A braking system for a cargo portage device, such as a wheelbarrow, that is biased in the "On" state to prevent the device from coasting away on its own when it is resting on an incline unattended by a user. This braking system enhances the safety of a device used by those who may be prone to forget to lock its brakes when it is left resting on an incline unattended or in situations in which children may have access to the device and use it as a wheeled toy. This braking system also enables the user of a wheelbarrow employing it to traverse obstacles, such as steps, logs, curbs, etc., within the wheelbarrow's path of travel and haul greater loads than can be realized using a conventional wheelbarrow.