A load handling system for a vehicle , comprising: a set of forks configured to concurrently support two or more pallets including a first pallet and a second pallet linearly positioned along a length of the forks ; a lifting system configured to raise and lower the forks ; a traction system configured to move the vehicle in a direction of travel associated with withdrawing the forks from the pallets ; and characterised in that the load handling system comprises a vehicle controller configured to place the vehicle in an automated mode of operation in response to receiving an activation signal, wherein during the automated mode of operation the vehicle controller is configured to: actuate the traction system a first time to move the vehicle in the direction of travel so that a front end of the forks moves from being under the second pallet to being under the first pallet ; actuate the lifting system to raise the first pallet supported on the front end of the forks while the second pallet remains on a transport surface ; actuate the traction system a second time to move the vehicle in the direction of travel so that the first pallet is spaced apart from the second pallet by a predetermined distance ; and actuate the lifting system to lower the first pallet to the transport surface at the predetermined distance from the second pallet . a set of forks configured to concurrently support two or more pallets including a first pallet and a second pallet linearly positioned along a length of the forks ; a lifting system configured to raise and lower the forks ; a traction system configured to move the vehicle in a direction of travel associated with withdrawing the forks from the pallets ; and characterised in that the load handling system comprises a vehicle controller configured to place the vehicle in an automated mode of operation in response to receiving an activation signal, wherein during the automated mode of operation the vehicle controller is configured to: actuate the traction system a first time to move the vehicle in the direction of travel so that a front end of the forks moves from being under the second pallet to being under the first pallet ; actuate the lifting system to raise the first pallet supported on the front end of the forks while the second pallet remains on a transport surface ; actuate the traction system a second time to move the vehicle in the direction of travel so that the first pallet is spaced apart from the second pallet by a predetermined distance ; and actuate the lifting system to lower the first pallet to the transport surface at the predetermined distance from the second pallet . actuate the traction system a first time to move the vehicle in the direction of travel so that a front end of the forks moves from being under the second pallet to being under the first pallet ; actuate the lifting system to raise the first pallet supported on the front end of the forks while the second pallet remains on a transport surface ; actuate the traction system a second time to move the vehicle in the direction of travel so that the first pallet is spaced apart from the second pallet by a predetermined distance ; and actuate the lifting system to lower the first pallet to the transport surface at the predetermined distance from the second pallet . <EOS>