A personnel carrying vehicle comprising a self propelled, steerable body, a telescoping mast attached to and extending upwardly from said body, and a personnel compartment attached to the mast and provided with a rail member that extends from the mast and around the sides. A pair of gate members, which are pivotally attached to the rail member and to the floor of the compartment, are movable from a closed position to an open position wherein said gate members extend into the compartment. The mast extends upwardly and forwardly of the body at an angle of approximately five degrees to the top of the rail; this provides the operator with unobstructed access to anything above the top edge of the rail, and the forward tilt of the mast enlarges the upper portion of the compartment, near the waist of the operator, thus accommodating the operator comfortably without increasing the length of the vehicle; it also causes the center of gravity of the vehicle to move forward, toward the center of the vehicle, as the compartment is raised. The vehicle is driven by electric motors which are located under the operator compartment and attached to the drive wheels through gear trains to permit the floor of the compartment to be positioned as close to the ground level as possible. Control handles are mounted within the personnel compartment, with one handle controlling steering and the other handle controlling traction. Sensors ensure the operator's hands are on both control handles and both feet are properly positioned on the floor before the vehicle can be moved or the platform raised; this ensures a four point stance, providing for operator stability and that the operator's hands and feet are within the operator's compartment anytime the vehicle is being moved or during lifting or lowering operations. Gate interlock switches are provided to restrict or prevent travel of the vehicle under certain conditions. A load deck is provided on the body of the vehicle on the opposite side of the mast from the personnel compartment. Also, a load tray may be mounted to the telescoping mast to move vertically with the compartment. Rail guides may be mounted to the outside of the vehicle to facilitate entry into and operations within narrow aisles.