The standard hand truck is about four feet tall with a D-shaped handle and pneumatic tires.

Some models come with belts to secure the load in place. A crank on the back of the truck tightens the belt.

All hand trucks have two wheels, but some can be converted to four-wheeled moving platforms.

When loading a hand truck, follow these two rules: always load the largest package at the bottom of the truck, and never pack a load higher than the hand truck's handle.