The History of the Wheel and the Hand Truck
Not too long after the wheel was invented (circa 3500 B.C.), human beings came up with different uses for the wheel. “Evidence indicates that the wheel was first used in transportation (chariots) around 3200 B.C. Researchers believe that the wheel barrow first appeared in classical Greece sometime between the fourth and sixth centuries B. C. and reappeared in China and Europe about four centuries later.” 1
Wheels for transportation didn’t arrive in North America until the European settlers arrived.
So, who’s to say that somebody or bodies didn’t attach two wheels together and started transporting goods much earlier than the 17th century when “sack trucks” were first used? “Sack trucks were originally used to move large sacks of spices by young boys, from the age of 11, who were unable to lift the large sacks by hand. By using this method, they were able to work as well as grown men in moving items around.” 2
“While it is not certain who invented the hand truck, United States patents exist from the mid to late 1800’s for the invention, and it has been suggested that its origins possibly date back as far as ancient times when the concept of levers was already known.” 3
What we do know is that hand trucks make for safer moving. “Hand trucks are an invention used to allow a single person to lift multiple large objects at once or items of heavy weight with a reduced possibility of injury.” 4 The Hand Truck 360, designed and manufactured by The Hand Truck Company, LLC, is capable of safely moving and securing bulky loads.
Whether you call it a dolly, a trolley, a two wheeler, a hand cart, or something else, hand trucks are used daily by millions of people worldwide to go where robots and pallet jacks can’t go.
What’s the difference between a dolly and a hand truck? Even though “dolly” is used interchangeably with hand trucks, technically, they are different. “Basically, a dolly is a platform with wheels. Usually, the platform has two axles and four wheels total, one in each corner. The disadvantage of a dolly is that there is no mechanism to actually lift the item onto the dolly. The item will have to be lifted manually, or using some other device.” But, a dolly is also a safe moving tool.
Leverage and how it works
“To lift heavy objects, hand trucks use the principle of levers—and, in this case, a ‘Class 1’ lever, with wheels acting as a fulcrum in the middle. Objects that are lifted at the most efficiency are generally a maximum height of 3 times the length of the hand truck’s bottom plate.”6 So, for example, if a plate is 19” in length (like our Hand Truck 360), the height of your load should max out at 60”. The height does, also, depend on the weight of the load. A 400lb.barrel might be 4’ tall, but it would be much safer to just move the barrel and not try to load anything else on top. The barrel also needs to be secured for safe moving.
“A hand truck gives you the most useful two principles of mechanical advantage when handling bulky or heavy loads: you get a lever to lift and wheels to travel. So, as long as you can steady or strap the load to the hand truck body and balance the weight over the wheels, even big barrels and crates can be easy to maneuver.” The Hand Truck 360 has an attached Erickson retractable ratchet for safer moving using only one person.
“The taller your hand truck, the more leverage that you have when lifting heavy objects.”
Injury Prevention
To play it safe, always use a strap to secure your heavy or bulky load. This will prevent spills, damaged products, and, most importantly, injuries that might result in worker comp claims. Either use your own ratchet to secure items or an Attachit Strap that fits on most hand trucks.
https://www.thehandtruckcompany.com/shop/strap-mount-pro-for-the-hand-truck-360
A heavy load can cause back sprains and strains. According to the National Safety Council, the average worker’s comp injury for a back strain costs about $32,000 and an average of 57 lost days.
Studies have been done over the years regarding injury prevention and the best ways to use a hand truck. Here is a technical description regarding what muscle groups are used pushing a hand truck:
“When cornering a hand truck, however, the force is applied at an oblique angle to the hand and the truck, and there is less muscle capacity available for the task. Much of the work is done by the small shoulder and forearm muscles, so the perceived effort is higher than when the biceps, triceps, larger shoulder muscles, and upper trunk muscles are involved.”
The average hand truck can only be pushed and pulled. Pushing is safer on a regular two wheeler as more strains can occur when a load is being pulled. The ergonomically-designed Hand Truck 360 allows for safe movement in all directions.
The Hand Truck Company, LLC, has engaged a certified personal trainer to develop injury-prevention exercises for hand truck users. Watch one of the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7sfL1ImdOo
Best Handles
The preferred handle height for straight horizontal pushing is at elbow height.
“The best type of handle is called a ‘P’ handle.” It sticks out from the back so you can load up to the height of your hand truck. “A centered handle also makes it easier to lift your load onto the wheels with one hand while you steady the load with the other hand.”
Our Hand Truck 360 and Wheeler 360 have “P” handles as well as side handles to steer the load sideways or in any direction that is needed to get loads in tight spaces.
Wheels
Wheels have come a long way since 3400 B.C. There are several different types of wheels to choose from that will work best for your needs.
If a hand truck is used on hard surfaces in a warehouse, store, or shop, then smooth hard rubber wheels with ball bearings should be the choice. Hard rubber wheels also allow for a maximum weight load.
“Air-filled tires are better for smooth rolling on rough surfaces (and grass) but they will start to deform as you get closer to the rated load, at which point, they’re actually harder to roll.” Air-filled tires have to be maintained as they can lose air and go flat. “If you’re getting a full-sized hand truck for moving big loads, you should pay more for well-made wheels.”
Chose your tires according to the type of loads and where your hand truck will be mostly used. Our new Hand Truck 360 Pro Premium has semi-pneumatic treaded tires for safer moving on most surfaces and will not go flat.
Conclusion
Over the years, hand trucks have been adapted to many uses. Any hand truck makes moving items safer and easier, which why the basic models have been in use for hundreds of years. Or, sometimes a four-wheeled dolly is just what you need.
Choose a hand truck or dolly that best suits your needs and protects your team.
The Hand Truck Company wants to not only provide a safer and easier way to move items but also give companies the opportunity to increase productivity, especially in this day of labor shortages. If there is anything that we can do for you, please contact me at judy@thehandtruckcompany.com.###
References / Footnotes
1 Gambino, Megan. “A Salute to the Wheel.” Smithsonianmag.com, 17 June 2009, p. 1-2, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-salute-to-the-wheel_31805121/ Accessed 9 June 2021
2 Hand truck.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand-truck Accessed 9 June 2021
3 “Hand Truck-Ten Random Facts.” https://tenrandomfacts.com/hand-truck//# Accessed 9 June 2021
4 Wikipedia
5 “What is the Difference Between a Dolly, Hand Truck, and a Folding Hand Truck?” www.douglasequipment.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dolly-hand-truck-and-a-folding-hand-truck?# Accessed 9 June 2021
6 Ten Random Facts
7 Jackson , Daniel. The Best Hand Trucks.” Your Best Digs, October 29, 2020, p. 17
8 Jackson, Daniel. P.17
9 “NSC Injury Facts.” 2017-2018, https//injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/costs/workers-compensation-costs/ Accessed 30 June 2021
10 Eastman Kodak Company (2004) Kodak’s Ergonomic Design for People at Work (https://books.google.com/books?id=FSgaAloHu8C&pg=PA553). John Wiley & Sons. pp 553-(SBN 978-0-471-41863-4. Accessed 9 June 2021
11 Kodak’ Ergonomic Design for People at Work
12 “The Best Ha d Trucks.” pp. 17-18
13 “The Best Hand Trucks.” pp. 19-20
