Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$ 642,969	$ 638,541	$ 1,263,343	$ 1,277,453
Ocean freight and ocean services	492,007	518,998	937,486	953,334
Customs brokerage and other services	365,477	347,413	710,109	685,535
Total revenues	1,500,453	1,504,952	2,910,938	2,916,322
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight services	483,016	484,311	947,935	965,354
Ocean freight and ocean services	380,727	413,447	725,650	745,401
Customs brokerage and other services	167,609	153,543	322,968	305,345
Salaries and related costs	255,569	249,925	503,986	496,057
Rent and occupancy costs	22,132	20,853	43,789	42,029
Depreciation and amortization	11,674	9,670	22,952	19,215
Selling and promotion	8,328	8,860	15,585	17,523
Other	27,819	31,940	55,976	67,724
Total operating expenses	1,356,874	1,372,549	2,638,841	2,658,648
Operating income	143,579	132,403	272,097	257,674
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	3,070	3,050	6,313	6,410
Other, net	4,325	3,460	5,856	3,937
Other income, net	7,395	6,510	12,169	10,347
Earnings before income taxes	150,974	138,913	284,266	268,021
Income tax expense	58,311	54,892	110,993	107,278
Net earnings	92,663	84,021	173,273	160,743
Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	348	66	643	81
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 92,315	$ 83,955	$ 172,630	$ 160,662
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.45	$ 0.39	$ 0.83	$ 0.75
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.45	$ 0.40	$ 0.84	$ 0.76
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.30	$ 0.28	$ 0.30	$ 0.28
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	207,192,534	213,212,912	207,421,805	213,683,587
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	206,444,464	211,724,082	206,459,701	211,910,872