CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$ 78,596		$ 72,060		$ 6,034
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		121,494		111,294		105,236
Amortization of debt issuance costs		4,350		3,306		2,975
Amortization of intangible assets		1,989		1,969		1,443
Stock-based compensation expense		2,867		2,087		1,732
Reduction in contingent consideration				(2,211)		(3,789)
Unrealized loss on foreign exchange		436		106		276
(Gain) loss on sale of used rental equipment		(11,725)		(5,347)		12,671
Loss on disposal of subsidiary						146
Deferred income taxes		2,466		(14,947)		1,138
Bad debt expense		492		402		3,151
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(19,269)		(4,994)		(1,175)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(2,361)		735		(2,691)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities		15		(2,206)		3,572
Due to container investors		764		(5,766)		652
Unearned revenue		(344)		(1,296)		(2,115)
Net cash provided by operating activities		179,770		155,192		129,256
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of rental equipment	[1]	(812,021)		(502,050)		(251,165)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired						(15,599)
Proceeds from sale of used rental equipment		106,149		66,364		66,073
Disposal of subsidiary, net of cash disposed of						(460)
Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment		(823)		(126)		(82)
Receipt of principal payments from direct finance leases		43,352		24,061		19,633
Net cash used in investing activities		(663,343)		(411,751)		(181,600)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from debt		1,695,064		754,340		552,540
Principal payments on debt		(1,236,912)		(527,850)		(496,270)
Debt issuance costs		(5,130)		(3,441)		(1,515)
Proceeds from issuance of common and preferred stock		103,433		28,028
Repurchase of common stock		(40,869)				(9,176)
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders		(3,260)
Exercise of stock options		24		145
Net cash provided by financing activities		512,350		251,222		45,579
Effect on cash of foreign currency translation		(3)		220		(674)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash		28,774		(5,117)		(7,439)
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of the period	[2]	47,209	[3]	52,326	[3]	59,765
Cash and restricted cash at end of the period	[3]	75,983		47,209	[2]	52,326	[2]
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes		651		194		889
Interest		71,286		47,596		38,491
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activity
Transfer of rental equipment to direct finance lease		316,697		205,033		19,036
Transfer of direct finance lease to rental equipment				413		732
Rental equipment payable		$ 74,139		$ 92,415		$ 92,415

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

[2] Includes cash of $14,735, $15,685, and $17,447, cash held by variable interest entities of $20,685, $30,449, and $35,106, and restricted cash of $11,789, $6,192, and $7,212 at December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

[3] Includes cash of $20,104, $14,735, and $15,685, cash held by variable interest entities of $25,211, $20,685, and $30,449, and restricted cash of $30,668, $11,789, and $6,192 at December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.