Dry Van
- Length
- 53′ Enclosed
- Capacity
- Up to 45,000 lb
Ideal for general freight, palletized goods, and retail or e-commerce distribution — weatherproof and secure, no special handling required.
See Dry Van Details →Reefer
Reefer Rental & Leasing in Atlanta
Reefer trailer rental and leasing in Atlanta: 53-ft temperature-controlled trailers for food, beverage, and pharma freight, rented by the day or leased.
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What It's For
Common reefer loads.
Ideal for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical distribution where temperature integrity is non-negotiable.
A reefer trailer is a fully insulated, refrigerated trailer built to keep freight inside a set temperature range for the entire haul — the trailer you need any time the cold chain can't be broken between pickup and delivery. Metro Atlanta's produce, beverage, and food-distribution volume keeps steady demand for reefer rental and reefer leasing across the region, from a single seasonal produce run to a standing lease for a dedicated cold-chain route.
Like a dry van, a standard reefer runs about 53 feet long, but it's insulated and carries its own diesel-powered refrigeration unit mounted at the nose of the trailer. That unit holds a set point anywhere from well below freezing up to a mild 70°F, and most units log the temperature automatically so you have a record after the fact.
- Fresh produce and perishable groceries
- Frozen foods
- Pharmaceuticals and temperature-sensitive medical supplies
- Floral and other perishable retail goods
- Beverage distribution that needs climate control
- Seasonal or holiday-volume cold-chain freight
Need a reefer? Get matched with a provider.
Find My TrailerRent or Lease
Two ways to get a reefer.
Both options get you the same refrigerated trailer — the difference is how long you need it and who handles upkeep on the refrigeration unit. Here's how reefer rental compares to a reefer lease.
Rent
Short-term reefer rental fits a seasonal produce run, a one-off cold shipment, or a holiday-volume spike — situations where leasing a unit year-round wouldn't make sense. Rentals are billed for the period you actually need cold-chain capacity, not a standing commitment.
Lease
A reefer lease usually comes with maintenance built in, which matters more here than with a dry van — the diesel refrigeration unit is the part most likely to need service, and a lease keeps that off your plate. It's the better fit for a dedicated cold-chain route running regularly.
Temperature Ranges
Reefer set points by freight type.
The set point comes from the shipper, not the trailer. A reefer holds one steady temperature for the whole trip, and the right number depends on what's inside. These are the general ranges carriers run into most often.
| Typical range | What to know | |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen foods | 0°F or colder | Frozen food is held at 0°F or below. Ice cream and some seafood ship colder, often -10°F to -20°F. |
| Fresh meat and poultry | About 28°F to 34°F | Poultry can't drop below 26°F and still be sold as fresh, so these loads run just above that line. |
| Dairy and chilled foods | About 33°F to 40°F | Food-safety rules call for refrigerated food at 41°F or below. Most chilled loads run a few degrees under it. |
| Fresh produce | 32°F to 60°F, by commodity | Leafy greens and berries ship near 32°F to 36°F. Tomatoes, bananas, and potatoes ship warmer and can be damaged by cold. Check mixed loads for temperature and ethylene compatibility. |
| Pharmaceuticals | 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) for refrigerated product | Pharma shippers commonly require continuous mode, a documented pre-cool, and a temperature record for the full trip. Room-temperature product also moves in reefers to keep it out of Georgia summer heat. |
The Reefer Unit
How the refrigeration unit works.
The unit on the nose of the trailer is a small diesel engine driving a refrigeration system. Four things about it matter on every load.
Fuel
The unit burns diesel from its own tank, separate from the tractor's. A long summer haul, or a trailer sitting at a dock with the unit running, goes through it faster than people expect. Check the level before you roll and plan stops around it.
Run hours
The hour meter tracks how long the unit has run. Service intervals are based on those hours, and some rental and lease agreements account for them too, so write the reading down at pickup and at return.
