The invention relates to an industrial truck (2) with a lift mast (4), a hydraulic system (10) as well as a method for operating a hydraulic system (10). The lift mast (4) of the industrial truck (2) is driven by a mast lift cylinder (12) and comprises at least one mast lift stage (42, 42). Furthermore, a free lift stage is present that is driven by a free lift cylinder (8) with which a load receiving means (6) can be displaced along the lift mast (4). The industrial truck (2) comprises a hydraulic system (10) for supplying the at least one mast lift cylinder (12) and the at least one free lift cylinder (8) with a hydraulic fluid (14), wherein the hydraulic system (10) is configured to at least at times simultaneously actuate the at least one mast lift cylinder (12) and the at least one free lift cylinder (8) in load lifting operation and/or in load lowering operation.