Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Contingencies	Contingencies On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation. On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs and, if there is an adverse judgment, monetary damages could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding and is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible loss or damages, if any, that might result as an outcome of this proceeding. On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding. On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines, if any, that might result from this proceeding. No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since the beginning of the proceedings in 2007, the Company has incurred approximately $16 million in legal and associated costs on the above matters. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed. The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

Contingencies

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs and, if there is an adverse judgment, monetary damages could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding and is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible loss or damages, if any, that might result as an outcome of this proceeding.

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Since the beginning of the proceedings in 2007, the Company has incurred approximately $16 million in legal and associated costs on the above matters. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.