10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

Q ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 0-13468

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Washington	91-1069248
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1015 Third Avenue, 12thFloor, Seattle, Washington	98104
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(206) 674-3400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ý    No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes o  No  ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ý    No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ý            Accelerated filer  ¨           Non-accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes o No ý

At June 30, 2011, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $10,685,897,706.

At February 21, 2012, the number of shares outstanding of registrant’s Common Stock was 212,077,956.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the Registrant’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 2, 2012 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

Forward-Looking Statements

In accordance with the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is making readers aware that forward-looking statements, because they relate to future events, are by their very nature subject to many important risk factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. For additional information about forward-looking statements and for an identification of risk factors and their potential significance, see “Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements Under Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995; Certain Cautionary Statements” immediately preceding Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this report.

PART I

ITEM 1—BUSINESS

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of providing global logistics services. The Company offers its customers a seamless international network supporting the movement and strategic positioning of goods. The Company’s services include the consolidation or forwarding of air and ocean freight. In each United States office, and in many overseas offices, the Company acts as a customs broker. The Company also provides additional services including distribution management, vendor consolidation, cargo insurance, purchase order management and customized logistics information. The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business and does not own aircraft or steamships.

Beginning in 1981, the Company’s primary business focus was on airfreight shipments from Asia to the United States and related customs brokerage and other services. In the mid-1980’s, the Company began to expand its service capabilities in export airfreight, ocean freight and distribution services. Today the Company offers a complete range of global logistics services to a diversified group of customers, both in terms of industry specialization and geographic location. As opportunities for profitable growth arise, the Company plans to create new offices. While the Company has historically expanded through organic growth, the Company has also been open to growth through acquisition of, or establishing joint ventures with, existing agents or others within the industry.

At January 31, 2012, the Company, including its majority-owned subsidiaries, operates full service offices (•) in the cities identified below. Full service offices have also been established in locations where the Company maintains unilateral control over assets and operations and where the existence of the parent-subsidiary relationship is maintained by means other than record ownership of voting stock (#). In other cities, the Company contracts with independent agents to provide required services and has established approximately 46 such relationships world-wide. Wholly-owned locations operating under the supervision and control of another full service office are identified as satellite offices (+). In each case, the opening date for the full service office or satellite office is set forth in parenthesis.

UNITED STATES AND OTHER NORTH AMERICA
UNITED STATES	• Dallas (5/92)	• Milwaukee (7/00)	• Calgary (9/04)
• Seattle (5/79)	• Columbus (6/92)	• Kansas City (8/00)
• Chicago (7/81)	• Charlotte (7/92)	• Washington, D.C. (9/00)	MEXICO
• San Francisco (7/81)	• Newark (9/94)	• Nashville (10/01)	• Mexico City (6/95)
• New York (11/81)	• Philadelphia (3/95)	+ Huntsville (12/02)	• Nuevo Laredo (4/97)
• Los Angeles (5/82)	• Charleston (6/95)	• Austin (2/03)	• Guadalajara (9/97)
• Atlanta (8/83)	• Memphis (8/95)	• Orlando (8/03)	+ Veracruz (9/97)
• Boston (11/85)	• Salt Lake City (11/95)	• Tampa (9/03)	+ Manzanillo (1/99)
• Miami (3/86)	• Norfolk (9/96)	• New Orleans (9/04)	• Nogales (1/99)
• Minneapolis (7/86)	• Indianapolis (11/96)	+ Omaha (7/06)	• Ciudad Juarez (5/00)
• Denver (2/88)	+ Port Huron-Blue Water Bridge (12/96)	+ Calexico (6/06)	• Monterrey (1/05)
• Detroit (7/88)	• Buffalo (1/97)	+ Knoxville (5/07)	+ Reynosa (6/06)
• Portland (7/88)	• El Paso (1/97)	• Raleigh Durham (1/08)	+ Querétaro (9/06)
• Cincinnati (8/89)	• Laredo (2/97)	• Tulsa (1/09)	+ Lázaro Cárdenas (7/08)
• Cleveland (7/90)	• Nogales (2/97)
• Phoenix (7/91)	• San Diego (7/97)	CANADA	PUERTO RICO
• Louisville (10/91)	+ Rochester (10/97)	• Toronto (5/84)	• San Juan (5/95)
• St. Louis (4/92)	• McAllen (4/98)	• Vancouver (9/95)
• Houston (4/92)	• Pittsburgh (6/99)	+ Windsor (6/98)
• Baltimore (4/92)	• Savannah (3/00)	• Montreal (4/99)

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LATIN AMERICA
ARGENTINA	• Manaus (7/00)	COLOMBIA	GUATEMALA
• Buenos Aires (1/98)	• Porto Alegre (1/05)	• Bogota (12/98)	• Guatemala City (1/07)
	• Curitiba (10/10)	+ Cali (12/98)
BRAZIL	+ Belo Horizonte (10/10)	+ Medellin (7/00)	PERU
• Sao Paulo (9/95)			• Lima (12/05)
• Rio de Janeiro (9/95)	CHILE	COSTA RICA
• Campinas (9/95)	• Santiago (2/95)	• San Jose (10/03)
+ Santos (10/97)

ASIA PACIFIC
AUSTRALIA	• Suzhou (9/01)	JAPAN	SOUTH KOREA
• Sydney (8/88)	• Zhongshan (9/01)	• Tokyo (1/01)	• Seoul (10/94)
• Melbourne (8/88)	• Hangzhou (10/01)	• Osaka (1/01)	• Pusan (10/94)
• Brisbane (10/93)	+ Kunshan (12/01)	+ Nagoya (8/03)	+ Chonan (6/96)
• Perth (12/94)	• Fuzhou (6/02)		+ Kwangju (6/96)
• Adelaide (10/97)	• Yantai (11/02)	MALAYSIA	+ Masan (6/96)
	+ Shenyang (12/02)	• Penang (11/87)	+ Taegu (6/96)
BANGLADESH	• Wuhan (1/03)	• Kuala Lumpur (6/90)
• Dhaka (6/89)	+ Huizhou (12/03)	• Johor Bahru (11/94)	TAIWAN
+ Chittagong (8/93)	+ Zhuhai (12/03)		• Taipei (7/81)
	+ Foshan (1/04)	NEW ZEALAND	+ Kaohsiung (9/81)
CAMBODIA	• Chongqing (7/04)	• Auckland (8/88)	+ Taichung (9/81)
• Phnom Penh (4/00)	• Dongguan (2/05)	+ Christchurch (10/07)	+ Hsin-Chu (9/89)
	• Nanjing (3/05)
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA	+ Macau (5/05)	PHILIPPINES	THAILAND
• Guangzhou (4/94)	+ Shantou (12/06)	• Manila (8/98)	• Bangkok (9/94)
• Beijing (7/94)	+ Changzhou (10/07)	+ Olongapo City (8/98)	+ Laem Chabang (8/05)
• Dalian (7/94)		+ Cebu City (9/99)
• Shanghai (7/94)	HONG KONG		VIETNAM
• Shenzhen (7/94)	• Kowloon (6/81)	SINGAPORE	• Ho Chi Minh City (5/00)
• Qingdao (7/94)		• Singapore (9/81)	• Hanoi (3/04)
• Tianjin (7/94)	INDONESIA		+ Da Nang (9/05)
• Xi’an (7/94)	• Jakarta (12/90)	SRI LANKA
• Xiamen (7/94)	• Surabaya (2/92)	• Colombo (3/95)
• Chengdu (9/00)	+ Batam (3/07)
• Ningbo (7/01)

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EUROPE AND AFRICA
AUSTRIA	• Hamburg (1/93)	NORWAY	SWITZERLAND
• Vienna (11/95)	• Nuremberg (1/01)	• Oslo (6/10)	• Chiasso (2/01)
	+ Hannover (1/05)	+ Kristiansand (1/11)	• Zurich (10/05)
BELGIUM	+ Bad Mergentheim (6/05)
• Brussels (7/90)		POLAND	UNITED KINGDOM
+ Antwerp(4/91)	HUNGARY	• Warsaw (2/05)	• London (4/86)
	• Budapest (4/00)	+ Krakow (8/07)	• Manchester (11/88)
THE CZECH REPUBLIC			• Birmingham (3/90)
• Prague (6/98)	IRELAND	PORTUGAL	• Glasgow (4/92)
	• Dublin (3/97)	• Lisbon (10/91)	• Bristol (3/97)
FINLAND	• Cork (3/97)	• Oporto (10/91)	• East Midlands (1/99)
• Helsinki (4/94)	• Shannon (3/97)		+ Hull (1/00)
		ROMANIA	• Belfast (9/01)
FRANCE	ITALY	• Bucharest (9/08)	• Aberdeen (9/05)
• Paris (1/97)	• Milan (4/93)
• Mulhouse (1/97)	• Verona (4/93)	SPAIN	SOUTH AFRICA
• Lyon (1/97)	• Florence (3/98)	• Barcelona (1/94)	• Johannesburg (3/94)
• Lille (3/97)	+ Turin (4/05)	• Madrid (1/94)	• Durban (3/94)
• Bordeaux (7/00)	+ Rome (1/10)	• Alicante (4/96)	• Capetown (1/97)
GERMANY	THE NETHERLANDS	SWEDEN	MADAGASCAR
• Frankfurt (4/92)	• Amsterdam (6/94)	• Stockholm (1/94)	• Antananarivo (11/01)
• Munich (4/92)	• Rotterdam (3/95)	• Goteborg (1/94)
• Dusseldorf (4/92)	+ Maastricht (9/07)
• Stuttgart (4/92)

MIDDLE EAST AND INDIA
BAHRAIN	+ Cochin (4/01)	LEBANON	SAUDI ARABIA
• Manama (1/08)	+ Hyderabad (9/01)	• Beirut (8/99)	# Riyadh (7/92)
	+ Tuticorin (11/03)		# Jeddah (7/92)
EGYPT	+ Ahmedabad (1/05)	OMAN	# Dammam (6/05)
• Cairo (2/95)	+ Ludhiana (6/05)	• Muscat (4/09)
+ Alexandria (2/95)	+ Pune (10/06)		TURKEY
	+ Kolkata (1/08)	PAKISTAN	• Ankara (1/99)
GREECE	+ Coimbatore (1/08)	• Karachi (9/96)	• Istanbul (1/99)
• Athens (2/99)	+ Mundra (4/08)	• Lahore (9/96)	• Izmir (1/99)
		+ Sialkot (6/03)	• Mersin (1/99)
INDIA	JORDAN	+ Faisalabad (5/06)	+ Adana (1/99)
• New Delhi (7/96)	• Amman (9/07)	+ Islamabad (10/06)
• Mumbai (Bombay) (1/97)			UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
• Bangalore (6/97)	KUWAIT	QATAR	• Abu Dhabi (1/94)
• Chennai (Madras) (6/97)	# Kuwait City (7/97)	• Doha (1/07)	• Dubai (10/98)
+ Jaipur (6/99)

The Company was incorporated in the State of Washington in May 1979. Its executive offices are located at 1015 Third Avenue, 12^thFloor, Seattle, Washington, and its telephone number is (206) 674-3400.

