An apparatus for loading and unloading a plurality of shipping containers into a carrier (200). The containers are arranged according to a predetermined pattern on a fixed staging unit (140) of the apparatus. A first conveyor (160) of the apparatus receives and transports the arranged containers from the fixed staging unit (140). The first conveyor (160) is movable horizontally. A second conveyor (180) of the apparatus receives the containers from the first conveyor and transports the containers into the carrier (200. The second conveyor (180) is movable horizontally and vertically. A control unit (300) of the apparatus controls transportation of the containers from the second conveyor (180) into the carrier (200) when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position.