Abstract: For use in transferring goods into and from a cargo compartment of a vehicle, trailer, container or the like, a hoist apparatus has a first frame having a pair of opposite side members extending in a first horizontal direction, the I-beams each having a vertical web and horizontal upper and lower flanges. The first frame is supported on rollers beneath the roof of the cargo compartment so as to allow displacement of the first frame in the first horizontal direction between a first, retracted position, in which the first frame is accommodated entirely within the cargo compartment, and a second, extended position, in which the first frame protrudes from the cargo compartment. A second frame or bridge extends horizontally between the opposite side members of the first frame and is supported on rollers on the first frame for movement along the side members.