Continuous vs. start-stop
Continuous mode keeps the unit and airflow running the whole trip, which holds the tightest temperature band and is standard for produce and pharma. Start-stop (Cycle-Sentry on Thermo King units) shuts off at set point and restarts as needed, which saves fuel on frozen loads.
Pre-cooling and pulp temps
For most loads, pre-cool the empty trailer to set point before loading. A reefer holds temperature; it isn't built to pull warm product down. Take pulp temperatures on produce at the dock and note anything out of range on the bill of lading before you sign.
Reefer Specs
What's different about the trailer itself.
A standard reefer is 53 feet long and 102 inches wide on the outside, the same footprint as a dry van. The walls, roof, and floor are insulated, so interior width and height run a few inches less than a dry van's, and the unit plus insulation makes the trailer heavier, which trims payload.
- Air chute: a fabric duct along the ceiling that carries cold air from the unit toward the rear doors
- Grooved or ducted floor: channels that let return air flow back under the pallets to the unit
- Floor drains, so the trailer can be washed out between food loads
- Door seals and, on many units, strip curtains that hold temperature when the doors open
- A controller that logs temperature and can download a trip record
- Multi-temperature units with movable bulkheads exist for mixed frozen and chilled loads; ask if you need one
Load for airflow. Keep pallets off the front wall, leave room under the ceiling for the chute to blow over the load, and don't block the floor channels. Air that can't circulate can't hold temperature.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term
Reefer rental vs. reefer lease, in detail.
The trailer is the same either way. What changes is who carries the upkeep on the refrigeration unit and how the costs land.
| Reefer rental | Reefer lease | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A seasonal produce run, a holiday spike, or covering a unit that's in the shop | A dedicated cold-chain route or a customer contract that runs all year |
| Typical commitment | Day-to-day or week-to-week | Usually 12 months or more |
| Reefer unit service | Generally handled by the provider during the rental; report alarms and faults right away | Often built into the lease. Confirm what counts as routine service and what counts as damage |
| Fuel | You keep the reefer tank fueled while the trailer is in your hands | You fuel it; fuel isn't typically part of a lease |
| Temperature records | Confirm the controller can download a trip record | Same, plus agree on who keeps the data |
Not sure which fits your freight? Tell us the commodity, the lanes, and how long you need cold capacity and we'll match you with a rental or a lease that covers it.
Pickup Checklist
What to check before you hook up to a reefer.
- Fuel level in the reefer tank
- Hour meter reading, written down
- No active alarm codes on the controller
- Unit starts and pulls the empty trailer down to set point
- Door seals and gaskets intact, doors closing tight
- Air chute in place and not torn
- Floor channels and drains clear and clean
- Tires, lights, brakes, and a current annual inspection decal
Photograph any damage before you leave the lot. A torn chute or a bad door seal is much easier to sort out at pickup than after a claim.
Atlanta Cold Chain
Why reefer capacity stays busy around Atlanta.
Georgia is one of the country's largest poultry-producing states, and a lot of that product moves through metro Atlanta on its way to grocery and food-service distribution. Add Georgia produce coming north on I-75 in spring and summer, beverage and food-service distribution centers, and cold-storage buildings along the I-75 corridor south of the city, and reefer trailers are working most of the year.
The I-75 and I-285 area south of the airport is the center of it. Forest Park is home to the Atlanta State Farmers Market, one of the largest wholesale produce markets of its kind, and McDonough has NewCold's automated warehouse campus serving Conagra Brands, where NewCold has announced its first frozen facility. When produce season and holiday food volume overlap, short-term reefers tend to get harder to find, so it pays to ask early. For local detail, see reefer rental in Forest Park and reefer rental in McDonough.
Trailer Types
Dry Van, Reefer, Flatbed — Rent or Lease.
Reefer
- Length
- 53′ Refrigerated
- Control
- Temperature-Controlled
Ideal for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical distribution where temperature integrity is non-negotiable.
