A travel control apparatus for a forklift is disclosed. The forklift is provided with a loading device that performs load handling operations by raising and lowering a load, and a drive motor which generates a drive force for travel and is capable of generating a braking force. The apparatus is provided with a sensor for detecting the speed of the motor, a seat switch, a height switch, a load sensor, and a control section. The control section causes the drive motor to generate a braking force when the seat switch detects that the driver has left the seat in the case where the motor speed sensor detects a traveling state, and also changes the strength of the braking in accordance with the height of the loading device and the weight of the load.