Business Segment Information - Financial Information Regarding Company's Operations by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,599,141		$ 1,503,224		$ 3,090,786		$ 2,916,432
Net revenues	484,714	[1]	471,872	[1]	949,300	[1]	919,879	[1]
Operating income	142,443		143,579		277,646		272,097
Identifiable assets at period end	2,929,940		3,063,665		2,929,940		3,063,665		3,014,812
Capital expenditures	9,635		17,141		18,395		27,209
Depreciation and amortization	12,417		11,674		24,799		22,952
Equity	1,897,137		2,121,942		1,897,137		2,121,942		2,086,331	2,032,570
United States Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	416,454		395,495		817,193		769,869
Net revenues	200,106	[1]	193,509	[1]	392,188	[1]	373,852	[1]
Operating income	59,780		58,310		111,678		105,663
Identifiable assets at period end	1,328,312		1,531,739		1,328,312		1,531,739
Capital expenditures	5,547		4,354		9,475		9,733
Depreciation and amortization	7,879		7,276		15,731		14,033
Equity	1,044,386		1,209,762		1,044,386		1,209,762
Other North America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	55,343		56,626		106,927		108,355
Net revenues	25,533	[1]	25,440	[1]	51,694	[1]	49,221	[1]
Operating income	7,001		7,887		15,376		14,499
Identifiable assets at period end	110,498		101,721		110,498		101,721
Capital expenditures	422		708		686		895
Depreciation and amortization	296		197		576		404
Equity	72,681		65,897		72,681		65,897
Latin America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	22,003		21,421		42,632		41,285
Net revenues	16,648	[1]	15,522	[1]	32,005	[1]	29,933	[1]
Operating income	4,676		4,601		9,535		8,690
Identifiable assets at period end	57,588		53,795		57,588		53,795
Capital expenditures	171		145		472		404
Depreciation and amortization	227		229		439		470
Equity	35,578		33,272		35,578		33,272
Asia Pacific Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	780,834		749,282		1,495,218		1,443,419
Net revenues	138,445	[1]	141,439	[1]	271,719	[1]	276,989	[1]
Operating income	51,436		54,781		104,277		107,665
Identifiable assets at period end	743,190		809,827		743,190		809,827
Capital expenditures	1,907		11,056		5,033		13,608
Depreciation and amortization	2,108		1,983		4,216		3,971
Equity	481,899		606,793		481,899		606,793
Europe And Africa Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	244,642		206,020		472,150		408,533
Net revenues	78,638	[1]	71,068	[1]	151,695	[1]	141,682	[1]
Operating income	14,219		11,613		25,285		23,539
Identifiable assets at period end	511,149		418,077		511,149		418,077
Capital expenditures	1,262		563		2,114		1,761
Depreciation and amortization	1,471		1,550		2,963		3,179
Equity	204,952		166,891		204,952		166,891
Middle East And India Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	79,865		74,380		156,666		144,971
Net revenues	25,344	[1]	24,894	[1]	49,999	[1]	48,202	[1]
Operating income	5,331		6,387		11,495		12,041
Identifiable assets at period end	173,425		155,058		173,425		155,058
Capital expenditures	326		315		615		808
Depreciation and amortization	436		439		874		895
Equity	94,390		75,418		94,390		75,418
Operating Segments | United States Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	438,862		418,712		859,612		813,112
Operating Segments | Other North America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	57,930		59,142		111,889		113,415
Operating Segments | Latin America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	27,570		27,035		53,403		51,775
Operating Segments | Asia Pacific Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	793,227		760,887		1,519,620		1,465,654
Operating Segments | Europe And Africa Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	254,110		215,209		490,575		426,602
Operating Segments | Middle East And India Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	85,103		78,939		166,766		153,857
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(57,661)		(56,700)		(111,079)		(107,983)
Identifiable assets at period end	5,778		(6,552)		5,778		(6,552)
Equity	(36,749)		(36,091)		(36,749)		(36,091)
Intersegment Eliminations | United States Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(22,408)		(23,217)		(42,419)		(43,243)
Intersegment Eliminations | Other North America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(2,587)		(2,516)		(4,962)		(5,060)
Intersegment Eliminations | Latin America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(5,567)		(5,614)		(10,771)		(10,490)
Intersegment Eliminations | Asia Pacific Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(12,393)		(11,605)		(24,402)		(22,235)
Intersegment Eliminations | Europe And Africa Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(9,468)		(9,189)		(18,425)		(18,069)
Intersegment Eliminations | Middle East And India Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ (5,238)		$ (4,559)		$ (10,100)		$ (8,886)

[1] Net revenues are a non-GAAP measure calculated as revenues less directly related operations expenses attributable to the Company's principal services. The Company's management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues when evaluating the Company's operating segment performance since total revenues earned as a freight consolidator include the carriers' charges for carrying the shipment, whereas revenues earned in other capacities include primarily the commissions and fees earned by the Company. Net revenue is one of the Company's primary operational and financial measures and demonstrates the Company's ability to concentrate and leverage purchasing power through effective consolidation of shipments from customers utilizing a variety of transportation carriers and optimal routings.