The Company’s internet address is http://www.expeditors.com. The Company makes available free of charge through its internet website its annual

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report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

For information concerning the amount of revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity attributable to the geographic areas in which the Company conducts its business, see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

Airfreight Services

Airfreight services accounted for approximately 37, 38 and 35 percent of the Company’s 2011, 2010 and 2009 consolidated revenues net of freight consolidation expenses (“net revenues”), respectively. When performing airfreight services, the Company typically acts either as a freight consolidator or as an agent for the airline which carries the shipment. When acting as a freight consolidator, the Company purchases cargo space from airlines on a volume basis and resells that space to its customers at lower rates than the customers could obtain directly from airlines. When moving shipments between points where the volume of business does not facilitate consolidation, the Company receives and forwards individual shipments as the agent of the airline which carries the shipment. Whether acting as a consolidator or agent, the Company offers its customers knowledge of optimum routing, familiarity with local business practices, knowledge of export and import documentation and procedures, the ability to arrange for ancillary services, and assistance with space availability in periods of peak demand.

In its airfreight forwarding operations, the Company procures shipments from its customers, determines the routing, consolidates shipments bound for a particular airport distribution point, and selects the airline for transportation to the distribution point. At the distribution point, the Company or its agent arranges for the consolidated lot to be broken down into its component shipments and for the transportation of the individual shipments to their final destinations.

The Company estimates its average airfreight consolidation weighs approximately 3,900 pounds and a typical consolidation includes merchandise from several shippers. Because shipment by air is relatively expensive compared with ocean transportation, air shipments are generally characterized by a high value-to-weight ratio, the need for rapid delivery, or both.

The Company typically delivers shipments from a Company warehouse at the origin to the airline after consolidating the freight into containers or onto pallets. Shipments normally arrive at the destination distribution point within forty-eight hours after such delivery. During peak shipment periods, cargo space available from the scheduled air carriers can be limited and backlogs of freight shipments may occur. When these conditions exist, the Company may charter aircraft to meet customer demand.

The Company consolidates individual shipments based on weight and volume characteristics in cost-effective combinations. Typically, as the weight or volume of a shipment increases, the cost per pound/kilo or cubic inch/centimeter charged by the Company decreases. The rates charged by airlines to forwarders and others also generally decrease as the weight or volume of the shipment increases. As a result, by aggregating shipments and presenting them to an airline as a single shipment, the Company is able to obtain a lower rate per pound/kilo or cubic inch/centimeter than that which it charges to its customers for the individual shipment, while generally offering the customer a lower rate than could be obtained from the airline for an unconsolidated shipment.

The Company’s airfreight forwarding net revenues from a consolidated shipment include the differential between the rate charged to the Company by an airline and the rate which the Company charges to its customers, commissions paid to the Company by the airline carrying the freight and fees for ancillary services. Such ancillary services provided by the Company include preparation of shipping and customs documentation, packing, crating and insurance services, negotiation of letters of credit, and preparation of documentation to comply with local export laws. When the Company acts as an agent for an airline handling an unconsolidated shipment, its net revenues are primarily derived from commissions paid by the airline and fees for ancillary services paid by the customer.

The Company also performs breakbulk services which involve receiving and breaking down consolidated airfreight lots and arranging for distribution of the individual shipments. Breakbulk service revenues also include commissions from agents for airfreight shipments.

The Company does not own aircraft and does not plan to do so. Management believes that the ownership of aircraft would subject the Company to undue business risks, including large capital outlays, increased fixed operating expenses, problems of fully utilizing aircraft and competition with airlines. Because the Company relies on commercial airlines to transport its shipments, changes in carrier financial stability, policies and practices such as pricing, payment terms, scheduling, capacity and frequency of service may affect its business.

The commercial airline industry as a whole incurred substantial operating losses in 2009. While their operations in 2010 and 2011 improved over 2009 levels, many airlines remain highly leveraged with debt. Carriers continue to merge and consolidate operations and reduce available capacity to improve financial results. Some airlines have significantly reduced their reliance on cargo-only aircraft to service their airfreight customers. The reduction in capacity allows asset-based carriers to raise rates in the face of declining or stable demand. When fewer planes are flying, the Company has fewer shipping options from which to craft service offerings to meet customers’ needs. The combination of reduced capacity, higher rates and more infrequent flights could challenge the Company’s ability to maintain historical unitary profitability.

Ocean Freight and Ocean Services

Ocean freight services accounted for approximately 23, 23 and 24 percent of the Company’s 2011, 2010 and 2009 consolidated net revenues, respectively. The Company operates Expeditors International Ocean (“EIO”), an Ocean Transportation Intermediary, sometimes referred to as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (“NVOCC”) which specializes in ocean freight consolidation in most major trade lanes in the world. EIO also provides service, on a smaller scale, to and from any location where the Company has an office or agent. As an NVOCC, EIO contracts with ocean shipping lines to obtain transportation for a fixed number of containers between various points during a specified time period at an agreed rate. EIO handles full container loads for customers that do not have annual shipping volumes sufficient to negotiate comparable contracts directly with the ocean carriers. EIO also solicits Less-than Container Load (“LCL”) freight to fill the containers and charges lower rates than those available directly from shipping lines. The Company’s revenues as an ocean freight forwarder are also derived from commissions paid by the carrier and revenues from fees charged to customers for ancillary services which the Company may provide, such as preparing documentation, procuring insurance, arranging for packing and crating services, and providing consultation. The Company does not own vessels and generally does not physically handle the cargo.

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Ocean carriers incurred substantial operating losses in 2009 and 2011 and many are highly leveraged with debt. While the overall global volume in 2011 was comparable to 2010, many carriers took delivery of new ships in 2011 which created excess capacity. This excessive capacity caused most carriers to redeploy ships and modify sailing schedules to improve financial results. The potential combination of reduced sailing schedules and pricing volatility could impact the Company’s ability to maintain historical unitary profitability.

Order Management provides services which manage origin consolidation, supplier performance, carrier allocation, carrier performance, container management, document management, destination management and PO/SKU visibility through a web based application. Customers have the ability to monitor and report against near real time status of purchase orders from the date of creation through final delivery. Item quantities, required ship dates, commodity descriptions, estimated vs. actual ex-factory dates, container utilization, supplier performance and document visibility are many of the managed functions that are visible and reportable via the web. Order Management is available for various modes of transportation including ocean, air, truck and rail. Order Management revenues are derived from services provided to the shipper as well as management fees associated with managing purchase order execution against customer specific rules. One basic function of Order Management involves the taking of cargo from many suppliers in a particular origin and “consolidating” these shipments into the fewest possible number of containers to maximize space utilization and minimize cost. Through origin consolidation, customers can reduce the number of containers shipped by putting more product in larger and fewer containers. Data integrity is an increasingly critical function of Order Management. Efficient data management is a by-product of our operational processes.

Customs Brokerage and Other Services

Customs brokerage and other services accounted for approximately 40, 39 and 41 percent of the Company’s 2011, 2010 and 2009 consolidated net revenues, respectively. As a customs broker, the Company assists importers to clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the importer, arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. The Company also provides other value added services at destination such as warehousing and product distribution, inventory management and time definite transportation. None of these other services are currently individually significant to the Company’s net revenues.

The Company provides customs clearance services in connection with many of the shipments it handles as a freight forwarder. However, substantial customs brokerage revenues are derived from customers that elect to use a competing forwarder. Conversely, shipments handled by the Company as a forwarder may be processed by another customs broker selected by the customer.

The Company also provides custom clearances for goods moving by rail and truck between the United States, Canada and/or Mexico. The commodities being cleared and the time sensitive nature of the border brokerage business require the Company to continue to make enhancements to its systems in order to provide competitive service.

The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Expeditors Tradewin, L.L.C., responds to customer driven requests for high-end customs consulting services. Fees for these non-transactional services are based upon hourly billing rates and bids for mutually agreed projects.

Marketing and Customers

The Company provides customer specific solutions and seeks to understand the needs of the customers from order inception through to order delivery. Although the domestic importer usually designates the logistics company and the services that will be required, the foreign shipper may also participate in this selection process. Therefore, the Company coordinates its marketing program to reach both domestic importers and their overseas suppliers.

The Company’s marketing efforts are focused on interacting with our customers’ supply chain, including logistics, transportation, customs, compliance and purchasing departments of existing and potential customers. The district manager of each office is responsible for marketing, sales coordination, and implementation in the area in which he or she is located. All employees are responsible for customer service and retention.

The Company staffs its offices largely with managers and other key personnel who are citizens of the nations in which they operate and who have extensive experience in global logistics. Marketing and customer service staffs are responsible for marketing the Company’s services directly to customers and prospects who may select or influence the selection of logistics service providers and for ensuring that customers receive timely and efficient service. The Company believes that its expertise in supplying solutions customized to the needs of its customers, its emphasis on coordinating its origin and destination customer service and marketing activities, and the incentives it gives to its managers have been important elements of its success.

The goods handled by the Company are generally a function of the products which dominate international trade between any particular origin and destination. Shipments of computer components, electronic goods, medical equipment, sporting goods, machine parts, aviation parts, industrial equipment and toys comprise a significant percentage of the Company’s business. Typical import customers include retailers and distributors of consumer electronics, department store chains, clothing and shoe wholesalers, manufacturers and catalogue stores. Historically, no single customer has accounted for five percent or more of the Company’s net revenues.

Competition

The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. There are a large number of companies competing in one or more segments of the industry, but the number of firms with a global network that offer a full complement of logistics services is more limited. Depending on the location of the shipper and the importer, the Company must compete against both the niche players and larger entities. Historically, the industry has experienced consolidations into larger firms striving for stronger and more complete multinational and multi-service networks. However, regional and local competitors still maintain a strong market presence in certain areas.

