During reversal of drive of a vehicle, particularly a work machine with a hydrodynamic torque converter and a bypass clutch, the bypass clutch is first disengaged, during the reversal process. Next, a previously engaged first driving direction clutch, driving the vehicle in the first driving direction, is disengaged and a second driving direction clutch, for driving the vehicle in the second driving direction, is engaged so that a speed of the vehicle, in the first driving direction, is reduced and a speed of the vehicle, in the second driving direction, is subsequently accelerated, whereby the drive motor is operated at a higher rotational speed during the reversal process.