Debt (Schedule Of Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
		Oct. 01, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 314,178	$ 316,622
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			1,831,840	1,862,757
Debt issuance costs, Current Outstanding			(4,678)	(5,241)
Debt issuance costs, Long-term Outstanding			(12,191)	(15,124)
Total Debt, Current Outstanding			309,500	311,381
Total Debt, Long-term Outstanding			1,819,649	1,847,633
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding				4,200
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 480,000	$ 301,000
Average Interest			3.50%	4.20%
Maturity			Jun. 01, 2023
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | CAI Rail [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding	[1],[2]		$ 162,500	$ 272,500
Average Interest	[1],[2]		3.50%	4.20%
Maturity	[1],[2]		Oct. 01, 2023
Maximum credit commitment			$ 550,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | CAI Euro [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 18,559
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding				$ 19,457
Average Interest			2.00%	2.00%
Maturity			Sep. 01, 2020
Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due April 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 1,800	$ 1,800
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 25,950	$ 27,300
Average Interest			4.30%	4.50%
Maturity			Apr. 01, 2023
Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due October 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding	[3]		$ 107,250	$ 111,750
Average Interest	[3]		3.60%	3.80%
Maturity	[3]		Oct. 01, 2019
Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due June 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 7,000	$ 7,000
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 70,250	$ 75,500
Average Interest			3.80%	4.00%
Maturity			Jun. 01, 2021
Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due December 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding	[2]		$ 1,273	$ 1,240
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding	[2]		$ 14,325	$ 15,284
Average Interest	[2]		3.40%	3.40%
Maturity	[2]		Dec. 01, 2020
Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due August 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding	[2]		$ 2,989	$ 2,909
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding	[2]		$ 38,399	$ 40,651
Average Interest	[2]		3.60%	3.60%
Maturity	[2]		Aug. 01, 2021
Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due October 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 6,000	$ 6,000
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 88,000	$ 92,500
Average Interest			4.60%	4.60%
Maturity			Oct. 01, 2023
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 6,110	$ 6,110
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 46,665	$ 52,775
Average Interest			4.90%	4.90%
Maturity			Sep. 01, 2022
Collateralized Financing Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 23,455	$ 39,610
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 75,917	$ 67,615
Average Interest			1.50%	1.20%
Maturity			Dec. 01, 2021
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 28,650	$ 41,066
Total Debt, Long-term Outstanding			108,487	67,615
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			5,195	$ 1,456
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 32,570
Average Interest			4.20%	3.30%
Maturity			Jun. 01, 2019
Series 2012-1 Asset-Backed Notes [Member] | Asset Backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 17,100	$ 17,100
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 35,625	$ 48,450
Average Interest			3.50%	3.50%
Maturity			Oct. 01, 2027
Series 2013-1 Asset-Backed Notes [Member] | Asset Backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 22,900	$ 22,900
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 57,250	$ 74,425
Average Interest			3.40%	3.40%
Maturity			Mar. 01, 2028
Series 2017-1 Asset-Backed Notes [Member] | Asset Backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 25,307	$ 25,307
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 170,822	$ 189,802
Average Interest			3.70%	3.70%
Maturity			Jun. 01, 2042
Series 2018-1 Asset-Backed Notes [Member] | Asset Backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 34,890	$ 34,890
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 258,767	$ 284,935
Average Interest			4.00%	4.00%
Maturity			Feb. 01, 2043
Series 2018-2 Asset-Backed Notes [Member] | Asset Backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross Debt, Current Outstanding			$ 34,350	$ 34,350
Gross Debt, Long-term Outstanding			$ 274,800	$ 300,563
Average Interest			4.40%	4.40%
Maturity			Sep. 01, 2043
Subsequent Event [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | CAI Rail [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum credit commitment		$ 250,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Term Loan [Member] | Term Loan Due October 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance repaid		$ 107,300

[1] The maximum credit commitment under the Rail revolving credit facility was decreased on October 1, 2019 from $550 million to $250 million.

[2] These facilities will be repaid upon the sale of the railcar assets.

[3] Outstanding balance of $107.3 million was repaid on October 1, 2019.