The primary competitive factors in the global logistics services industry continue to be price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations. The Company emphasizes quality customer service and believes that its prices are competitive with the prices of others in the industry. Larger customers utilize more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of their logistics supply chains by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management. Accordingly, timely and accurate information integrated into customer service capabilities are a significant factor in attracting and retaining customers. This information integrated into customer service

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capabilities includes customized Electronic Data Interchange (“EDI”), on-line freight tracing and tracking applications and customized on-line reporting. The customized EDI applications allow the transfer of key information between the customers’ systems and the Company’s systems. Freight tracing and tracking applications provide customers with near real time visibility to the location, transit time and estimated delivery time of inventory in transit.

Management believes that the ability to develop and deliver innovative solutions to meet customers’ increasingly sophisticated information requirements is a critical factor in the ongoing success of the Company. The Company devotes a significant amount of resources towards the maintenance and enhancement of systems that will meet these customer demands. Management believes that the Company’s existing systems are competitive with the systems currently in use by other logistics services companies with which it competes.

Unlike many of its competitors, who have tended to grow by merger and acquisition, the Company operates the same accounting and transportation computer software, running on a common hardware platform, in all of its full-service locations. Small and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop these customized systems. Historically, growth through aggressive acquisition has proven to be a challenge for many of the Company’s competitors and typically involves the purchase of significant “goodwill.” As a result, the Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions.

The Company’s ability to attract, retain, and motivate highly qualified personnel with experience in global logistics services is an essential, if not the most important, element of its ability to compete in the industry. To this end, the Company has adopted incentive compensation programs which make percentages of an operating unit's net revenues or profits available to managers for distribution among key personnel. The Company believes that these incentive compensation programs, combined with its experienced personnel and its ability to coordinate global marketing efforts, provide it with a distinct competitive advantage and account for historical growth that competitors have generally matched only through acquisition.

Currency and Other Risk Factors

The nature of the Company’s worldwide operations necessitates the Company dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. dollar. This results in the Company being exposed to the inherent risks of volatile international currency markets and governmental interference. Some of the countries where the Company maintains offices and/or agency relationships have strict currency control regulations which influence the Company’s ability to hedge foreign currency exposure. The Company tries to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among its offices or agents.

In addition, the Company’s ability to provide service to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean steamship lines and governmental agencies. The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory. However, changes in the financial stability and operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers, space allotments available from carriers, governmental regulation or deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions or trade accords could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.

Seasonality

Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to seasonal trends when measured on a quarterly basis. The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest. This pattern has been the result of, or influenced by, numerous factors including weather patterns, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces. In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings. The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors, nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns will continue in future periods.

Environmental

In the United States, the Company is subject to Federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise for the protection of the environment. Similar laws apply in many other jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Although current operations have not been significantly affected by compliance with these environmental laws, governments are becoming increasingly sensitive to environmental issues, and the Company cannot predict what impact future environmental regulations may have on its business. The Company does not anticipate making any material capital expenditures for environmental control purposes during 2012.

Employees

At January 31, 2012, the Company employed approximately 13,590 people, 4,620 in the United States and 800 in the balance of North America, 640 in Latin America, 4,030 in Asia Pacific, 2,280 in Europe and Africa, and 1,220 in the Middle East and India. Approximately 1,720 of the Company’s employees are engaged principally in sales and marketing and customer service, 7,960 in operations and 3,910 in technology, finance and administration. The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement and considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.

In order to retain the services of highly qualified, experienced, and motivated employees, the Company places considerable emphasis on its non-equity incentive compensation programs and stock option plans.

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following table sets forth the names, ages, and positions of current executive officers of the Company.

Name	Age	Position
Peter J. Rose	68	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and director
James L.K. Wang	64	President-Asia Pacific and director
R. Jordan Gates	56	President and Chief Operating Officer and director
Rommel C. Saber	54	President-Europe, Africa, Near/Middle East and Indian Subcontinent
Robert L. Villanueva	59	President-The Americas
Timothy C. Barber	52	President-Global Sales and Marketing
Rosanne Esposito	60	Executive Vice President-Global Customs
Eugene K. Alger	51	Executive Vice President-North America
Philip M. Coughlin	51	Executive Vice President-North America
Jeffrey S. Musser	46	Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Charles J. Lynch	51	Senior Vice President-Corporate Controller
Daniel R. Wall	43	Senior Vice President-Ocean Services
Jose A. Ubeda	45	Senior Vice President-Air Cargo
Amy J. Tangeman	43	Senior Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary
Bradley S. Powell	51	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Peter J. Rose has served as a director and Vice President of the Company since July 1981. Mr. Rose was elected a Senior Vice President of the Company in May 1986, Executive Vice President in May 1987, President and Chief Executive Officer in October 1988, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in May 1991.

James L.K. Wang has served as a director and the Managing Director of Expeditors International Taiwan Ltd., the Company’s former exclusive Taiwan agent, since September 1981. In 1991, Mr. Wang’s employment agreement was assigned to E.I. Freight (Taiwan), Ltd., the Company’s exclusive Taiwan agent through 2004. Mr. Wang’s contract is now assigned to ECI Taiwan Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. In October 1988, Mr. Wang became a director of the Company and its Director-Far East, and Executive Vice President in January 1996. In May 2000, Mr. Wang was elected President-Asia Pacific.

R. Jordan Gates joined the Company as its Controller-Europe in February 1991. Mr. Gates was elected Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company in August 1994 and Senior Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in January 1998. In May 2000, Mr. Gates was elected Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Gates was also elected as a director in May 2000. On January 1, 2008, Mr. Gates assumed the role of President and Chief Operating Officer.

Rommel C. Saber joined the Company as Director-Near/Middle East in February 1990 and was elected Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing in January 1993. Mr. Saber was elected Senior Vice President-Air Export in September 1993. In July 1997, Mr. Saber was elected Senior Vice President Near/Middle East and Indian Subcontinent and Executive Vice President-Europe, Africa and Near/Middle East in August 2000. In February 2006, Mr. Saber was elected President-Europe, Africa, Near/Middle East and Indian Subcontinent.

Robert L. Villanueva joined the Company as Regional Vice President Northwest U.S. Region in April 1994. In September 1999, he was elected Executive Vice President-The Americas and President-The Americas in May 2004.

Timothy C. Barber joined the Company in May 1986. Mr. Barber was promoted to District Manager of the Seattle office in January 1987 and Regional Vice President in January 1993. Mr. Barber was elected Vice President-Sales and Marketing in September 1993 and Senior Vice President-Sales and Marketing in January 1998. In September 1999, Mr. Barber was elected Executive Vice President-Global Sales. On January 1, 2008, Mr. Barber assumed the role of President-Global Sales and Marketing.

Rosanne Esposito joined the Company as its Director-U.S. Import Services in January 1996. Ms. Esposito was promoted to Vice President in May 1997 and Senior Vice President-Global Customs in May 2001. In May 2004, Ms. Esposito was promoted to Executive Vice President-Global Customs.

Eugene K. Alger joined the Company in October 1982. Mr. Alger was promoted to District Manager of the Los Angeles office in May 1983. He was elected Regional Vice President-Southwestern U.S. and Mexico Region in January 1992, and Senior Vice President of North America in September 1999. In March, 2008, he was promoted to Executive Vice President-North America.

Philip M. Coughlin joined the Company in October 1985. In August 1986, Mr. Coughlin was promoted to District Manager. Mr. Coughlin was elected Regional Manager for New England and Canada in January 1991, Regional Vice President-Northeastern U.S. and Northern Border in January 1992, and Senior Vice President of North America in September 1999. In March 2008, he was promoted to Executive Vice President-North America.

Jeffrey S. Musser joined the Company in February 1983. Mr. Musser was promoted to District Manager in October 1989 and Regional Vice President in September 1999. Mr. Musser was elected Senior Vice President-Chief Information Officer in January 2005. In May 2009, Mr. Musser was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

Charles J. Lynch joined the Company in September 1984. Mr. Lynch was promoted to Assistant Controller in July 1985 and Controller-Domestic Operations in January 1989. Mr. Lynch was elected Corporate Controller in January 1991 and Vice President-Corporate Controller in

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January 1998. In May 2002, Mr. Lynch was elected Senior Vice President-Corporate Controller.

Daniel R. Wall joined the Company in March 1987. Mr. Wall was promoted to District Manager in May 1992 and Global Director-Account Management in March 2002. Mr. Wall was elected Vice President-ECMS in January 2004 and Senior Vice President-Ocean Services in September 2004.

Jose A. Ubeda joined the Company in May 1984. Mr. Ubeda was promoted to District Manager in February 1993 and to Regional Vice President-Northwest U.S. Region in May 2000. In April 2010, Mr. Ubeda was elected Senior Vice President-Air Cargo.

Amy J. Tangeman joined the Company in January 1997. Ms. Tangeman was promoted to Assistant General Counsel in November 2001. Ms. Tangeman was elected Vice-President-General Counsel and Secretary in October 2006 and elected Senior Vice President in February 2012.

Bradley S. Powell joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in October 2008 and elected Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in February 2012. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Powell served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Eden Bioscience Corporation, a publicly-traded biotechnology company, from December 2006 to September 2008 and as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from July 1998 to December 2006.

Regulation and Security

With respect to the Company’s activities in the air transportation industry in the United States, it is subject to regulation by the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) of the Department of Homeland Security as an indirect air carrier. All United States indirect air carriers are required to maintain prescribed security procedures and are subject to periodic audits by TSA. The Company’s overseas offices and agents are licensed as airfreight forwarders in their respective countries of operation. The Company is licensed in each of its offices, or in the case of its newer offices, has made application for a license as an airfreight forwarder by the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”). IATA is a voluntary association of airlines and air transport related entities which prescribes certain operating procedures for airfreight forwarders acting as agents for its members. The majority of the Company’s airfreight forwarding business is conducted with airlines which are IATA members.

The Company is licensed as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (“OTI”) (sometimes referred to as NVOCC-Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) by the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”). The FMC has established certain qualifications for shipping agents, including certain surety bonding requirements. The FMC is also responsible for the economic regulation of OTI/NVOCC activity originating or terminating in the United States. To comply with these economic regulations, vessel operators and NVOCCs, such as EIO, are required to file tariffs electronically which establish the rates to be charged for the movement of specified commodities into and out of the United States. The FMC has the power to enforce these regulations by assessing penalties.

