Abstract: A conventional lift truck is provided with a dual mast arrangement for handling heavy, unbalanced loads, and other awkward objects. Two masts are individually connected with the truck frame in a side-by-side relationship, and each mast includes a fork which is movable up and down its respective mast. The masts are powered by separate motors, and a controller operates the two motors. The controller is capable of independently moving each fork to individually elevate the forks into abutment with the load, and then raise the load slightly into a position in which the load is balanced on the forks. The controller includes a coupler which translates the forks in unison at substantially the same rate and in the same direction, such that the forks are raised simultaneously to lift the load balanced thereon to a transport position, and are lowered together to set the load down in place.