If only things were that easy. First along the road was a truck being operated by Roadways Container Logistics - which is owned by shipping line M(aersk) - pulling a box belonging to Triton.
(In fact if you're really bored on motorway journeys you can play 'Spot the Maersk-owned container haulier actually carrying a Maersk box' - a game guaranteed to send the children wild with excitement.)
Hot on its heels were two trucks from Felixstowe firm James Kemball - owned by shipping line K-Line - carrying, and you'll like this, Maersk containers.
Am I the only one thinking that this doesn't make sense?
I can understand that line-owned hauliers might want to sell their services on the open market and if Maersk happens to pay more than K-Line you'd be mad not to take the money. But if you're going to carry everyone else's containers and sub your own out to third parties - who go so far as to have their trucks in Maersk colours for instance - then what's the point of going to all the trouble of owning the haulage firm in the first place?
It's not as though Maersk don't do it with other firms under their control either, nine times out of ten Bowmur Haulage trucks are carrying Maersk boxes, so why not Roadways?
Answers on a postcard please.