The Company is licensed as a customs broker by Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) of the Department of Homeland Security nationally and in each U.S. customs district in which it does business. All United States customs brokers are required to maintain prescribed records and are subject to periodic audits by CBP. In other jurisdictions in which the Company performs clearance services, the Company is licensed by the appropriate governmental authority (where such license is required to perform these services). The Company participates in various governmental supply chain security programs, such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (“C-TPAT”) in the United States and additional security initiatives, such as Authorized Economic Operator ("AEO"), as they continue to be enacted by different governments.

The Company does not believe that current United States and foreign governmental regulations impose significant economic restraint upon its business operations. In general, the Company conducts its business activities in each country through a wholly or majority-owned subsidiary corporation that is organized and existing under the laws of that country. However, the regulations of foreign governments can impose barriers to the Company’s ability to provide the full range of its business activities in a wholly or majority United States-owned subsidiary. For example, foreign ownership of a customs brokerage business is prohibited in some jurisdictions and less frequently the ownership of the licenses required for freight forwarding and/or freight consolidation is restricted to local entities. When the Company encounters this sort of governmental restriction, it works to establish a legal structure that meets the requirements of the local regulations while also giving the Company the substantive operating and economic advantages that would be available in the absence of such regulation. This can be accomplished by creating a joint venture or exclusive agency relationship with a qualified local entity that holds the required license.

The war on terror and governments’ overriding concern for the safety of passengers and citizens who import and/or export goods into and out of their respective countries has resulted in a proliferation of cargo security regulations over the past several years. While these cargo regulations have already created a marked difference in the security arrangements required to move shipments around the globe, regulations are expected to become more stringent in the future. As governments look for ways to minimize the exposure of their citizens to potential terror related incidents, the Company and its competitors in the transportation business may be required to incorporate security procedures within their scope of services to a far greater degree than has been required in the past. The Company feels that increased security requirements may involve further investments in technology and more sophisticated screening procedures being applied to potential customers, vendors and employees. The Company’s position is that any increased cost of compliance with security regulations will be passed through to those who are beneficiaries of the Company’s services.

Cargo Liability

When acting as an airfreight consolidator, the Company assumes a carrier’s liability for lost or damaged shipments. This legal liability is typically limited by contract to the lower of the transaction value or the released value (17 Special Drawing Rights per kilo unless the customer declares a higher value and pays a surcharge), except in the absence of an appropriate airway bill or if the loss or damage is caused by willful misconduct . The airline which the Company utilizes to make the actual shipment is generally liable to the Company in the same manner and to the same extent. When acting solely as the agent of the airline or shipper, the Company does not assume any contractual liability for loss or damage to shipments tendered to the airline. In certain circumstances, the Company will assume additional limited liability.

When acting as an ocean freight consolidator, the Company assumes a carrier’s liability for lost or damaged shipments. This liability is typically limited by contract to the lower of the transaction value or the released value ($500 per package or customary freight unit unless the customer declares a higher value and pays a surcharge). The steamship line which the Company utilizes to make the actual shipment is generally liable to the Company in the same manner and to the same extent. In its ocean freight forwarding and customs clearance operations, the Company does not assume cargo liability. In certain circumstances, the Company will assume additional limited liability.

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When providing warehouse and distribution services, the Company limits its legal liability by contract and tariff to an amount generally equal to the lower of fair value or $0.50 per pound with a maximum of $50 per “lot” — which is defined as the smallest unit that the warehouse is required to track. In certain circumstances, the Company will assume additional limited liability.

The Company maintains cargo legal liability insurance covering claims for losses attributable to missing or damaged shipments for which it is legally liable. The Company also maintains insurance coverage for the property of others which is stored in Company warehouse facilities. This insurance coverage is provided by a Vermont U.S. based insurance entity wholly-owned by the Company. The coverage is fronted and reinsured by a global insurance company. The total risk retained by the Company in 2011 was approximately $5 million. In addition, the Company is licensed as an insurance broker through its subsidiary, Expeditors Cargo Insurance Brokers, Inc. and places insurance coverage for other customers.

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

RISK FACTORS	DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE
International Trade	The Company primarily provides services to customers engaged in international commerce. Everything that affects international trade has the potential to expand or contract the Company’s primary market and impact its operating results. For example, international trade is influenced by:
	•        currency exchange rate and currency control regulations;
	•        interest rate fluctuations;
	•        changes in governmental policies, such as taxation, quota restrictions, other forms of trade barriers and/or restrictions and trade accords;
	•        changes in and application of international and domestic customs, trade and security regulations;
	•        wars, strikes, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, and other conflicts;
	•        natural disasters and pandemics;
	•        changes in consumer attitudes regarding goods made in countries other than their own;
	•        changes in availability of credit;
	•        changes in the price and readily available quantities of oil and other petroleum-related products; and
	•        increased global concerns regarding environmental sustainability.
Third Party Suppliers	The Company is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services. As a result, the Company depends on a variety of asset-based third party suppliers. The quality and profitability of the Company’s services depend upon effective selection, management and discipline of third party suppliers. While operating results improved in 2010 over 2009, many of the Company’s third party suppliers have incurred significant operating losses in 2011 and are highly leveraged with debt. Changes in the financial stability, operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers and space allotment made available to the Company by asset-based carriers could affect the Company in unpredictable ways, including volatility of pricing, and challenge the Company’s ability to maintain historical unitary profitability.
Predictability of Results	The Company is not aware of any accurate means of forecasting short-term customer requirements. However, long-term customer satisfaction depends upon the Company’s ability to meet these unpredictable short-term customer requirements. Personnel costs, the Company’s single largest variable expense, are always less flexible in the very near term as the Company must staff to meet uncertain demand. As a result, short-term operating results could be disproportionately affected. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in retail industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules. Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods and/or manufacturing production delays. Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter. To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.
Foreign Operations	The majority of the Company’s revenues and operating income comes from operations conducted outside the United States. To maintain a global service network, the Company may be required to operate in hostile locations and in dangerous situations. In addition, the Company operates in parts of the world where common business practices could constitute violations of the anti-corruption laws, rules, regulations and decrees of the United States, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and of all other countries in which the Company conducts business; as well as trade control laws, or laws, regulations and Executive Orders imposing embargoes and sanctions; and anti-boycott laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws, rules, regulations and decrees is dependent on the Company’s employees, subcontractors, agents, third party brokers and customers, whose individual actions could violate these laws, rules, regulations and decrees. Failure to comply could result in substantial penalties and additional expenses, damages to the Company’s reputation and restrictions on its ability to conduct business.

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RISK FACTORS	DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE
Key Personnel	The Company is a service business. The quality of this service is directly related to the quality of the Company’s employees. Identifying, training and retaining key employees is essential to continued growth and future profitability. Continued loyalty to the Company will not be assured by contract. The Company believes that its compensation programs, which have been in place since the Company became a publicly traded entity, are one of the unique characteristics responsible for differentiating its performance from that of many of its competitors. Significant changes to its compensation programs could affect the Company’s performance.
Technology	Increasingly, the Company must compete based upon the flexibility and sophistication of the technologies utilized in performing its core businesses. Future results depend upon the Company’s success in the cost effective development, maintenance and integration of secure communication and information systems technologies, including those acquired from and maintained by third parties. Any significant disruptions to these systems due to failures, attacks or other security breaches would have a material negative effect on the Company’s results and could include loss of revenue, significant remediation costs, an increase in costs to protect the Company's systems and technology and damage to its reputation.
Growth	To date, the Company has relied primarily upon organic growth and has tended to avoid growth through acquisition. Future results will depend upon the Company’s ability to continue to grow internally or to demonstrate the ability to successfully identify and integrate non-dilutive acquisitions.
Regulatory Environment	The Company is affected by ever increasing regulations from a number of sources. The current business environment tends to stress the avoidance of risk through regulation and oversight, the effect of which is likely to be unforeseen costs and potentially unforeseen consequences. In reaction to the global war on terror, governments around the world are continuously enacting or updating security regulations. These regulations are multi-layered, increasingly technical in nature and characterized by a lack of harmonization of substantive requirements amongst various governmental authorities. Furthermore, the implementation of these regulations, including deadlines and substantive requirements, is driven by political urgencies rather than the industries’ realistic ability to comply. Failure to consistently and timely comply with these regulations, or the failure, breach or compromise of the Company’s security procedures or those of its subcontractors or agents, may result in increased operating costs, damage to the Company’s reputation, restrictions on operations and/or fines and penalties.
Competition	The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. There are a large number of companies competing in one or more segments of the industry, but the number of firms with a global network that offer a full complement of logistics services is more limited. Depending on the location of the shipper and the importer, the Company must compete against both the niche players and larger entities.
Taxes	The Company is subject to many taxes in the United States and foreign jurisdictions. In many of these jurisdictions, the tax laws are very complex and are open to different interpretations and application. Tax authorities frequently implement new taxes and change their tax rates and rules, including interpretations of those rules. The Company is regularly under audit by tax authorities. Although the Company believes its tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of tax audits could be materially different from the Company’s tax provisions and accruals and negatively impact its financial results.
Litigation/Investigations	As a multinational corporation, the Company is subject to formal or informal investigations or litigation from governmental authorities or others in the countries in which it does business. Included among these investigations, the Company is currently subject to, and is cooperating fully with, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) of air cargo freight forwarders. In addition, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a Statement of Objections from the European Commission (EC) relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. These investigations and other periodic investigations will require further management time and could cause the Company to incur substantial additional legal and related costs, which may include fines and/or penalties that could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and operating cash flows. The Company may also become subject to other civil litigation arising from such investigations or litigations, including but not limited to shareholder class action lawsuits and derivative claims made on behalf of the plaintiffs.
Economic Conditions	The global economy and capital and credit markets continue to experience uncertainty and volatility. Unfavorable changes in economic conditions may result in lower freight volumes and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and operating results, as experienced in 2009. These conditions may adversely affect certain of the Company’s customers and third party suppliers. Were that to occur, the Company’s revenues and net earnings could also be adversely affected. Should customers’ ability to pay deteriorate, additional bad debts may be incurred. These unfavorable conditions can create situations where rate increases charged by carriers and other suppliers are implemented with little or no advanced notice. The Company often times cannot pass these rate increases on to its customers in the same time frame, if at all. As a result, the Company’s yields and margins can be negatively impacted.
Catastrophic Events	A disruption or failure of the Company’s systems or operations in the event of a major earthquake, weather event, cyber-attack, terrorist attack, strike, civil unrest, pandemic or other catastrophic event could cause delays in providing services or performing other mission-critical functions. The Company’s corporate headquarters, and certain other critical business operations are in the Seattle, Washington area, which is near major earthquake faults. A catastrophic event that results in the destruction or disruption of any of the Company’s critical business or information technology systems could harm the Company’s ability to conduct normal business operations and its operating results.

