Abstract: A pallet lifter for use with a crane enables lifting of materials on a pallet, and then unloading of the materials at one or more locations, such as on a roof of a building. The pallet lifter may include a cage or a retainer frame that contains the material, with a pusher of the lifter used to push out individual portions of the materials. The pusher may unload the material from the top of the pallet of material, such as by sliding it down a ramp. The pusher alternatively may unload the material from the bottom of the stack on the pallet, by pushing it through a slot in the cage. For top-unloading embodiments the pallet lifter may include an assembly for changing the position of the pusher relative to the frame and the pallet, for example moving the pusher downward layer by later as the materials are unloaded.