As a small business owner, efficiency and productivity are paramount to the success of your operations. One essential tool that can significantly impact the time you (and your team members) spend on tasks is a high-quality hand truck.
Similar to a dolly or cart, hand trucks are two-wheeled platforms—and while they may seem low-tech compared to some modern systems, they've been essential tools for material handling for hundreds of years. But with a variety of hand truck options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your specific needs. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at 6 of the most common hand truck types to help you make the right decision for your business.
Hand Truck Types
From folding hand trucks to specialty options designed to carry large appliances, there's a hand truck for every application, industry, and job. Here are some of the most common types you'll encounter and how they're used.
| Convertible Hand Trucks | Appliance Hand Trucks | Folding Hand Trucks |
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Designed for versatility, these convertible hand trucks can transition from a two-wheeled hand truck into a four-wheeled dolly with a larger platform that can support as much as 800 lbs. They're great for transporting larger items that may not fit on two wheels, while their main disadvantage is that the additional parts add weight and bulk to the hand truck. |
Appliance hand trucks (sometimes also called dollies) are specialized hand trucks for moving large appliances. With weight capacities as high as 1,200 lbs. and heavy-duty hardware for securing items, they're excellent tools for delivering and moving refrigerators, washing machines, and other heavy equipment. | Designed to make the most of limited space, these folding hand trucks can fit in small spaces for storage when not in use. They're not ideal for handling the heavy loads required by industrial work, but can be useful for anything from residential moving to smaller truck deliveries. |
| Motorized Hand Trucks | Drum Hand Trucks | Tilt Hand Trucks |
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| While hand trucks may seem like low-tech options, these motorized versions bring the hand truck into the modern era while helping you move large, heavy loads with relative ease. Optional features even include throttles, brakes, and technology for climbing the stairs when an elevator isn't available. Motorized hand trucks may also carry as much as 3,500 lbs. | Drum hand trucks (or drum dollies) are designed to support and move cylindrical items, such as oil drums, barrels, kegs, and other large round containers. These specialized transports are often used in manufacturing as well as in restaurants and breweries. | Featuring a more ergonomic design that's great for handling heavy or bulky items, tilt hand trucks feature two casters opposite the two larger wheels to support items as you wheel them from one place to another in a tilted position. These heavy-duty hand trucks are frequently used for waste disposal, recycling, and material handling in facilities. |
From waste disposal to refrigerator delivery to simply moving a keg from one place to another in a brewery, hand trucks are versatile tools that can boost your efficiency and prevent injuries on the job. They make it possible to lift and move heavy, bulky loads and equipment with just one or two people. Choose the right hand truck for your business and you'll be well on your way to a faster, smoother operation.
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Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.