Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	May. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 36.8	$ 7.5	$ 4.7
Warrants
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 8.5	0.0	0.0
Restricted Stock Units and Performance-based Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost, period for recognition						2 years 6 months 10 days
Unrecognized compensation cost				$ 24.9		$ 24.9
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 1.9	1.7	1.5
Options, assumed (in shares)						883,733
Options, outstanding, intrinsic value				21.7		$ 21.7
Options, vested and exercisable, intrinsic value				18.3		18.3
Compensation not yet recognized, stock options				2.3		$ 2.3
Unrecognized compensation cost, period for recognition						2 years 4 months 6 days
Options, exercised, intrinsic value						$ 4.1	1.7	0.8
Proceeds from stock options exercised						$ 5.2	0.5	0.3
Stock options | Employee and Officer
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, life						10 years
Stock options | Employee and Officer | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, award vesting period						3 years
Stock options | Employee and Officer | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, award vesting period						5 years
Stock options | Director
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, award vesting period						1 year
Options, life						10 years
Stock appreciation rights
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 0.4	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Liability for settlement				$ 1.9		$ 1.9
Weighted average fair value (in usd per share)				$ 13.45		$ 13.45
Granted (in shares)						0
Aggregate intrinsic value, outstanding				$ 1.7		$ 1.7
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable				$ 1.7		$ 1.7
Assumed (in shares)						180,789
Outstanding (in shares)				143,603		143,603	0	0
Vested (in shares)						37,186
Restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 9.0	$ 5.8	$ 3.2
Granted (in shares)						329,899	175,773	305,714
Assumed (in shares)						1,088,674
Restricted stock units, vested, fair value						$ 14.3	$ 9.9	$ 5.1
Outstanding (in shares)				1,558,441		1,558,441	692,823	901,655	883,816
Vested (in shares)						460,895	295,600	219,875
Performance-based restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 17.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Granted (in shares)						537,261	1,114,951	450,000
Assumed (in shares)						0
Restricted stock units, vested, fair value						$ 0.7
Outstanding (in shares)				1,987,060		1,987,060	1,563,951	450,000	0
Vested (in shares)						25,424	0	0
Unrecognized compensation cost, amount not deemed probable				$ 28.8		$ 28.8
Restricted Stock Units Subject to Service Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding (in shares)				1,359,477		1,359,477
Restricted Stock Units Subject to Service and Market Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding (in shares)				198,964		198,964
Performance-based Restricted Stock Units Subject To Service, Market and Performance Based Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding (in shares)				1,736,238		1,736,238
Performance-based Restricted Stock Units Subject To Service Conditions
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding (in shares)				250,822		250,822
Norbert Dentressangle SA
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense						$ 18.5
Norbert Dentressangle SA | Warrants
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense					$ 8.5
Con-Way, Inc.
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 30.9
Con-Way, Inc. | Restricted Stock Units and Performance-based Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cash payments to settle awards				$ 10.0
Con-Way, Inc. | Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, assumed (in shares)		883,733
Con-Way, Inc. | Stock appreciation rights
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cash payments to settle awards						$ 0.6
Con-Way, Inc. | Restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Assumed (in shares)		661,988
Assumed, converted from other award type (in shares)		426,686
2011 Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized										4,000,000
Shares available for issuance				737,840		737,840
2011 Plan | New Breed Logistics | Performance-based restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, shares granted						367,705
2011 Plan | Pacer International | Restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, shares granted						122,569
Restricted stock units, vesting percentage			25.00%			75.00%
2011 Plan | Pacer International | Restricted stock units | 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, vesting percentage						33.40%
2011 Plan | Pacer International | Restricted stock units | 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, vesting percentage						33.30%
2011 Plan | Pacer International | Restricted stock units | 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, vesting percentage						33.30%
2011 Plan | 3PD Holding, Inc | Restricted Stock Units and Performance-based Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, shares granted						600,000
2011 Plan | 3PD Holding, Inc | Restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, shares granted						150,000
2011 Plan | 3PD Holding, Inc | Performance-based restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units, shares granted						450,000