Business Segment Information - Financial Information Regarding Company's Operations by Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		$ 3,609,093	$ 2,411,078	$ 6,807,913	$ 4,254,845
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	2,598,633	1,661,487	4,845,917	2,890,118
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	599,815	501,965	1,165,836	958,046
Operating income		410,645	247,626	796,160	406,681
Identifiable assets at period end		5,953,171	3,810,177	5,953,171	3,810,177		$ 4,927,503
Capital expenditures		6,539	22,114	14,930	28,241
Equity		3,083,651	2,161,598	3,083,651	2,161,598	$ 2,878,650	$ 2,663,227	$ 2,037,145	$ 2,197,219
Operating Segments | United States Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		997,567	639,226	1,872,957	1,289,631
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	566,882	354,619	1,069,517	728,578
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	241,121	207,703	479,819	433,647
Operating income		189,564	76,904	323,621	127,406
Identifiable assets at period end		2,972,363	1,886,463	2,972,363	1,886,463
Capital expenditures		2,905	19,076	5,930	23,573
Equity		2,163,114	1,399,124	2,163,114	1,399,124
Operating Segments | Other North America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		101,465	73,679	195,582	154,910
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	59,311	40,814	112,361	86,104
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	31,300	25,283	57,037	48,995
Operating income		10,854	7,582	26,184	19,811
Identifiable assets at period end		196,558	170,873	196,558	170,873
Capital expenditures		64	1,148	186	1,209
Equity		80,802	71,165	80,802	71,165
Operating Segments | Latin America Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		46,981	37,553	91,845	75,444
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	25,952	22,701	52,652	46,467
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	14,735	12,112	27,112	23,861
Operating income		6,294	2,740	12,081	5,116
Identifiable assets at period end		102,296	72,912	102,296	72,912
Capital expenditures		72	216	125	318
Equity		36,316	29,758	36,316	29,758
Operating Segments | North Asia Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		1,309,382	984,715	2,518,430	1,481,872
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	1,086,641	775,572	2,054,170	1,160,075
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	106,812	97,171	213,732	154,604
Operating income		115,929	111,972	250,528	167,193
Identifiable assets at period end		1,114,475	669,335	1,114,475	669,335
Capital expenditures		400	385	757	710
Equity		318,111	306,022	318,111	306,022
Operating Segments | South Asia Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		417,718	217,152	767,484	383,233
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	335,219	153,194	605,163	271,515
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	49,046	39,184	92,211	69,092
Operating income		33,453	24,774	70,110	42,626
Identifiable assets at period end		377,370	213,007	377,370	213,007
Capital expenditures		532	182	1,111	370
Equity		146,583	108,777	146,583	108,777
Operating Segments | Europe Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		544,949	358,060	1,011,282	665,020
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	376,856	242,170	683,765	450,488
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	123,408	95,757	232,863	177,611
Operating income		44,685	20,133	94,654	36,921
Identifiable assets at period end		929,706	581,988	929,706	581,988
Capital expenditures		2,100	993	5,654	1,638
Equity		255,006	168,060	255,006	168,060
Operating Segments | Middle East Africa and India Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		192,186	101,571	352,692	206,553
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	148,290	72,868	269,399	147,787
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	34,026	25,188	64,301	51,138
Operating income		9,870	3,515	18,992	7,628
Identifiable assets at period end		291,406	221,381	291,406	221,381
Capital expenditures		466	114	1,167	423
Equity		128,148	116,279	128,148	116,279
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax		(1,155)	(878)	(2,359)	(1,818)
Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses	[1]	(518)	(451)	(1,110)	(896)
Salaries and other operating expenses	[2]	(633)	(433)	(1,239)	(902)
Operating income		(4)	6	(10)	(20)
Identifiable assets at period end		(31,003)	(5,782)	(31,003)	(5,782)
Equity		$ (44,429)	$ (37,587)	$ (44,429)	$ (37,587)

[1] Directly related cost of transportation and other expenses totals operating expenses from airfreight services, ocean freight and ocean services and customs brokerage and other services as shown in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

[2] Salaries and other operating expenses totals salaries and related, rent and occupancy, depreciation and amortization, selling and promotion and other as shown in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.