Container transport system and apparatus

A container transport system comprising,

• a pallet frame having corner ground support legs and a center longitudinal guide rail,
• a steerable transport vehicle having a rear pallet support frame narrower than the lateral spacing of said legs,
• guide means on the vehicle near the rear and lateral center of said pallet support frame adapted to register with said guide rail,
• primary wheels and caster wheels mounted on said vehicle near the rear of the pallet support frame,
• first level changing means on said vehicle for selectively raising and lowering the forward end of said pallet support frame relative to the ground level between a lowered pallet clearing position and a raised pallet engaging position;
• and
• second level changing means on said vehicle for selectively raising and lowering the primary wheels relative to the caster wheels and pallet support frame to responsively move the rear of the pallet support frame between a lowered pallet clearing position whereat only the caster wheels support the rear of the pallet support frame, and a raised pallet engaging position whereat only the primary wheels support the rear of the pallet support frame, whereby when the pallet support frame is in lowered pallet clearing position, the vehicle can be backed to register the guide means with the guide rail and thereby guide the rear of the pallet support frame beneath the pallet frame as the vehicle is backed further to locate the pallet support frame beneath the length of the pallet frame, and whereby the pallet support frame can then be raised into pallet engaging position to lift the pallet legs free of ground contact so that the pallet frame with its load can be transported by the vehicle.