CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 432,098	$ 348,393	$ 294,354
Operating expenses
Depreciation of rental equipment	121,298	110,952	104,877
Storage, handling and other expenses	14,545	20,918	35,862
Logistics transportation costs	97,170	68,155	51,980
(Gain) loss on sale of used rental equipment	(11,725)	(5,347)	12,671
Administrative expenses	50,305	42,699	35,678
Total operating expenses	271,593	237,377	241,068
Operating income	160,505	111,016	53,286
Other expenses
Net interest expense	78,345	53,052	42,754
Other expense	677	765	654
Total other expenses	79,022	53,817	43,408
Income before income taxes and non-controlling interest	81,483	57,199	9,878
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,887	(14,861)	3,844
Net income	78,596	72,060	6,034
Preferred stock dividends	5,124
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest			37
Net income attributable to CAI common stockholders	$ 73,472	$ 72,060	$ 5,997
Net income per share attributable to CAI common stockholders
Basic	$ 3.76	$ 3.74	$ 0.31
Diluted	$ 3.71	$ 3.68	$ 0.31
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
Basic	19,562	19,253	19,318
Diluted	19,822	19,607	19,393
Container Lease Revenue [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 284,924	$ 235,365	$ 202,328
Rail Lease Revenue [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	35,703	32,476	30,490
Logistics Revenue [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 111,471	$ 80,552	$ 61,536