Debt And Capital Lease Obligations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 28, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 30, 2015	Mar. 27, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short term line of credit	$ 75,000,000
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	1,074,661,000			1,058,754,000
Restricted cash	7,978,000			8,232,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Mar. 01, 2020
Maximum amount credit facility might be increased	960,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	1.90%			1.90%
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Availability borrowing capacity	447,900,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	619,900,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | CAI Rail Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Jul. 01, 2019
Maximum credit commitment	250,000,000
Maximum amount credit facility might be increased	325,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	1.90%			1.90%
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Availability borrowing capacity	175,200,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | CAI Rail Inc [Member] | CAI Rail Assets [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	96,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Consortium of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Mar. 15, 2020
Maximum credit commitment	775,000,000				760,000,000
Swing Line Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum credit commitment	10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Number of business days short term borrowings payable, Maximum	10 days
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum credit commitment	15,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Letters of credit outstanding	100,000
Term Loan [Member] | Rental Equipment [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	350,800,000
Term Loan [Member] | Development Bank of Japan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Apr. 01, 2018
Principal amount of loan	30,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	2.30%			2.20%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Term of loan	5 years
Number of quarterly installments	19
Quarterly payments of principal	500,000
Debt instrument final payment	21,500,000
Amount outstanding under the facility	26,900,000
Term Loan [Member] | Consortium of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Oct. 01, 2019
Maximum credit commitment	300,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	1.90%			1.80%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Amount outstanding under the facility		125,000,000				249,400,000
Amortization term of facility	6 years
Proceeds used to repay credit facility		124,400,000
Term Loan [Member] | Consortium of Banks, Note Dated October 1, 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum credit commitment	150,000,000		115,000,000
Term Loans [Abstract]
Amount outstanding under the facility	145,500,000
Term Loan [Member] | Consortium of Banks, Note Dated April 11, 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Apr. 01, 2017
Maximum credit commitment	142,000,000
Maximum amount credit facility might be increased	200,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	1.90%			1.90%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Term of loan	5 years
Amount outstanding under the facility	116,800,000
Periodic payments specified as percentage of drawn amount (in hundredths)	1.75%
Term Loan [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Consortium of Banks, Note Dated October 1, 2014 [Member]
Term Loans [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	1.60%		2.25%
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Sep. 01, 2022
Percentage of aggregate principal to prepay, minimum (in hundredths)	10.00%
Average Interest (in hundredths)	4.90%			4.90%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Amount outstanding under the facility	82,400,000
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	103,000,000
Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Rental Equipment [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	107,200,000
Asset Backed Warehouse Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of loan	171,000,000
Fixed interest rate	3.47%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Amount outstanding under the facility	129,700,000
Proceeds used for working capital purposes		229,000,000
Asset Backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Mar. 01, 2028
Principal amount of loan	229,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	3.40%			3.40%
Fixed interest rate	3.35%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Amount outstanding under the facility	183,200,000
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Restricted cash	8,000,000
Asset Backed Notes [Member] | Rental Equipment [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	403,200,000
Collateralized Financing Obligation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Jun. 01, 2019
Average Interest (in hundredths)	0.80%			0.80%
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	128,100,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Average fixed and floating interest rates	0.80%
Maturity date range start	Jun. 01, 2015
Maturity date range end	Jun. 01, 2019
Short Term Line Of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	May 01, 2016
Maximum credit commitment	75,000,000
Average Interest (in hundredths)	1.50%			1.50%
Fixed interest rate	1.50%
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Average fixed and floating interest rates	2.80%
Maturity date range start	Jun. 01, 2015
Maturity date range end	Mar. 01, 2016
Estimated future principal and interest payments under capital lease obligations [Abstract]
Capital lease obligation	200,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member] | Containers [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	500,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maturity date	Jun. 01, 2019
Average Interest (in hundredths)	2.60%			2.60%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Number of loans	2
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	9,400,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Rental Equipment [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Abstract]
Net book value	19,100,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Amortizing Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rate	2.70%
Term Loans [Abstract]
Term of loan	5 years
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	9,200,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Non-Amortizing Term Loan [Member]
Term Loans [Abstract]
Term of loan	5 years
Long term debt maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 1,600,000