Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations	$ 24,807	$ (62,394)
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations		(5,858)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	24,807	(68,252)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(19,808)	(16,894)
Proceeds from vehicle sales	3,899	1,032
Return of (disbursements for) investments	224	(750)
Other, net	2,671	3,019
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(13,014)	(13,593)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases	(12,625)	(6,269)
Borrowings under line of credit	153,000	134,000
Repayments on line of credit	(153,000)	(126,000)
Payment on installment note related to acquisition	(1,750)	(1,500)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(197)	(52)
Repayment of other financing arrangements	(2,318)	(2,101)
Other, net	(605)	(323)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(17,495)	(2,245)
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash	238	302
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,464)	(83,788)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	57,059	116,227
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	51,595	32,439
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(4,925)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Advances from cash pool	(35,446)	(41,821)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(35,446)	(41,821)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(40,371)	(41,821)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	(52,037)	(35,244)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	(92,408)	(77,065)
Inventiv Health Inc [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations		(47,017)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	33,094	(47,017)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(6,599)	(8,736)
Return of (disbursements for) investments	224	(750)
Other, net	(256)	(225)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(6,631)	(9,711)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Advances from cash pool	(2,065)
Borrowings under line of credit	153,000	134,000
Repayments on line of credit	(153,000)	(126,000)
Payment on installment note related to acquisition	(1,750)	(1,500)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(197)	(52)
Repayment of other financing arrangements	(1,966)	(1,749)
Advances (repayment) of intercompany debt, net	(5,048)	25,156
Other, net	(97)	154
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(11,123)	30,009
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	15,340	(26,719)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	19,643	33,176
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	34,983	6,457
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations		(14,384)
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations		(5,858)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(19,802)	(20,242)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(10,285)	(5,027)
Proceeds from vehicle sales	3,899	1,032
Other, net	2,927	3,244
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,459)	(751)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases	(12,375)	(5,989)
Repayment of other financing arrangements	(352)	(352)
Advances (repayment) of intercompany debt, net	32,549	12,637
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	19,822	6,296
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,439)	(14,697)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	3,439	19,838
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		5,141
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations		(993)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	16,440	(993)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,924)	(3,131)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,924)	(3,131)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on capital leases	(250)	(280)
Advances from cash pool	37,511	41,821
Advances (repayment) of intercompany debt, net	(27,501)	(37,793)
Other, net	(508)	(477)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	9,252	3,271
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash	238	302
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	23,006	(551)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	86,014	98,457
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 109,020	$ 97,906