Abstract: A center controlled pallet truck includes a power unit located at a forward end of the truck, an operator platform in a central portion of the truck, load carrying forks located at a rear end of the truck, a steering arm mounted on and extending upwardly from a forward section of the power unit for controlling the direction of travel of the truck. A control handle mounted on said steering arm includes twist grips for controlling the speed of both forward and reverse movement of the truck. Each twist grip is provided with a generally horizontally disposed, forward facing paddle located at the outer ends of the twist grips to permit the outside fingers on the hand of an operator to move the paddle either upwardly or downwardly and thus rotate the twist grip with minimum force either while the operator is walking along side or riding on the truck.