David Watson started as a driver for Milbank Floors Ltd (part of the Milbank group of companies) which was established in 1947 near Chelmsford in Essex. Manufacturers of precast concrete units to designs patented by Geoffrey Milbank. 1985 saw the Company move to a modern purpose built factory on an 8 acre site at Earls Colne. January 1984 saw the purchase of the first lorry under the Milbank Floors banner. The lorry was the first of its kind to be fitted with a Tico lorry loader arm, equipped with a winch to allow it to be used in the same manner as a mobile crane.
In July 1986 Milbank Trucks Ltd was formed as a separate company with David Watson as the Managing Director. Steps were taken to develop the company from a specialist in the delivery of concrete flooring products to taking on other work requiring the use of a heavylift crane lorry. In 1988, an 8 wheeled rigid lorry, fitted with a 30 ton/metre crane − the largest of its type at that time − was purchased with the specific aim of being able to lift heavier plant and equipment than any of the competitors.