Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 1,318,153	$ 0	$ 25,572	$ 769,383	$ 1,090,363	$ (567,165)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011				51,143,946
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		189,525				209,979	(20,454)
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(61,266)	0	0	0	(61,266)	0
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	28,386	0	391	27,995	0	0
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			782,783
Benefit plan stock sales (purchases), shares	[2]			(11,110)
Benefit plan stock sales (purchases)	[2]	(535)	0	(5)	(530)	0	0
Common stock repurchases		(26,343)	0	(272)	(8,185)	(17,886)	0
Common stock repurchases, shares				(543,923)
Share-based compensation		18,864	0	0	18,864	0	0
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		703	0	0	703	0	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012		1,467,487	0	25,686	808,230	1,221,190	(587,619)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				51,371,696
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		387,163				237,792	149,371
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(68,226)	0	0	0	(68,226)	0
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	87,168	0	956	86,212	0	0
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			1,913,067
Benefit plan stock sales (purchases), shares	[2]			50,623
Benefit plan stock sales (purchases)	[2]	3,478	0	25	3,453	0	0
Share-based compensation		19,310	0	0	19,310	0	0
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		334	0	0	334	0	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013		1,896,714	0	26,667	917,539	1,390,756	(438,248)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		53,335,386		53,335,386
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		36,553				218,575	(182,022)
Common stock dividends declared and paid			0	0	0		0
Common stock dividends declared		(75,631)				(75,631)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	45,882	0	511	45,371	0	0
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			1,019,341
Benefit plan stock sales (purchases), shares				8,239
Benefit plan stock sales (purchases)	[2]	686	0	4	682	0	0
Common stock repurchases		(106,286)	0	(662)	(22,820)	(82,804)	0
Common stock repurchases, shares				(1,323,278)
Share-based compensation		20,905	0	0	20,905	0	0
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		651	0	0	651	0	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 1,819,474	$ 0	$ 26,520	$ 962,328	$ 1,450,896	$ (620,270)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		5,309,688		53,039,688

[1] Net of common shares delivered as payment for the exercise price or to satisfy the holders’ withholding tax liability upon exercise of options.

[2] Represents open-market transactions of common shares by the trustee of Ryder’s deferred compensation plans.