Hidden Gems: Meet Judith Kochevar of The Hand Truck

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judith Kochevar.

Judith, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Several years ago, my cousin’s husband, Richard Cortese, stopped by my parents’ house and came in the door with a different-looking hand truck. Richard then proceeded to use hand-lever triggers to turn the wheels sideways and steered the hand truck around furniture, through doorways, and around the dining room table as I sat there with my parents, pretty amazed at something that we had never seen before.

Richard had spent many months trying to design the first fully functional, multi-directional hand truck. He began his quest after having to pick up one piece of plywood after another by hand to move the plywood through a narrow gate at his home.

Knowing that I had a business/corporate background, he asked me to help him on the business side, and after seeing the possibilities of such a new concept, I not only came on board but now own the company and accompanying patents.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
What I thought was going to be an easy sell, turned out to be anything but. The six entrenched hand truck manufacturers in the US, make it very challenging to break into the market on a large scale. Their relationships with large and small manufacturers, delivery companies, beverage companies, etc. make it difficult to compete on a level playing field.

However, as our unique products designed for safe moving become more visible, our sales will increase led by safety-minded individuals and companies.

As a supplier of “specialty” hand trucks, our costs and pricing exceed those of regular “push/pull” hand trucks. An independent product assessment by a worker’s comp occupational therapist verifies that fewer injuries and insurance claims will follow the purchase of a Hand Truck 360 with an attached ratchet strap. We look forward to serving those potential customers very well.

The “smooth” part is when the customer immediately sees a need for the Hand Truck 360 or Attachit Straps and recognizes the benefits for his/her team.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Hand Truck Company, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The initial Entrepreneurship Contest in Pueblo nine years ago started us in the right direction with a monetary prize and an offer from a local “shark”–which we declined based on the percentage of the business he wanted.

Our products can reduce both injuries and product damage.

With our manufacturing partners, we proudly make all of our products in Colorado. We have the only available multi-directional hand trucks in the marketplace. Our patented, hand-level turning device is unique to the industry.

The original Hand Truck 360 was developed as a product of convenience but has morphed into a much safer way to move lengthy items such as windows, doors, and plywood. With the addition of an attached retractable ratchet strap, bulky items such as furniture, hay bales, 55-gallon drums, and heavy boxes can be easily moved by one worker, saving on labor costs.

We at The Hand Truck Company, LLC, listen to our customers and potential customers to adjust and develop products that better meet their needs. Since that initial hand truck prototype, we have expanded our product line to include a more compact Hand Truck 360, a more industrial Hand Truck 360 Pro and Pro Premium, and a versatile Wheeler 360 keg dolly with a bottom safety plate and a double keg hook. All are multi-directional, include an attached retractable ratchet, and are able to change direction and slide into place in tight spaces with the flick of a finger.

For companies or individuals who don’t need, our hand trucks right now, our patented Attachit Straps are another way to safely move items. Our spring-loaded Attachit Strap Pro securely fits most hand trucks and dollies purchased from most retailers. An attached retractable ratchet that works vertically or horizontally safely secures items such as appliances, water heaters, a load of boxes, oxygen tanks, and more. Our Magliner Attachit Strap fits securely in the channels of the Magliner hand truck to add a level of safety.

I’m most proud of providing equipment that results in fewer injuries and accidents for the necessary, but often forgotten, front-line workers that many companies take for granted.

Our team continues on this journey to design and market innovative products that are needed for a safer working environment. Ask us about our customization program to fit your needs.

Our products can be purchased online or by contacting us via email or phone.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
More than anything, I appreciate all of our customers who see the value in our products as a safer way for their team to move products, deliveries, etc.

Word-of-mouth and social media recommendations by customers and those who see the value in our products are appreciated.

Please support local businesses that manufacture, provide jobs, and buy services in their community.

Many of our innovations have come from our customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thehandtruckcompany.com
• Instagram: @the_handtruck_company
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHandTruckCompany
• Youtube: https://bit.ly/3UvkQal
• TikTok: @thehandtruckcompany