Abstract: A pole-guided industrial truck has at least one steered wheel and a pole that can rotate around an essentially vertical axis. The pole is effectively connected with the wheel so that a rotation of the pole around the vertical axis causes a steering movement of the wheel. The pole is connected with an electric primary detector which measures a rotational movement and/or a rotational position of the pole. The primary detector is effectively connected by means of an electric signal line with an electric steering motor of the wheel. The pole is connected with a damping element which generates a counter-torque when the pole is rotated around the vertical axis.

Abstract: In a method for operating an industrial truck, a load-lifting member (1) is moved up and down vertically on a lift mast (2). A discrete control signal is provided to control the vertical speed of the load-lifting member (1) by at least one single or multistage switch. In switching on and then holding the switch (13) in the on position, the load-lifting member (1) is first accelerated from zero to a first vertical speed value (V.sub.1) and after the passage of a period of time T.sub.1, it is accelerated to a second higher vertical speed value (V.sub.2).