Abstract: A material handling system (10) has a lifting element (12) and first apparatus (14) for moving the lifting element (12). The system (10) is, for example, a work vehicle having mast mounted implements, such as a lift truck (10) with forks (12) or a container handler. Proper alignment of the lifting element (12) relative to material (46) to be loaded and structure (52) adjacent the material (46) is necessary to engage the material (46). The material handling system (10) has a second apparatus (40) for delivering first and second signals in response to first and second surfaces (20,22) of the lifting element (12) being at elevations (42,48) greater and lesser than first and second preselected elevations (44,50), respectively. A third apparatus (57) automatically moves one of the lifting element surfaces (20,22) to the respective one of the preselected elevations (44,50), in response to receiving a respective one of the signals for automatically aligning the lifting element ( 12).