A drive device for an industrial truck includes a pivoted bolster rotatable around a vertical axis (V), two drive wheels (4, 5) mounted on the pivoted bolster and a device located axially between the drive wheels (4, 5) to generate a differential action between the drive wheels (4, 5). A vertically oriented motor (6) can be provided above the drive wheels (4, 5) and a mechanical differential (7) can be coupled with the motor (6) and the drive wheels (4, 5). Alternatively, each drive wheel (4 or 5) can be coupled with its own motor (8 or 9). Alternatively still, a double rotor electric motor (10) having two rotors (10c, 10d) and a common stator (10b) can be located between the drive wheels (4 or 5) and coupled with a neighboring drive wheel (4 or 5).