Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$ 628,116	$ 622,678	$ 1,891,459	$ 1,900,131
Ocean freight and ocean services	525,193	549,250	1,462,679	1,502,584
Customs brokerage and other services	381,780	359,736	1,091,889	1,045,271
Total revenues	1,535,089	1,531,664	4,446,027	4,447,986
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight services	466,699	471,947	1,414,634	1,437,301
Ocean freight and ocean services	409,649	432,518	1,135,299	1,177,919
Customs brokerage and other services	176,716	162,061	499,684	467,406
Salaries and related costs	261,613	252,899	765,599	748,956
Rent and occupancy costs	21,851	21,304	65,640	63,333
Depreciation and amortization	12,629	10,030	35,581	29,245
Selling and promotion	8,306	7,847	23,891	25,370
Other	31,313	27,959	87,289	95,683
Total operating expenses	1,388,776	1,386,565	4,027,617	4,045,213
Operating income	146,313	145,099	418,410	402,773
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	2,967	2,831	9,280	9,241
Other, net	1,212	1,050	7,068	4,987
Other income, net	4,179	3,881	16,348	14,228
Earnings before income taxes	150,492	148,980	434,758	417,001
Income tax expense	57,763	60,253	168,756	167,531
Net earnings	92,729	88,727	266,002	249,470
Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	329	237	972	318
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 92,400	$ 88,490	$ 265,030	$ 249,152
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.45	$ 0.42	$ 1.28	$ 1.17
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.45	$ 0.42	$ 1.28	$ 1.18
Dividends declared and paid per common share	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.30	$ 0.28
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	207,368,792	211,397,602	207,351,569	212,916,309
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	206,516,194	210,135,763	206,478,746	211,314,850