A materials handling vehicle (100) is provided comprising: a support structure including a fixed member (200); a movable assembly coupled to the support structure (300); a hydraulic system (401); and a control system (1500). The support structure further comprises lift apparatus (400) to effect movement of the movable assembly relative to the support structure fixed member. The lift apparatus includes at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The hydraulic system includes a motor (301), a pump (302) coupled to the motor to supply a pressurized fluid to the at least one ram/cylinder assembly, and at least one electronically controlled valve (420) associated with the at least one ram/cylinder assembly. The control structure may estimate a speed of the movable assembly from a speed of the motor and control the operation of the at least one valve using the estimated movable assembly speed.