Organization, Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization, Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	Organization, Description of Business and Basis of Presentation XPO Logistics, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("XPO" or the "Company") use an integrated network of people, technology and physical assets to help customers manage their goods more efficiently throughout their supply chains. The Company’s customers are multinational, national, mid-size and small enterprises, and include many of the most prominent companies in the world. XPO runs its business on a global basis, with two reportable segments: Transportation and Logistics. In the Transportation segment, the Company provides multiple services to facilitate the movement of raw materials, parts and finished goods. The Company accomplishes this by using its proprietary transportation technology, third-party carriers and Company-owned trucks and service centers. XPO’s transportation services include: freight brokerage, last mile, less-than-truckload ("LTL"), full truckload, and global forwarding services. Freight brokerage, last mile, and global forwarding are all non-asset or asset-light businesses. LTL and full truckload are asset-based. In the Logistics segment, referred to as supply chain, the Company provides a range of contract logistics services, including highly engineered and customized solutions, value-added warehousing and distribution, cold chain solutions and other inventory management solutions. Additionally, the Company performs e-commerce fulfillment, order personalization, warehousing, reverse logistics, storage, factory support, aftermarket support, manufacturing, distribution, packaging and labeling, as well as supply chain optimization services such as production flow management. For additional information relating to these segments, refer to Note 2—Segment Reporting. We have prepared the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the accounting policies described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 Form 10-K") and the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2016 Form 10-K. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of financial condition, operating results and cash flows for the interim periods presented have been made. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results of the full year. Income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests is deducted from net income (loss) to determine net income (loss) attributable to XPO. Adoption of New Accounting Standards In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): "Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting." This ASU involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Under the new standard, income tax benefits and deficiencies are to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. An entity should also recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period. Excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity. The Company adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2016, effective January 1, 2016. Accordingly, our provision for income taxes in the first quarter of 2017 included excess tax benefits of $10.7 million that reduced our income tax provision. For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, there was no material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements from the adoption of this ASU. In regards to forfeitures, the Company elected to account for forfeitures when they occur. In addition to the excess tax benefit referred to above, the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2017 also reflects the release of $2.6 million of reserves related to uncertain tax positions and the release of a valuation allowance of $3.3 million related to state tax matters. Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Effective In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue (Topic 606): "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." This new standard includes the required steps to achieve the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will be effective for our annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018, and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet determined which transition method will be used. We are currently evaluating the effects of this standard. We have completed an initial "gap assessment," whereby we have compared our current revenue recognition practices to those required by the new standard. The main areas under consideration include (i) the recognition of revenue using proportionate delivery within our Transportation segment, (ii) gross versus net revenue presentation, and (iii) the identification and capitalization of contract inception costs. We do not currently expect that the adoption of the standard will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The core principle of Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases. Under the new requirements, a lessee will recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and the right-of-use asset representing the right to the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, the lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effects ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. As of December 31, 2016, the Company reported $2,144.3 million in operating lease obligations and will evaluate those contracts as well as other existing arrangements to determine if they qualify for lease accounting under the new standard. The Company does not plan to adopt the standard early. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Accounting for Goodwill Impairment. Under the current guidance for assessing goodwill for impairment, an entity can first assess qualitative factors to determine whether a two-step goodwill impairment test is necessary (often referred to as "Step 0"). When an entity bypasses or fails Step 0, the two-step goodwill impairment test is performed. Step 1 compares a reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying amount to determine if there is a potential impairment. If the carrying amount exceeds fair value, Step 2 must be completed. Step 2 involves determining the implied fair value of goodwill and comparing it to the carrying amount of that goodwill to measure the impairment loss, if any. The revised guidance eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment. Under the new standard, a goodwill impairment loss will instead be measured at the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The guidance requires prospective adoption and will be effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption of this guidance is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We will be adopting this guidance for the year ending December 31, 2017 and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The ASU will change how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans present the cost of the benefits in the statements of operations. This cost, commonly referred to as the "net periodic benefit cost," is comprised of several components that reflect different aspects of the arrangement with the employee, including the effect of the related funding. Currently, the Company aggregates the various components of the net periodic benefit cost (including interest cost and the expected return on plan assets) for presentation purposes and includes these costs within operating income (loss) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Under the new guidance, these costs will be presented below operating income (loss). This ASU is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period; however, early adoption is permitted. We have not early adopted this standard and will be adopting it for the year ending December 31, 2018. The adoption of the standard will have no impact on net income. In connection with the adoption of this new standard, prior periods will be recast to reflect the new presentation. The amount of net periodic benefit cost that will be reclassified below operating income for fiscal year 2016 will be approximately $25 million of income.

