CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 416,540	$ 396,395	$ 315,917
Operating expenses
Depreciation of rental equipment	111,917	107,109	99,753
Storage, handling and other expenses	17,533	8,853	15,303
Logistics transportation costs	104,109	97,170	68,155
Gain on sale of rental equipment	(4,402)	(9,886)	(5,333)
Administrative expenses	52,699	46,240	39,588
Total operating expenses	281,856	249,486	217,466
Operating income	134,684	146,909	98,451
Other expenses
Net interest expense	79,158	62,573	41,815
Other expense	313	677	765
Total other expenses	79,471	63,250	42,580
Income before income taxes	55,213	83,659	55,871
Income tax expense (benefit)	4,192	4,554	(6,694)
Income from continuing operations	51,021	79,105	62,565
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(20,010)	(509)	9,495
Net income	31,011	78,596	72,060
Preferred stock dividends	8,829	5,124
Net income attributable to CAI common stockholders	22,182	73,472	72,060
Amounts attributable to CAI common stockholders
Net income from continuing operations	42,192	73,981	62,565
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	$ (20,010)	$ (509)	$ 9,495
Basic
Continuing operations	$ 2.38	$ 3.78	$ 3.25
Discontinued operations	(1.13)	(0.02)	0.49
Total basic	1.25	3.76	3.74
Diluted
Continuing operations	2.34	3.73	3.19
Discontinued operations	(1.11)	(0.02)	0.49
Total diluted	$ 1.23	$ 3.71	$ 3.68
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	17,731	19,562	19,253
Diluted	18,011	19,822	19,607
Container Lease Revenue [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 298,853	$ 284,924	$ 235,365
Logistics Revenue [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 117,687	$ 111,471	$ 80,552