PURPOSE: To provide a cargo handling running control device to improve a running feeling.

CONSTITUTION: A cargo handling running control device for an industrial vehicle having a variable displacement pump/motor comprises an acceleration sensor 42 to detect an operation amount of an accelerator pedal 41; a CPU 61 to calculate a target car speed based on the detected result of the acceleration sensor 42; a lift sensor 46 to detect an operation amount of a lift lever 45; a CPU 62 to calculate the target opening of a throttle valve based on the detected result of a lift sensor 46; and an ROM 63 to store a norm model function, a transmission function, an input output feedback function, and a predistortion function so that a car speed is converged to a target car speed during cargo handling running. Further, the cargo handling running control device comprises a CPU 62 to set the variable of a norm model function based on the change of a change gear ratio during cargo handling running; a CPU 62 to calculate the variable of each function, except the norm model function, based on the change of the number of revolutions of an engine and the change gear ratio during cargo handling running so that a closed loop transmission function attains 1; and a CPU 62 to calculate a change gear ratio by substituting each function for a calculated function.