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ITEM 1B — UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2 — PROPERTIES

The Company owns the following properties:

Location	Nature of Property
United States:
Seattle, Washington	Office buildings
SeaTac, Washington	Office building
Humble, Texas	Office and warehouse
Inwood, New York	Office and warehouse
Edison, New Jersey	Office and warehouse
Brisbane, California	Office and warehouse
Hawthorne, California	Office and warehouse
Bensenville, llinois	Office and warehouse
Miami, Florida	Office and warehouse
Spokane, Washington	Office building
Asia:
Kowloon, Hong Kong	Offices
Taipei, Taiwan	Offices
Seoul, Korea	Office and warehouse
Shanghai, China	Office building
Beijing, China	Office and warehouse
Europe:
Brussels, Belgium	Office and warehouse
Dublin, Ireland	Office and warehouse
Cork, Ireland	Office and warehouse
London, England	Office and warehouse
Latin America:
Alajuela, Costa Rica	Office building
Middle East:
Cairo, Egypt	Office and warehouse

The Company leases and maintains 68 additional offices and satellite locations in the United States and 342 leased locations throughout the world, each located close to an airport, ocean port, or on an important border crossing. The majority of these facilities contain warehouse facilities. Lease terms are either on a month-to-month basis or terminate at various times through 2021. See Note 7 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for lease commitments. As an office matures, the Company will investigate the possibility of building or buying suitable facilities. The Company believes that current leases can be extended and that suitable alternative facilities are available in the vicinity of each present facility should extensions be unavailable at the conclusion of current leases.

ITEM 3 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company may incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party

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defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. On February 28, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement, which is subject to preliminary approval by the Court, notice to the putative class and final approval, with the plaintiffs individually and on behalf of a class of direct purchasers of freight forwarding services, to resolve this lawsuit. The Company has not made, and continues to make no admission of liability by entering into this agreement. The agreement, if approved by the Court, will dismiss all allegations that the Company violated the Sherman Act. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will be dismissed from this lawsuit. In exchange for being dismissed from this lawsuit, the Company has agreed to assign to the plaintiffs 70% of the proceeds (Air Cargo proceeds) it may receive as one of the members of a separate class action litigation brought against many of the largest international air cargo carriers. The agreement provides for no other sources of consideration from the Company. Based on the terms of the agreement, and the Company's previously publicly-expressed intent not to profit and thereby effectively distribute any Air Cargo proceeds it may receive, management does not expect there to be any material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the amounts assigned to the plaintiffs and the class it seeks to represent, which includes the Company's customers, net of attorneys' fees and other administrative costs allowed by the Court, will be allocated by the Court to members of this class action lawsuit in an equitable manner consistent with their participation in the international airfreight markets over the relevant time periods.

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company replied to the letter. On February 24, 2012, the Company received notice from the EC that it plans to hold additional meetings, known as State of Play meetings, related to its on-going investigation of freight forwarders on or about March 15, 2012. The Company expects to participate in the meeting to continue its vigorous defense against the allegations. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior. Based on recent changes in Brazilian anti-competition laws that reduce the maximum amount of fines that can be assessed, and further investigation of this matter, management believes that such fines, if any, will not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

ITEM 4 — MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5 — MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Market. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices for the Company’s common stock as reported by The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol EXPD.

	Common Stock					Common Stock
Quarter	High		Low		Quarter	High		Low
2011					2010
First	$	56.19	$	45.91	First	$	38.93	$	32.36
Second	$	55.30	$	46.53	Second	$	42.39	$	34.46
Third	$	53.22	$	39.28	Third	$	47.58	$	33.65
Fourth	$	47.73	$	38.25	Fourth	$	57.15	$	45.23

There were 1,184 shareholders of record as of February 21, 2012. This figure does not include a substantially greater number of beneficial holders of the Company’s common stock, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.

The Board of Directors declared semi-annual dividends during the two most recent fiscal years paid as follows:

June 15, 2011	$	.25
December 15, 2011	$	.25
June 15, 2010	$	.20
December 15, 2010	$	.20

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 1-31, 2011	—	$	—	—	28,920,950
November 1-30, 2011	44,416	$	43.77	44,416	28,882,121
December 1-31, 2011	37,860	$	41.07	37,860	28,883,236
Total	82,276	$	42.53	82,276	28,883,236

In November 1993, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan for the purpose of repurchasing the Company’s common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of stock options. On February 9, 2009, the Plan was amended to increase the authorization to repurchase up to 40 million shares of the Company’s common stock. This authorization has no expiration date. This plan was disclosed in the Company’s report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 1995. In the fourth quarter of 2011, 41,738 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan.

In November 2001, under a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200 million shares of common stock. The maximum number of shares available for repurchase under this plan will increase as the total number of outstanding shares increases. This authorization has no expiration date. This plan was announced on November 13, 2001. In the fourth quarter of 2011, 40,538 shares of common stock were repurchased under the Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan. These discretionary repurchases were made to limit the growth in the number of issued and outstanding shares resulting from stock option exercises and the exercise of employee stock purchase rights.

The graph below compares the cumulative 5-year total return of holders of the Company's common stock with the cumulative total returns of Standard and Poor's 500 Index, the NASDAQ Composite index and the NASDAQ Transportation index. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in the Company’s common stock and in each of the indexes (including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on 12/31/2006 and tracks it through 12/31/2011.

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	12/06	12/07	12/08	12/09	12/10	12/11
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.	100.00	111.03	83.35	88.13	139.64	105.90
Standard and Poor's 500 Index	100.00	105.49	66.46	84.05	96.71	98.75
NASDAQ Composite	100.00	110.26	65.65	95.19	112.10	110.81
NASDAQ Transportation	100.00	105.13	78.60	80.38	103.33	88.11

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

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ITEM 6 — SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Financial Highlights

In thousands except per share data

	2011		2010	2009	2008	2007
Revenues	$	6,150,498	5,967,573	4,092,283	5,633,878	5,235,171
Net revenues	1,896,477		1,692,786	1,382,786	1,603,261	1,452,961
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	385,679		344,172	240,217	301,014	269,154
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	1.79		1.59	1.11	1.37	1.21
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	1.82		1.62	1.13	1.41	1.26
Dividends declared and paid per common share	.50		.40	.38	.32	.28
Working capital	1,490,738		1,278,377	1,079,444	903,010	764,944
Total assets	2,866,827		2,679,179	2,323,722	2,100,839	2,068,605
Shareholders’ equity	2,003,638		1,740,906	1,553,007	1,366,418	1,226,571
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	215,033,580		216,446,656	216,533,240	219,170,003	221,799,868
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	212,117,511		212,283,966	212,112,744	212,755,946	213,314,761

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995; CERTAIN CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

From time to time, the Company or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Such forward-looking statements may be included in, but not limited to, press releases, oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer or in various filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words or phrases “will likely result”, “are expected to”, “will continue”, “is anticipated”, “estimate”, “project” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to and are accompanied by the discussion in Item 1A of certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements.

The risks included in Item 1A are not exhaustive. Furthermore, reference is also made to other sections of this report which include additional factors which could adversely impact the Company’s business and financial performance. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all of such risk factors on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon as a guarantee of actual results.

Shareholders should be aware that while the Company does, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against the Company’s policy to disclose to such analysts any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, shareholders should not assume that the Company agrees with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of such statement or report. Furthermore, the Company has a policy against issuing financial forecasts or projections or confirming the accuracy of forecasts or projections issued by others. Accordingly, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of the Company.

ITEM 7 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Summary

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. is engaged in the business of global logistics management, including international freight forwarding and consolidation, for both air and ocean freight. The Company acts as a customs broker in all domestic offices, and in many of its international offices. The Company also provides additional services for its customers including value-added distribution, purchase order management, vendor consolidation and other logistics solutions. The Company does not compete for overnight courier or small parcel business. The Company does not own or operate aircraft or steamships.

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, and laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation. Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions and accords. The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects the adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business. Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises. In addition to being influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies, as well as economic turbulence, political unrest or security concerns in the nations in which it does business and the future impact that these events may have on international trade and oil prices. The global logistics services industry is intensely competitive and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. Primarily as a result of the global economic downturn in 2009, the Company’s air and ocean freight volumes were at exceptionally low levels in 2009 as compared with 2010 and 2011. Consistent with slowing global economic conditions and concerns over higher fuel costs, rising costs in general, political unrest and volatile currency exchange rates, the Company’s pricing and terms continue to be pressured by customers and service providers. Further, the lower underlying flow of goods both in the global economy and throughout the Company's network continued into January 2012.

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. These are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

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The Company is managed along three geographic areas of responsibility: Americas; Asia Pacific; and Europe, Africa, Near/Middle East and Indian Subcontinent (EMAIR). Each area is divided into sub-regions which are composed of operating units with individual profit and loss responsibility. The Company’s business involves shipments between operating units and typically touches more than one geographic area. The nature of the international logistics business necessitates a high degree of communication and cooperation among operating units. Because of this inter-relationship between operating units, it is very difficult to look at one geographic area and draw meaningful conclusions as to its contribution to the Company’s overall success on a stand-alone basis.

The Company’s operating units share revenue using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. The Company’s strategy closely links compensation with operating unit profitability. Individual success likely involves cooperation with other operating units.

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets. Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers. The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate) and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield.” By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices.

The Company’s ability to provide services to its customers is highly dependent on good working relationships with a variety of entities including airlines, ocean steamship lines, and governmental agencies. The significance of maintaining acceptable working relationships with governmental agencies and asset-based carriers involved in global trade has gained increased importance as a result of ongoing concern over terrorism. As each carrier labors to comply with additional governmental regulations implementing security policies and procedures, inherent conflicts emerge which can and do affect global trade. A good reputation helps to develop practical working understandings that will assist in meeting security requirements while minimizing potential international trade obstacles. The Company considers its current working relationships with these entities to be satisfactory. However, the airline and ocean steamship line industries have incurred significant losses in recent years as a result of the global economic downturn and many carriers are highly leveraged with debt. This situation has required the Company to be increasingly selective in which carriers to utilize. Further changes in the financial stability, operating capabilities and capacity of asset-based carriers, space allotments available from carriers, governmental regulation or deregulation efforts, “modernization” of the regulations governing customs brokerage, and/or changes in governmental quota restrictions or trade accords could affect the Company’s business in unpredictable ways.

