Container transport system and method

A container transport system, comprising:

• a powered hand truck;
• a vehicle, comprising:
• a flat bed having a forward end and a ramp end opposite the forward end;
• a downward and rearward sloping ramp extending from the ramp end of the flat bed, the ramp having a rearward end;
• a powered hand truck receptacle disposed in the flat bed of the vehicle, adjacent the ramp end thereof, and defining a horizontal floor surface, the powered hand truck receptacle being dimensioned and configured to support the powered hand truck, wherein the floor surface has a rearward end being contiguous with the rearward end of the ramp, and an opposite forward end that is aligned with the ramp end, whereby the plane of the floor surface is essentially parallel to the flat bed;
• and
• a downward and rearward sloping ramp extension hingedly attached to the rearward end of the ramp;
• and
• first and second container support dolly sets.

A method of level loading a portable storage unit on a flat bed for transporting, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a powered hand truck having a forklift height adjustment mechanism with a pair of laterally spaced apart fork tines extending from the forklift height adjustment mechanism, and a control system;
• (b) providing a flatbed vehicle, the vehicle including:
• i) a flat bed having a forward end and a ramp end opposite the forward end;
• ii) a powered hand truck receptacle disposed in the flat bed of the vehicle, adjacent the ramp end thereof, and defining a horizontal floor surface, the powered hand truck receptacle being dimensioned and configured to support the powered hand truck, wherein the floor surface has a rearward end being contiguous with the rearward end of the ramp, and an opposite forward end that is aligned with the ramp end, whereby the plane of the floor surface is essentially parallel to the flat bed;
• iii) a downward and rearward sloping ramp extending from the ramp end of the flat bed, the ramp having a rearward end;
• iv) a downward and rearward sloping ramp extension hingedly attached to the rearward end of the ramp;
• and
• (c) providing first and second container support dolly sets;
• (d) removing the powered hand truck from the powered hand truck receptacle;
• (e) installing the container support dolly sets to one end of a portable storage unit;
• (f) lifting the end of the portable storage unit opposite the dolly sets, using the powered hand truck to an essentially horizontal position;
• (g) maneuvering the powered hand truck and positioning the end of the portable storage unit having the dolly sets installed thereon at the ramp of the vehicle;
• (h) pushing the portable storage unit up the ramp and onto a flat bed of the vehicle, using the powered hand truck;
• (i) adjusting the forklift height adjustment mechanism of the powered hand truck to keep the portable storage unit level, horizontal orientation as the portable storage unit moves up the ramp of the flat bed;
• and
• (j) positioning the end of the portable storage unit having the dolly sets installed thereon, adjacent to the forward end of the flat bed of the vehicle.