Expresso hand trucks save time, money and driver's back

When Melbourne beverage distributor Shaun Mays took a Lite Trucks Expresso hand truck out for a trial run, it saved him so much time and effort that he never gave it back. Three years on, he says it has saved him money, too.

"I was only supposed to have it for a week, but the Expresso was half as light as anything I had ever used and was making life so easy that I ended up keeping it for six weeks," Mays said.

"They finally caught up with me and I arranged to purchase it from there, because I just couldn't go back to the old way of doing things."

Before Mays switched to Expresso's light, ergonomic, modular hand trucks, he was using traditional steel trolleys which he called "big and heavy and a waste of time".

Expresso's hand trucks are made of elliptical aluminium and composite materials, making them up to 50% lighter than steel - yet the hand trucks achieve higher load ratings due to their comfort, ease of manoeuvrability and versatile design.

"The design of the hand truck makes for easier lifting - you can have it fully loaded and pull it back with one hand," said Mays.

"It saves a lot of time and pressure on your back. The slide rails on the back of the truck make for easier access into shops. If they have steps, you use the slide just to go right over the steps instead of going up each step with the wheel."

The slide is one of the modular components of the hand trucks that can be added to suit specific needs. The hand truck range includes a variety of footplates, ergonomic handles with moulded knuckle guards, skids and other accessories. The modular design also means parts are readily replaceable.

The simplicity of repairs is almost academic for Mays though - after nearly three years of hard work, his hand trucks remain in top condition. Better still, he has not needed to replace any parts due to wear.

"I go to about 500 different outlets per week and even the tyres on these Expresso trucks suit what we do," Mays said.

"They go across gravel or sharp things in a parking lot and they don't pick up anything. I haven't had to repair it for a tyre puncture yet."

Mays said he was sceptical about buying a more costly aluminium hand truck over a cheap steel trolley at first, but he now owns several hand trucks and has introduced the products to other beverage distributors.

"They're more expensive, but I believe in six months they pay for themselves with all the time and effort you save. They are lighter and stronger and work is just so much easier," he said.

"With all the different designs that suit different people and jobs, I recommend the Expresso hand trolley to everyone. It just makes life easier - especially with all the OHS issues. Why push a heavy trolley when you can push a light one that saves you time, money and effort?"