Historically, the Company’s operating results have been subject to a seasonal trend when measured on a quarterly basis. The first quarter has traditionally been the weakest and the third and fourth quarters have traditionally been the strongest. This pattern is the result of, or is influenced by, numerous factors including weather patterns, national holidays, consumer demand, economic conditions and a myriad of other similar and subtle forces. In addition, this historical quarterly trend has been influenced by the growth and diversification of the Company’s international network and service offerings. The Company cannot accurately forecast many of these factors nor can the Company estimate accurately the relative influence of any particular factor and, as a result, there can be no assurance that historical patterns, if any, will continue in future periods.

A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from customers in retail industries whose shipping patterns are tied closely to consumer demand, and from customers in industries whose shipping patterns are dependent upon just-in-time production schedules. Therefore, the timing of the Company’s revenues are, to a large degree, impacted by factors out of the Company’s control, such as a sudden change in consumer demand for retail goods and/or manufacturing production delays. Additionally, many customers ship a significant portion of their goods at or near the end of a quarter, and therefore, the Company may not learn of a shortfall in revenues until late in a quarter. To the extent that a shortfall in revenues or earnings was not expected by securities analysts, any such shortfall from levels predicted by securities analysts could have an immediate and adverse effect on the trading price of the Company’s stock.

The Company operates in 60 countries throughout the world in the competitive global logistics industry and Company activities are tied directly to the global economy. From the inception of the Company, management has believed that the elements required for a successful global service organization can only be assured through recruiting, training, and ultimately retaining superior personnel. The Company’s greatest challenge is now and always has been perpetuating a consistent global corporate culture which demands:

• Total dedication, first and foremost, to providing superior customer service;

• Aggressive marketing of all of the Company’s service offerings;

• Ongoing development of key employees and management personnel via formal and informal means;

• Creation of unlimited advancement opportunities for employees dedicated to hard work, personal growth and continuous improvement;

• Individual commitment to the identification and mentoring of successors for every key position so that when inevitable change is required, a qualified and well-trained internal candidate is ready to step forward; and

• Continuous identification, design and implementation of system solutions, both technological and otherwise, to meet and exceed the needs of our customers while simultaneously delivering tools to make our employees more efficient and more effective.

The Company reinforces these values with a compensation system that rewards employees for profitably managing the things they can control. This compensation system has been in place since the Company became a publicly traded entity. There is no limit to how much a key manager can be compensated for success. The Company believes in a “real world” environment in every operating unit where individuals are not sheltered from the profit implications of their decisions. If these decisions result in operating losses, these losses must be made up from future operating profits, in the aggregate, before any cash incentive compensation can be earned. At the same time, the Company insists on continued focus on such things as

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accounts receivable collection, cash flow management and credit soundness in an attempt to insulate managers from the sort of catastrophic errors that might end a career.

Any failure to perpetuate this unique culture on a self-sustained basis throughout the Company provides a greater threat to the Company’s continued success than any external force, which would be largely beyond our control. Consequently, management spends the majority of its time focused on creating an environment where employees can learn and develop while also improving systems and taking preventative action to reduce exposure to negative events and risks. The Company strongly believes that it is nearly impossible to predict events that, in the aggregate, could have a positive or a negative impact on future operations. As a result, our focus is on building and maintaining a global corporate culture of well-trained employees and managers that are prepared to identify and react to subtle changes as they develop and thereby help the Company adapt and thrive as major trends emerge.

Critical Accounting Estimates

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies can be found in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in this report.

Management believes that the nature of the Company’s business is such that there are few complex challenges in accounting for operations. While judgments and estimates are a necessary component of any system of accounting, the Company’s use of estimates is limited primarily to the following areas:

• accounts receivable valuation;

• accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides;

• accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured;

• accrual of various tax liabilities;

• accrual of loss contingencies; and

• calculation of share-based compensation expense.

These estimates, other than the accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense, are not highly uncertain and have not historically been subject to significant change. Management believes that the methods utilized in all of these areas are non-aggressive in approach and consistent in application. Management believes that there are limited, if any, alternative accounting principles or methods which could be applied to the Company’s transactions. While the use of estimates means that actual future results may be different from those contemplated by the estimates, the Company believes that alternative principles and methods used for making such estimates, other than the calculation of share-based compensation expense, would not produce materially different results than those reported.

The outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company are subject to significant uncertainty. An estimated loss from a contingency such as a legal proceeding or claim is accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Disclosure of a loss contingency is required if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a significant loss has been incurred. In determining whether a loss should be accrued, management evaluates several factors, including advice from outside counsel, in order to estimate the degree of probability of an unfavorable outcome and make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss or range of reasonably possible loss. Changes in these factors could have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

As described in Note 1.I to the consolidated financial statements in this report, the Company accounts for share-based compensation based on an estimate of the fair value of options granted to employees under the Company’s stock option and stock purchase rights plans. This expense, as adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the option vesting periods.

Determining the appropriate option pricing model to use to estimate stock compensation expense requires judgment. Any option pricing model requires assumptions that are subjective and these assumptions also require judgment. Examples include assumptions about long-term stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns, pre-vesting option forfeitures, post-vesting option terminations, and future interest rates and dividend yields. The Company uses the Black-Scholes model for estimating the fair value of stock options.

Management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate based upon the Company’s historical and currently expected future experience. Looking to future events, management has been strongly influenced by historical patterns which may not be valid predictors of future developments and any future deviation may be material.

The Company’s expected volatility assumptions are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock over a period of time commensurate to the expected life. The expected life assumption is primarily based on historical employee exercise patterns and employee post-vesting termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the corresponding yield curve in effect at the time of grant for U.S. Treasury bonds having the same term as the expected life of the option, i.e. a ten year bond rate is used for valuing an option with a ten year expected life. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical experience. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.

The fair value of an option is more significantly impacted by changes in the expected volatility and expected life assumptions. The pre-vesting forfeitures assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. Therefore, changes in the forfeitures assumption would not impact the total amount of expense ultimately recognized over the vesting period. Different forfeiture assumptions would only impact the timing of expense recognition over the vesting period. Estimated forfeitures will be reassessed in subsequent periods and may change based on new facts and circumstances.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of

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Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05, as amended by ASU 2011-No. 12, beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

Results of Operations

The following table shows the consolidated net revenues (revenues less transportation expenses) attributable to the Company’s principal services and the Company’s expenses for 2011, 2010, and 2009 expressed as percentages of net revenues. Management believes that net revenues are a better measure than total revenues of the relative importance of the Company’s principal services since total revenues earned by the Company as a freight consolidator include the carriers’ charges to the Company for carrying the shipment whereas revenues earned by the Company in its other capacities include only the commissions and fees actually earned by the Company.

	2011				2010				2009
In thousands	Amount		Percent of net revenues		Amount		Percent of net revenues		Amount		Percent     of net     revenues
Net revenues:
Airfreight services	$	700,352	37	%	$	640,230	38	%	$	489,475	35	%
Ocean freight and ocean services	435,425		23		385,523		23		324,223		24
Customs brokerage and other services	760,700		40		667,033		39		569,088		41
Net revenues	1,896,477		100		1,692,786		100		1,382,786		100
Overhead expenses:
Salaries and related costs	993,358		52		894,132		53		774,214		56
Other	284,792		15		251,424		15		223,571		16
Total overhead expenses	1,278,150		67		1,145,556		68		997,785		72
Operating income	618,327		33		547,230		32		385,001		28
Other income, net	19,701		1		16,838		1		17,871		1
Earnings before income taxes	638,028		34		564,068		33		402,872		29
Income tax expense	251,785		13		219,863		13		162,475		12
Net earnings	386,243		21		344,205		20		240,397		17
Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	564		—		33		—		180		—
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	21	%	$	344,172	20	%	$	240,217	17	%

2011 compared with 2010

Airfreight services net revenues in 2011 increased 9% as compared with 2010. The increase in global airfreight services net revenues was primarily due to a 12% increase in net revenue per kilo, while airfreight tonnage remained constant. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe airfreight services net revenues increased 10%, 8% and 12%, respectively, in 2011 as compared with 2010, while airfreight export tonnage increased 5% and 4% in North America and Europe, respectively, and decreased 3% in Asia Pacific. Net revenue per kilo was higher as the Company benefited from intermittent buying opportunities created from excess carrier capacity, primarily in Asia. After the first quarter of 2011, the Company experienced a decline in quarterly airfreight volumes as compared to 2010 and the customary peak season surge in the fourth quarter did not materialize.

Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 13% in 2011 as compared with 2010. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe ocean freight net revenues increased approximately 13%, 13% and 16%, respectively, in 2011 as compared with 2010.

Ocean freight net revenues are comprised of three basic services: ocean freight consolidation, direct ocean forwarding and order management. The majority of the Company’s ocean freight net revenue is derived from ocean freight consolidation which represented 50% and 51% of ocean freight net revenue in 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Ocean freight consolidation net revenue increased 12% in 2011 as compared with 2010, primarily due to a 10% increase in net revenue per container. Similar to airfreight, the increase in net revenue per container resulted from excess carrier capacity in 2011 leading to the creation of positive buying opportunities, primarily in Asia. Volume, as measured in terms of forty-foot container equivalent units (FEUs), increased 2% in 2011 as compared with 2010. Direct ocean freight forwarding and order management, which are primarily fee-based, increased 13% and 16%, respectively, in 2011, as compared with 2010, due to an increase in volume.

Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 14% in 2011 as compared with 2010, primarily as a result of growth in market share and an increase in domestic time definite freight volumes. Customers continue to seek out customs brokers with sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program, including rapid responses to changes in the regulatory and security environment.

Salaries and related costs increased 11% in 2011, as compared with 2010, primarily as a result of (i) an increase in the number of employees, (ii) an overall increase in average base salaries and related taxes and benefits and (iii) larger bonuses earned from achieving higher operating income.

