Distribution system

A transfer method, comprising the steps of:

• aligning a container on a chassis adapted to being hauled by a motorized vehicle with a stand-alone container buffer, said container buffer comprised of:
• a first and a second container stand proximal to and displaced from one another by a first distance;
• a third and a fourth container stand proximal to and displaced from one another by the first distance, and aligned with and separated from the first and second container stands, respectively, by a second distance that is greater than the first distance, so as to define a containment cavity;
• said container stands including shelves, wherein the shelves are movable from an extended position configured to support the container, to a retracted position configured to allow unobstructed travel of the container in and out of the containment cavity;
• raising the container, with a support structure comprising an elevator connected to the chassis, from a resting position to a lifted position above the chassis;
• entering the containment cavity of the container buffer while in the lifted position;
• lowering the support structure from the lifted position so as to position the container directly on to the shelves in the extended position, in order to allow the chassis to exit with the support structure in the resting position while allowing the container alone to remain on the shelves without any support structure, therebetween;
• wherein the elevator is comprised of:
• a first and a second lifting cylinder located on opposite sides of the chassis proximal to a front end of the chassis;
• a third and a fourth lifting cylinder located on opposite sides of the chassis proximal to a rear end of the chassis;
• a first transverse support bar extending between the first and the second lifting cylinders;
• and
• a second transverse support bar extending between the third and the fourth lifting cylinders.