An apparatus for loading shipping containers onto and off of a truck or trailer bed. The apparatus includes rotatably mounted drive chains disposed in a laterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed. The drive chains are driven by a hydraulic motor on the bed. Lift spikes are rigidly mounted the drive chains and extend perpendicularly therefrom for engaging and pulling a container onto the bed. Lift wedges are pivotably mounted to the rear edge of the bed and are rotatably driven by hydraulic rams for lifting the front edge of a container onto the lift spikes. Container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four corners of the bed and each include a locking pin positioned above the bed coupled to a pneumatic ram mounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the locking pins laterally, between a locked position and an unlocked position.