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The effects of including stock-based compensation expense in salaries and related costs for 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
In thousands	2011			2010
Salaries and related costs	$	993,358		$	894,132
As a % of net revenue	52.4		%	52.8		%
Stock compensation expense	$	44,278		$	43,743
As a % of salaries and related costs	4.5		%	4.9		%
As a % of net revenue	2.3		%	2.6		%

Historically, the relatively consistent relationship between salaries and net revenues is the result of a compensation philosophy that has been maintained since the inception of the Company: offer a modest base salary and the opportunity to share in a fixed and determinable percentage of the operating profit of the business unit controlled by each key employee. Using this compensation model, changes in individual incentive compensation will occur in proportion to changes in Company profits, creating a direct alignment between corporate performance and shareholder interests. Bonuses to field and corporate management in 2011 were up 13% as compared with 2010, primarily as a result of a 13% increase in operating income. The Company’s management incentive compensation programs have always been incentive-based and performance driven and there is no built-in bias that favors or enriches management in a manner inconsistent with overall corporate performance.

Because the Company’s management incentive compensation programs are also cumulative, no management bonuses can be paid unless the relevant business unit is, from inception, cumulatively profitable. Any operating losses must have been offset in their entirety by operating profits before management is eligible for a bonus. Since the most significant portion of management compensation comes from the incentive bonus programs, the Company believes that this cumulative feature is a disincentive to excessive risk taking by its managers. Due to the nature of the Company’s services, it has a short operating cycle. The outcome of any higher risk transactions, such as overriding established credit limits, would be known in a relatively short time frame. Management believes that when the potential and certain impact on the bonus is fully considered in light of this short operating cycle, the potential for short term gains that could be generated by engaging in risky business practices is sufficiently mitigated to discourage excessive and inappropriate risk taking. Management believes that both the stability and the long term growth in revenues, net revenues and net earnings are a result of the incentives inherent in the Company’s compensation program.

Other overhead expenses increased 13% in 2011, as compared with 2010, primarily as a result of increased facilities costs, higher business taxes, systems maintenance and consulting expenses, travel and other expenses related to increased activity. Legal and related expenses increased slightly in 2011, as compared with 2010, primarily attributable to responding to matters disclosed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in this report. The Company will continue to incur legal costs related to the anti-competition allegations as described in Note 8 herein until these legal proceedings are concluded. If the governmental regulatory agencies conclude that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior,fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. Further, the Company periodically conducts reviews of the operations and procedures of its offices worldwide relating to compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Other overhead expenses as a percentage of net revenues remained constant for 2011, as compared with 2010.

Other income, net, increased 17% in 2011, as compared with 2010. Interest income increased $3 million due to higher average cash and cash equivalents balances during 2011, as compared with 2010.

The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other non-income based taxes which are typically included in costs of operations. The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate in 2011 was 39.5% as compared to 38.9% for 2010. The higher consolidated effective income tax rate for 2011, as compared with 2010, is primarily the result of higher State tax rates and a lower tax benefit received for disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options for 2011, as compared with 2010. Although a tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense is recorded for non-qualified stock options at the time the related compensation expense is recognized, the tax benefit received for disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options cannot be anticipated.

2010 compared with 2009

Airfreight services net revenues in 2010 increased 31% as compared with 2009. The increase in global airfreight services net revenues was primarily due to a 35% increase in airfreight tonnage, which was partially offset by a slight decrease in net revenue per kilo. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe airfreight services net revenues increased 34%, 39% and 15%, respectively, in 2010 as compared with 2009, while airfreight export tonnage increased 47%, 32% and 28%, respectively. The increase in airfreight tonnage is primarily due to improvements in the global economy which began in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Ocean freight and ocean services net revenues increased 19% in 2010 as compared with 2009. North America, Asia Pacific and Europe ocean freight net revenues increased approximately 17%, 23% and 13%, respectively, in 2010 as compared with 2009.

The majority of the Company's ocean freight net revenue is derived from ocean freight consolidation which represented 51% and 52% of ocean freight net revenue in 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Ocean freight consolidation net revenue increased 16% in 2010 as compared with 2009, primarily due to a 20% increase in volume as measured in terms of FEUs, partially offset by a 3% decrease in net revenue per container. Direct ocean freight forwarding and order management, which are primarily fee-based, increased 15% and 34%, respectively, in 2010, as compared with 2009, due to an increase in volume.

The increase in ocean volumes is primarily due to an improvement in the global economy which began in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net revenue per container in 2010 was lower than in 2009 due to favorable spot market buying opportunities in the first half of 2009 that were not available in 2010.

Customs brokerage and other services net revenues increased 17% in 2010 as compared with 2009, primarily as a result of increases in international air and ocean and domestic time definite freight volumes. Customers continue to seek out customs brokers with sophisticated computerized capabilities critical to an overall logistics management program, including rapid responses to changes in the regulatory and security environment.

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Salaries and related costs increased 15% in 2010, as compared with 2009, primarily as a result of larger bonuses earned from achieving higher operating income before bonuses, an increase in the number of employees, and higher stock compensation expense.

The effects of including stock-based compensation expense in salaries and related costs for 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
In thousands	2010			2009
Salaries and related costs	$	894,132		$	774,214
As a % of net revenue	52.8		%	56.0		%
Stock compensation expense	$	43,743		$	39,135
As a % of salaries and related costs	4.9		%	5.1		%
As a % of net revenue	2.6		%	2.8		%

Excluding stock compensation expense, salaries and related costs as a percentage of net revenue decreased 292 basis points for 2010, as compared with 2009. This decrease can be attributed to productivity gains that resulted from more efficient staff utilization. Stock compensation expense increased 12% in 2010, as compared with 2009, primarily a result of a $4 million “true up” credit recognized in 2009 for the difference between the higher actual pre-vesting forfeiture experience and the pre-vesting forfeiture assumptions used to calculate stock option expense. The net impact on salaries and related costs was $3 million after consideration of the effect on bonuses.

Bonuses to field and corporate management in 2010 were up 35% as compared with 2009 primarily as a result of a 42% increase in operating income. The Company's management incentive compensation programs have always been incentive-based and performance driven and there is no built-in bias that favors or enriches management in a manner inconsistent with overall corporate performance.

Other overhead expenses increased 12% in 2010, as compared with 2009, primarily as a result of higher business taxes, travel and other expenses related to increased activity. Legal and related expenses increased slightly in 2010, as compared with 2009, primarily attributable to preparing the Company's responses to a Statement of Objections issued by the European Commission as described further in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in this report. Other overhead expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased slightly for 2010, as compared with 2009.

Other income, net, decreased 6% in 2010, as compared with 2009. Interest income decreased $3 million due to lower average interest rates during 2010, as compared with 2009.

The Company pays income taxes in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as other non-income based taxes which are typically included in costs of operations. The Company's consolidated effective income tax rate in 2010 was 38.9% as compared to 40.3% for 2009. The lower consolidated effective income tax rate for 2010, as compared with 2009, is primarily the result of a higher tax benefit received for disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options for 2010, as compared with 2009. Although a tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense is recorded for non-qualified stock options at the time the related compensation expense is recognized, the tax benefit received for disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options cannot be anticipated.

Currency and Other Risk Factors

The nature of the Company’s worldwide operations necessitates the Company dealing with a multitude of currencies other than the U.S. dollar. This results in the Company being exposed to the inherent risks of volatile international currency markets and governmental interference. Some of the countries where the Company maintains offices and/or agency relationships have strict currency control regulations which influence the Company’s ability to hedge foreign currency exposure. The Company tries to compensate for these exposures by accelerating international currency settlements among its offices or agents. The Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely around the world or the short-term financial outlook in any country is such that hedging is the most time-sensitive way to mitigate short-term exchange losses. Any such hedging activity during 2011, 2010 and 2009 was insignificant. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010. Net foreign currency gains in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $2 million, $2 million and $1 million, respectively.

International air and ocean freight forwarding and customs brokerage are intensively competitive and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. There are a large number of entities competing in the international logistics industry; however, the Company’s primary competition is confined to a relatively small number of companies within this group. Historically, the industry has experienced consolidations into larger firms striving for stronger and more complete multinational and multi-service networks. However, regional and local brokers and forwarders remain a competitive force.

The primary competitive factors in the international logistics industry continue to be price and quality of service, including reliability, responsiveness, expertise, convenience, and scope of operations. The Company emphasizes quality service and believes that its prices are competitive with those of others in the industry. Larger customers utilize more sophisticated and efficient procedures for the management of their logistics supply chains by embracing strategies such as just-in-time inventory management. The Company believes that this trend has resulted in customers using fewer service providers with greater technological capacity and more consistent global coverage. Accordingly, sophisticated computerized customer service capabilities and a stable worldwide network have become significant factors in attracting and retaining customers. Developing these systems and a worldwide network has added a considerable indirect cost to the services provided to customers. Smaller and middle-tier competitors, in general, do not have the resources available to develop customized systems and a worldwide network.

Geographic Coverage

At December 31, 2011, the Company operates in 185 full service offices and 64 satellite offices on six continents. During 2011, the Company opened two full-service offices: 1) Chengdu, People’s Republic of China (formerly a satellite of Chongqing, People’s Republic of China) and 2) Pusan, Korea (formerly a satellite office of Seoul, Korea). The Company opened one satellite office in Kristiansand, Norway (satellite of Oslo, Norway) and closed three satellite offices: 1) Malmoe, Sweden; 2) Tiruppur, India and (3) Detroit-Ambassador Bridge, United States.

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Historically, growth through aggressive acquisition has proven to be a challenge for many of the Company’s competitors and typically involves the purchase of significant “goodwill,” the value of which can be realized in large measure only by retaining the customers and profit margins of the acquired business. As a result, the Company has pursued a strategy emphasizing organic growth supplemented by certain strategic acquisitions, where future economic benefit significantly exceeds the “goodwill” recorded in the transaction.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s principal source of liquidity is cash and cash equivalents and cash generated from operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $457 million, as compared with $396 million for 2010. This $61 million increase is primarily due to an increase in net earnings and changes in working capital accounts. At December 31, 2011, working capital was $1,491 million, including cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,295 million. The Company had no long-term debt at December 31, 2011. Management believes that the Company’s current cash position and operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet its capital and liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future, including meeting any contingent liabilities related to standby letters of credit and other obligations.

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Cash flow fluctuates as a result of this seasonality. Historically, the first quarter shows an excess of customer collections over customer billings. This results in positive cash flow. The increased activity associated with peak season (typically commencing late second or early third quarter and continuing well into the fourth quarter) causes an excess of customer billings over customer collections. This cyclical growth in customer receivables consumes available cash.

