CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$ 72,060	$ 6,034	$ 26,735
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		111,294	105,236	114,003
Amortization of debt issuance costs		3,306	2,975	2,943
Amortization of intangible assets		1,969	1,443	232
Stock-based compensation expense		2,087	1,732	1,915
Reduction in contingent consideration		(2,211)	(3,789)
Unrealized loss on foreign exchange		106	276	251
(Gain) loss on sale of used rental equipment		(5,347)	12,671	654
Loss on disposal of subsidiary			146
Deferred income taxes		(14,947)	1,138	4,967
Bad debt expense		402	3,151	448
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(7,802)	(1,799)	4,733
Prepaid expenses and other assets		735	(2,691)	(81)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(2,206)	3,572	(3,654)
Due to container investors		(2,958)	1,276	(7,183)
Unearned revenue		(1,296)	(2,115)	1,406
Net cash provided by operating activities		155,192	129,256	147,369
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of rental equipment	[1]	(502,050)	(251,165)	(389,331)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(15,599)	(4,100)
Proceeds from sale of used rental equipment		66,364	66,073	66,150
Disposal of subsidiary, net of cash disposed of			(460)
Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment		(126)	(82)	(83)
Receipt of principal payments from direct financing leases		24,061	19,633	22,116
Net cash used in investing activities		(411,751)	(181,600)	(305,248)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from debt		754,340	552,540	748,731
Principal payments on debt		(527,850)	(496,270)	(581,739)
Debt issuance costs		(3,441)	(1,515)	(3,226)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash		(5,597)	1,020	1,020
Proceeds from issuance of stock		28,028
Repurchase of stock			(9,176)	(12,997)
Exercise of stock options		145		4,747
Net cash provided by financing activities		245,625	46,599	156,536
Effect on cash of foreign currency translation		220	(674)	75
Net decrease in cash		(10,714)	(6,419)	(1,268)
Cash at beginning of the period		46,134	52,553	53,821
Cash at end of the period		35,420	46,134	52,553
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes		194	889	2,340
Interest		47,596	38,491	33,124
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity
Transfer of rental equipment to direct finance lease		205,033	19,036	30,604
Transfer of direct finance lease to rental equipment		413	732
Rental equipment payable		$ 92,415	$ 25,207	$ 10,901

[1] Represents cash disbursements for purchasing of rental equipment as reflected in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods indicated