was Idealease and they didn't have any units available. XtraLease won't talk to you unless you're placing a million dollar order. I think Penske told me they quit offering reefers for rent, although they'd do a lease. Ryder is dry van only.

There is one place PennStro I've seen along I-81 near Shippensburg, PA that says they carry reefers, but I never called or asked for a quote. Seems like everything on the lot were either flats or dry vans. Might be another place like that up near Carlisle if memory serves. Bowman also does them, again I haven't called them for a quote. Just don't be surprised if they aren't offering reefers for rent, but only for multi year lease. If that works for you, get a quote. But also consider there's 100 finance companies out there that will do the same or better deal for you, and you get to spec the trailer from the dealer and get exactly what you want just like a straight purchase.

That said, I see a few on the road with rental company names and Illinois area codes. I always figured they were hooked in with the white volvo crowd and not really retail rental outlets. As-in, just another business construct to "serve" only themselves or close business partners, and take some finance or price discounts or tax breaks they wouldn't ordinarily get with a straight purchase or lease. I never bothered to write down names/numbers and test that theory, however.