A pallet truck wheel assembly for use on a pallet truck comprises an axle extending in a horizontal plane that includes a central portion configured to couple with a steering column of a pallet truck and shoulders at each terminal end of the axle. A pair of rear steer wheels having center bores receiving and rotatable about the axle are mounted on the axle in a spaced-apart configuration so that a central portion of the axle spaces the wheels apart between inboard portions of the steer wheels and the shoulders are exposed on each outboard portion of the steer wheels. A toe guard coupled only to the shoulders of the axle includes a protective element that extends around the back of the wheels and below the axle so that an operator's toes are prevented from sliding under the rear steer wheels of the pallet truck.