A drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, a cargo handling pump, a cargo handling actuator, a travel motor, and a battery. The drive controller includes an engine control unit, a rotation speed detection unit, a deviation calculation unit, and a power generation control unit. The engine control unit controls the engine in accordance with a command rotation speed. The rotation speed detection unit detects an actual rotation speed of the engine. The deviation calculation unit calculates a rotation speed deviation of the command rotation speed for the engine and the actual rotation speed of the engine. The power generation control unit controls the generator motor in accordance with the rotation speed deviation so as to limit power generated by the generator motor to drive the travel motor.