Abstract: Apparatus for stacking layers of loads, e.g. on a pallet, comprises a stacking carriage and a transfer carriage each independently movable vertically on a main frame, so that the transfer carriage can receive each layer of loads at a low level and raise the layer to the level of the stacking carriage, the layer being then transferred to a stripping apron on the stacking carriage and deposited onto the stack of loads. The apparatus can be modified to act as a de-stacker for removing layers of loads successively from a stack, or to enable the apparatus to be operated selectively as a stacker or de-stacker.