Container loading and unloading system

An apparatus mounted to a substantially upwardly-facing bed having a rear edge for loading and unloading a container onto and off of the bed, the container having a floor with first and second openings that face substantially downwardly when the container is in an operable orientation, the first and second openings formed in at least respective first and second corners on a front of the container, the apparatus comprising:

• a) at least one flexible member movably mounted adjacent to the bed;
• b) at least one fastener extending from said at least one flexible member;
• c) a first drive mechanism operatively coupled to said at least one flexible member for driving said at least one fastener between an unloaded position, wherein said at least one fastener is adjacent a rear edge of the bed, and a container-loaded position, wherein said at least one fastener is located adjacent a front of the bed;
• d) at least one lift wedge pivotably mounted to, and protruding rearwardly from, the rear edge of the bed;
• and
• e) a second drive mechanism operatively coupled to said at least one lift wedge for pivoting said at least one lift wedge between a stowed position and a deployed position in which said at least one lift wedge raises the front of the container above the rear edge of the bed and said at least one fastener attaches to at least one of the first and second corners of the container.