You're viewing this trailerFlatbed
- Length
- 48–53′ Open Deck
- Capacity
- Up to 48,000 lb
Ideal for oversized loads, construction materials, and machinery — freight that doesn't fit inside an enclosed trailer.
See Flatbed Details →By Area
Reefer rental by area.
- Reefer Rentals in Austell
- Reefer Rentals in Braselton
- Reefer Rentals in Calhoun
- Reefer Rentals in Cartersville
- Reefer Rentals in Conyers
- Reefer Rentals in Covington
- Reefer Rentals in Douglasville
- Reefer Rentals in Fairburn
- Reefer Rentals in Forest Park
- Reefer Rentals in Locust Grove
- Reefer Rentals in McDonough
- Reefer Rentals in Newnan
- Reefer Rentals in Stockbridge
- Reefer Rentals in Union City
- Reefer Rentals in Winder
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Reefer Rentals in Atlanta, Answered.
Does a reefer trailer need a driver to babysit the temperature?
No — the refrigeration unit runs on its own diesel engine and holds a set temperature automatically. Most units also let you check the temperature log after the fact.
Can I rent a reefer for just one seasonal run?
Yes — short-term reefer rental is common for seasonal produce or holiday-volume runs where leasing a unit year-round wouldn't make sense.
What temperature range can a reefer trailer hold?
Reefer units typically run from well below freezing up to a mild 70°F, covering everything from deep-frozen to just-chilled freight.
Is reefer trailer maintenance included with a lease?
It depends on the lease structure — the refrigeration unit is the part most likely to need service, and some leases build that maintenance in. We'll clarify exactly what's covered before you commit to anything.
Can a reefer trailer haul frozen and fresh product on the same route?
Yes — the unit's temperature can be set and adjusted, so the same trailer can run a frozen load one day and a chilled load the next.
Can I get a reefer trailer for pharmaceutical or medical freight?
Yes. Providers we work with offer reefer trailers for pharmaceutical and other temperature-sensitive medical freight where the cold chain can't be broken.
Can a smaller carrier get a reefer trailer?
Providers work with smaller established fleets and owner-operators, and each one sets its own credit and approval standards. Most also require at least two years in business, so a brand-new operation will have limited options. We can check your request against several reefer providers whose requirements differ.
Can I rent a reefer trailer, not just lease one?
Yes — reefer rental is available for a single cold shipment or a short-term run, alongside standing leases for ongoing cold-chain freight.
Do I need to know the exact temperature setting before I rent?
It helps but isn't required upfront — tell us the general range (frozen, chilled, or a specific set point) and we'll confirm exact specs with the provider before you commit.
How is a reefer trailer different from a refrigerated truck?
A reefer trailer is pulled by a separate tractor and can be dropped at a dock while the tractor keeps moving, unlike a self-contained refrigerated truck — the same distinction as a dry van versus a box truck.
What's the difference between continuous and start-stop mode on a reefer?
In continuous mode the unit runs the whole trip and keeps air moving through the load, which holds a tighter temperature band. Most produce and pharmaceutical shippers call for it. Start-stop mode (Thermo King calls it Cycle-Sentry) shuts the engine off once the trailer reaches set point and restarts it when the temperature drifts, which saves fuel and suits frozen loads. Run whatever mode the shipper's instructions specify.
Should a reefer trailer be pre-cooled before loading?
Yes, for most loads. Run the unit down to set point before the trailer backs into the door so the walls and floor aren't adding heat to the product. A reefer is built to hold temperature, not to pull warm product down, so the freight needs to be at its required temperature when it goes on.
Who fuels the reefer unit on a rental?
The refrigeration unit has its own diesel tank, separate from the tractor's. Plan on keeping it fueled while the trailer is in your hands; the level is usually noted at pickup and return. We'll confirm the exact fuel terms with the provider before you commit.