CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue
Container rental revenue	$ 106,694	$ 64,892	$ 53,747
Management fee revenue	12,957	10,348	8,546
Gain on sale of container portfolios	2,345	614	753
Finance lease income	3,710	2,045	2,218
Total revenue	125,706	77,899	65,264
Operating expenses
Depreciation of container rental equipment	33,633	20,807	17,226
Amortization of intangible assets	1,254	1,377	1,566
Gain on disposition of used container equipment	(13,374)	(9,112)	(3,626)
Storage, handling and other expenses	5,513	6,170	8,717
Marketing, general and administrative expense	21,009	21,218	18,848
Restructuring charges	0	0	972
(Gain) Loss on foreign exchange	(354)	513	(215)
Total operating expenses	47,681	40,973	43,488
Operating income	78,025	36,926	21,776
Interest expense	16,139	5,278	4,311
Interest income	(12)	(109)	(10)
Net interest expense	16,127	5,169	4,301
Net income before income taxes and non-controlling interest	61,898	31,757	17,475
Income tax expense	11,084	3,555	3,919
Net income	50,814	28,202	13,556
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(625)	181	0
Net income attributable to CAI common stockholders	$ 50,189	$ 28,383	$ 13,556
Net income per share attributable to CAI common stockholders
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.60	$ 1.58	$ 0.76
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.55	$ 1.56	$ 0.76
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	19,295	17,974	17,902
Diluted (in shares)	19,693	18,203	17,902