A pedestrian operated industrial truck has a reversible driving motor controlled by control means which are operated, through a connecting linkage, by a manually operable control member, the control member and linkage having a forward, neutral, and reverse conditions. There is mounted on a control handle of the truck an element which is displaceable relatively to the truck by engagement with an obstruction during forward movement of the truck. The manually operable control member is coupled with the connecting linkage by a releasable connection, and displacement of the displaceable element is arranged to release the connection and effect movement of the linkage, independently of the manually operable control member, from the forward to the reverse condition. Subsequent return of the displaceable element to its original position, upon reversal of the truck away from the obstruction, allows the linkage to return to the neutral condition, so stopping the truck, and the releasable connection is then automatically re-engageable only when the manually operable control member is also returned to the neutral condition.