A manually propelled, two-wheel supported hand truck for use in transporting products has a frame normally supported by the wheels in generally vertical inclination and comprises connected side rail members, and a fixed frame handle surface near its upper end. The frame supports a forwardly extending, load supporting nose plate. An axle, coupled to and extending crosswisely rearwardly of the frame journals the wheels. Supports on the frame side rail members journal a laterally extending pivotal brake applying rod having spaced apart brake shoes in a first position out of brake applying engagement with the wheels but aligned therewith, the rod being pivotal to move the shoes to a second position into braking engagement with the wheels. Fixed to the brake applying rod is a lever arm connected to a generally vertically extending rigid member. A mobile brake operating handle is mounted on the frame for movement relative to the fixed frame handle surface, the brake operating handle being connected with the rigid member to move it upwardly and downwardly and pivot the brake applying rod. A safety control member is fixed on the rod and is operative to cooperate with the frame to halt brake applying movement of the brake applying rod upon further movement of the rod beyond brake applying rotation.