Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 17,279	$ 15,381	$ 14,619
Operating expenses
Cost of transportation and services	9,013	8,132	7,887
Direct operating expense	5,725	5,006	4,616
Sales, general and administrative expense	1,837	1,661	1,652
Total operating expenses	16,575	14,799	14,155
Operating income	704	582	464
Other expense (income)	(109)	(57)	(34)
Foreign currency loss (gain)	3	58	(40)
Debt extinguishment loss	27	36	70
Interest expense	217	284	361
Income before income tax provision (benefit)	566	261	107
Income tax provision (benefit)	122	(99)	22
Net income	444	360	85
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(22)	(20)	(16)
Net income attributable to XPO	422	340	69
Earnings per share data (Note 16):
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 390	$ 312	$ 63
Basic earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 3.17	$ 2.72	$ 0.57
Diluted earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 2.88	$ 2.45	$ 0.53
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	123	115	110
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	135	128	123