Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$ 622,678	$ 736,946	$ 1,900,131	$ 2,187,730
Ocean freight and ocean services	549,250	510,521	1,502,584	1,437,493
Customs brokerage and other services	359,736	358,901	1,045,271	1,023,361
Total revenues	1,531,664	1,606,368	4,447,986	4,648,584
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight consolidation	471,947	558,047	1,437,301	1,658,963
Ocean freight consolidation	432,518	392,249	1,177,919	1,109,603
Customs brokerage and other services	162,061	162,226	467,406	459,696
Salaries and related costs	252,899	258,512	748,956	745,441
Rent and occupancy costs	21,304	21,352	63,333	64,087
Depreciation and amortization	10,030	9,199	29,245	27,630
Selling and promotion	7,847	9,342	25,370	28,527
Other	27,959	31,683	95,683	91,374
Total operating expenses	1,386,565	1,442,610	4,045,213	4,185,321
Operating income	145,099	163,758	402,773	463,263
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	2,831	2,888	9,241	7,520
Interest expense	(182)	(279)	(1,024)	(722)
Other, net	1,232	10,792	6,011	12,766
Other income, net	3,881	13,401	14,228	19,564
Earnings before income taxes	148,980	177,159	417,001	482,827
Income tax expense	60,253	70,283	167,531	189,724
Net earnings	88,727	106,876	249,470	293,103
Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	237	272	318	267
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 88,490	$ 106,604	$ 249,152	$ 292,836
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.42	$ 0.50	$ 1.17	$ 1.36
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.42	$ 0.50	$ 1.18	$ 1.38
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.28	$ 0.25
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	211,397,602	214,717,451	212,916,309	215,376,675
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	210,135,763	212,256,119	211,314,850	212,160,994