Organization, Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

XPO Logistics, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("XPO" or the "Company") use an integrated network of people, technology and physical assets to help customers manage their goods more efficiently throughout their supply chains. The Company’s customers are multinational, national, mid-size and small enterprises, and include many of the most prominent companies in the world. XPO runs its business on a global basis, with two reportable segments: Transportation and Logistics.

In the Transportation segment, the Company provides multiple services to facilitate the movement of raw materials, parts and finished goods. The Company accomplishes this by using its proprietary transportation technology, third-party carriers and Company-owned trucks and service centers. XPO’s transportation services include: freight brokerage, last mile, less-than-truckload ("LTL"), full truckload, and global forwarding services. Freight brokerage, last mile, and global forwarding are all non-asset or asset-light businesses. LTL and full truckload are asset-based.

In the Logistics segment, referred to as supply chain, the Company provides a range of contract logistics services, including highly engineered and customized solutions, value-added warehousing and distribution, cold chain solutions and other inventory management solutions. Additionally, the Company performs e-commerce fulfillment, order personalization, warehousing, reverse logistics, storage, factory support, aftermarket support, manufacturing, distribution, packaging and labeling, as well as supply chain optimization services such as production flow management.

For additional information relating to these segments, refer to Note 2—Segment Reporting.

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the accounting policies described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 Form 10-K") and the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2016 Form 10-K.

In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of financial condition, operating results and cash flows for the interim periods presented have been made. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results of the full year. Income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests is deducted from net income (loss) to determine net income (loss) attributable to XPO.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): "Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting." This ASU involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Under the new standard, income tax benefits and deficiencies are to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. An entity should also recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period. Excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity. The Company adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2016, effective January 1, 2016. Accordingly, our provision for income taxes in the first quarter of 2017 included excess tax benefits of $10.7 million that reduced our income tax provision. For the quarter ended March 31, 2016, there was no material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements from the adoption of this ASU. In regards to forfeitures, the Company elected to account for forfeitures when they occur. In addition to the excess tax benefit referred to above, the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2017 also reflects the release of $2.6 million of reserves related to uncertain tax positions and the release of a valuation allowance of $3.3 million related to state tax matters.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Effective

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue (Topic 606): "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." This new standard includes the required steps to achieve the core principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will be effective for our annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2018, and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet determined which transition method will be used. We are currently evaluating the effects of this standard. We have completed an initial "gap assessment," whereby we have compared our current revenue recognition practices to those required by the new standard. The main areas under consideration include (i) the recognition of revenue using proportionate delivery within our Transportation segment, (ii) gross versus net revenue presentation, and (iii) the identification and capitalization of contract inception costs. We do not currently expect that the adoption of the standard will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The core principle of Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases. Under the new requirements, a lessee will recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and the right-of-use asset representing the right to the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, the lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the effects ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. As of December 31, 2016, the Company reported $2,144.3 million in operating lease obligations and will evaluate those contracts as well as other existing arrangements to determine if they qualify for lease accounting under the new standard. The Company does not plan to adopt the standard early.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Accounting for Goodwill Impairment. Under the current guidance for assessing goodwill for impairment, an entity can first assess qualitative factors to determine whether a two-step goodwill impairment test is necessary (often referred to as "Step 0"). When an entity bypasses or fails Step 0, the two-step goodwill impairment test is performed. Step 1 compares a reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying amount to determine if there is a potential impairment. If the carrying amount exceeds fair value, Step 2 must be completed. Step 2 involves determining the implied fair value of goodwill and comparing it to the carrying amount of that goodwill to measure the impairment loss, if any. The revised guidance eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment. Under the new standard, a goodwill impairment loss will instead be measured at the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The guidance requires prospective adoption and will be effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption of this guidance is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We will be adopting this guidance for the year ending December 31, 2017 and do not expect it to have a material effect on our financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The ASU will change how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and/or other postretirement benefit plans present the cost of the benefits in the statements of operations. This cost, commonly referred to as the "net periodic benefit cost," is comprised of several components that reflect different aspects of the arrangement with the employee, including the effect of the related funding. Currently, the Company aggregates the various components of the net periodic benefit cost (including interest cost and the expected return on plan assets) for presentation purposes and includes these costs within operating income (loss) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Under the new guidance, these costs will be presented below operating income (loss). This ASU is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period; however, early adoption is permitted. We have not early adopted this standard and will be adopting it for the year ending December 31, 2018. The adoption of the standard will have no impact on net income. In connection with the adoption of this new standard, prior periods will be recast to reflect the new presentation. The amount of net periodic benefit cost that will be reclassified below operating income for fiscal year 2016 will be approximately $25 million of income.