Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$ 638,541	$ 749,861	$ 1,277,453	$ 1,450,784
Ocean freight and ocean services	518,998	486,831	953,334	926,972
Customs brokerage and other services	347,413	344,676	685,535	664,460
Total revenues	1,504,952	1,581,368	2,916,322	3,042,216
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight consolidation	484,311	576,280	965,354	1,100,916
Ocean freight consolidation	413,447	377,805	745,401	717,354
Customs brokerage and other services	153,543	154,722	305,345	297,470
Salaries and related costs	249,925	249,114	496,057	486,929
Rent and occupancy costs	20,853	21,354	42,029	42,735
Depreciation and amortization	9,670	9,257	19,215	18,431
Selling and promotion	8,860	10,022	17,523	19,185
Other	31,940	30,539	67,724	59,691
Total operating expenses	1,372,549	1,429,093	2,658,648	2,742,711
Operating income	132,403	152,275	257,674	299,505
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	3,050	2,312	6,410	4,632
Interest expense	(222)	(229)	(842)	(443)
Other, net	3,682	857	4,779	1,974
Other income, net	6,510	2,940	10,347	6,163
Earnings before income taxes	138,913	155,215	268,021	305,668
Income tax expense	54,892	60,195	107,278	119,441
Net earnings	84,021	95,020	160,743	186,227
Less net earnings (losses) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	66	20	81	(5)
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 83,955	$ 95,000	$ 160,662	$ 186,232
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.39	$ 0.44	$ 0.75	$ 0.86
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.40	$ 0.45	$ 0.76	$ 0.88
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.28	$ 0.25	$ 0.28	$ 0.25
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	213,212,912	215,659,043	213,683,587	215,780,230
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	211,724,082	212,136,164	211,910,872	212,112,643