As a customs broker, the Company makes significant cash advances for a select group of its credit-worthy customers. These cash advances are for customer obligations such as the payment of duties to customs authorities in various countries throughout the world. Cash advances are a “pass through” and are not recorded as a component of revenue and expense. The billings of such advances to customers are accounted for as a direct increase in accounts receivable from the customer and a corresponding increase in accounts payable to governmental customs authorities. As a result of these “pass through” billings, the conventional Days Sales Outstanding or DSO calculation does not directly measure collection efficiency.

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $80 million, as compared with $42 million for 2010. The largest use of cash in investing activities is cash paid for capital expenditures. The Company does have need, on occasion, to purchase buildings to house staff and to facilitate the staging of customers’ freight. The Company routinely invests in technology, leasehold improvements, equipment, and office furniture. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company made capital expenditures of $78 million as compared with $42 million for 2010. This includes normal capital expenditures as noted above and $36 million for real estate development primarily for office and warehouse facilities in London, United Kingdom and in Beijing, China. Total anticipated capital expenditures in 2012 are currently estimated to be $100 million. This includes normal capital expenditures as noted above, plus additional real estate development.

Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $157 million as compared with $209 million in 2010. The Company uses the proceeds from stock option exercises to repurchase the Company’s common stock on the open market. In 2011, the Company continued its policy of repurchasing stock to limit growth in issued and outstanding shares as a result of stock option exercises. The decrease in cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2011, as compared with the same period in 2010, is primarily due to fewer stock option exercises. During 2011 and 2010, the Company paid dividends of $.50 per share and $.40 per share, respectively.

The Company follows established guidelines relating to credit quality, diversification and maturities of its investments to preserve principal and maintain liquidity. The Company’s investment portfolio has not been adversely impacted by the disruption in the credit markets. However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s investment portfolio will not be adversely affected in the future.

The Company cannot forecast the impact that ongoing uncertainties in the global economy will have on its operating results. Management believes that the Company has effective credit control procedures, and historically has experienced relatively insignificant collection problems. The Company cannot predict what fallout economic uncertainties may have on freight volumes, pricing, changes in consumer demand, supplier stability and capacity or on customers’ abilities to pay.

The Company maintains international unsecured bank lines of credit. At December 31, 2011, the international bank lines of credit totaled $15 million. At December 31, 2011, the Company had no amounts outstanding on these lines of credit, but was contingently liable for $104 million from standby letters of credit and guarantees. The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate to obligations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation. The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective foreign subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company is required to perform.

			Amount of commitment expiration per period
In thousands	Total amounts committed		Less than 1 year		1 - 3 years		3 - 5 years		After  5 years
Standby letters of credit and guarantees	$	103,813	$	97,661	$	3,744	$	352	$	2,056

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At December 31, 2011, the Company’s contractual obligations are as follows:

			Payments due by period
In thousands	Total		Less than 1 year		1 - 3 years		3 - 5 years		After  5 years
Contractual Obligations:
Operating leases	$	118,585	$	44,971	$	50,353	$	16,055	$	7,206
Unconditional purchase obligations	377,345		377,345		—		—		—
Construction and equipment purchase obligations	15,142		14,138		1,004		—		—
Total contractual cash obligations	$	511,072	$	436,454	$	51,357	$	16,055	$	7,206

The Company enters into short-term unconditional purchase obligations with asset-based providers reserving space on a guaranteed basis. The pricing of these obligations varies to some degree with market conditions. The Company only enters into agreements that management believes the Company can fulfill with relative ease. Historically, the Company has met these obligations in the normal course of business. Management believes, in line with historical experience, committed purchase obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2011 will be fulfilled during 2012 in the Company’s ordinary course of business.

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan to repurchase shares from the proceeds of stock option exercises. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had repurchased and retired 23,120,426 shares of common stock at an average price of $22.61 per share over the period from 1994 through 2011. During 2011, 1,250,374 shares were repurchased at an average price of $46.54 per share.

The Company has a Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan under which Management is allowed to repurchase such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200,000,000 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had repurchased and retired 21,156,206 shares of common stock at an average price of $35.15 per share over the period from 2001 through 2011. During 2011, 1,089,201 shares were repurchased at an average price of $49.47 per share. These discretionary repurchases were made to limit the growth in the number of issued and outstanding shares as a result of stock option exercises and the exercise of employee stock purchase rights.

The Company's foreign subsidiaries regularly remit dividends to the U.S. parent company after evaluating their working capital requirements and needs to finance local capital expenditures. In some cases, the Company’s ability to repatriate funds from foreign operations may be subject to foreign exchange controls. At December 31, 2011, cash and cash equivalent balances of $579 million were held by the Company’s non-United States subsidiaries, of which $74 million was held in banks in the United States. Earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United Sates and, accordingly, a deferred tax liability has been accrued for all undistributed earnings, net of foreign related tax credits, that are available to be repatriated.

Impact of Inflation

To date, the Company’s business has not been adversely affected by inflation. Direct carrier rate increases could occur over the short- to medium-term period. Due to the high degree of competition in the market place, these rate increases can lead to an erosion in the Company’s margins. As the Company is not required to purchase or maintain extensive property and equipment and has not otherwise incurred substantial interest rate-sensitive indebtedness, the Company currently has limited direct exposure to increased costs resulting from increases in interest rates.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any material off-balance-sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

ITEM 7A — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company is exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of its business. These risks are primarily related to foreign exchange risk and changes in short-term interest rates. The potential impact of the Company’s exposure to these risks is presented below:

Foreign Exchange Risk

The Company conducts business in many different countries and currencies. The Company’s business often results in revenue billings issued in a country and currency which differs from that where the expenses related to the service are incurred. In the ordinary course of business, the Company creates numerous intercompany transactions and may have receivables, payables and currencies that are not denominated in the local functional currency. This brings foreign exchange risk to the Company’s earnings. The principal foreign exchange risks to which the Company is exposed are in Chinese Yuan, Euro, Mexican Peso and Canadian Dollar.

Foreign exchange rate sensitivity analysis can be quantified by estimating the impact on the Company’s earnings as a result of hypothetical changes in the value of the U.S. dollar, the Company’s functional currency, relative to the other currencies in which the Company transacts business. All other things being equal, an average 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar, throughout the year ended December 31, 2011, would have had the effect of raising operating income approximately $46 million. An average 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar, for the same period, would have the effect of reducing operating income approximately $38 million. This analysis does not take into account changes in shipping patterns based upon this hypothetical currency fluctuation. For example, a weakening in the U.S. dollar would be expected to increase exports from the United States and decrease imports into the United States over some relevant period of time, but the exact effect of this change cannot be quantified without making speculative assumptions.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $1 million of net unsettled intercompany transactions. The Company currently does not use derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk and only enters into foreign currency hedging transactions in limited locations where regulatory or commercial limitations restrict the Company’s ability to move money freely. Any such hedging activity throughout the year ended December 31, 2011, was insignificant. Net foreign currency gains in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $2 million, $2 million and $1 million, respectively. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company instead follows a policy of accelerating

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international currency settlements to manage foreign exchange risk relative to intercompany billings. The majority of intercompany billings are resolved within 30 days.

Interest Rate Risk

At December 31, 2011, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,295 million, of which $849 million was invested at various short-term market interest rates. The Company had no short-term borrowings at December 31, 2011. A hypothetical change in the interest rate of 10 basis points at December 31, 2011 would not have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings.

In management’s opinion, there has been no material change in the Company’s interest rate risk exposure between 2011 and 2010.

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ITEM 8 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The following documents are filed on the pages listed below, as part of Part II, Item 8 of this report.

Document		Page
1	Financial Statements and Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm:
	Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	F-1 and F-2
	Consolidated Financial Statements:
	Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010	F-3
	Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009	F-4
	Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009	F-5 and F-6
	Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009	F-7
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	F-8 through F-19

ITEM 9 — CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

The Company's management has confidence in the Company’s internal controls and procedures. Nevertheless, the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure procedures and controls or the Company’s internal controls will prevent all errors or intentional fraud. An internal control system, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of such internal controls are met. Further, the design of an internal control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all internal control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all the Company’s control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.

Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board of Directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

A system of internal control can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2011, based on the framework in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, which is included on page F-2.

ITEM 9B — OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

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PART III

ITEM 10 — DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item is set forth below or incorporated by reference to information under the caption “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” and to the information under the captions “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Corporate Governance-Director Nomination Process” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 2, 2012. See also Part I - Item 1 - Executive Officers of the Registrant.

Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert

Our Board has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The members of the Audit Committee are Mark A. Emmert, Dan P. Kourkoumelis, Michael J. Malone, John W. Meisenbach and Robert R. Wright. Our Board has determined that Robert R. Wright, Chairman of the Audit Committee, is an audit committee financial expert as defined by Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and that each member of the Audit Committee is independent under the NASDAQ independence standards applicable to audit committee members.

Code of Ethics and Governance Guidelines

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct that applies to all Company employees including, of course, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. The Code of Business Conduct is posted on our website at http://www.investor.expeditors.com. We will post any amendments to the Code of Business Conduct at that location. In the unlikely event that the Board of Directors approves any sort of waiver to the Code of Business Conduct for our executive officers or directors, information concerning such waiver will also be posted at that location. No waivers have been granted. In addition to posting information regarding amendments and waivers on our website, the same information will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver, unless website posting of such amendments or waivers satisfies applicable NASDAQ listing rules.

Our investor relations website also includes under the heading “Stock Transactions - Stock Trading Plans” information regarding entries into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan by directors or officers of the Company or by the Company itself. Any new entry into such a trading plan or amendments thereto will be posted at that location.

ITEM  11 — EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the captions “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 2, 2012.

ITEM 12 — SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the captions “Principal Holders of Voting Securities” and “Proposal 1 - Election of Directors” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 2, 2012.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2011, regarding compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.

Plan Category	Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (1)	Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (2)		Number of Securities Available for Future Issuance, Other Than Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of All Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (3)
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders	17,252,229	$	38.45	2,848,017
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders	—	—		—
Total	17,252,229	$	38.45	2,848,017

(1) Does not include 19,500 restricted stock awards that were not fully vested as of December 31, 2011.

(2) The weighted-average exercise price does not take into account the shares issuable upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock awards which have no exercise price.

(3) Includes 2,740,093 available for issuance under the employee stock purchase plans, 8,522 available for future grants of stock options and 99,402 available for issuance of restricted stock awards.

ITEM 13 — CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the captions “Corporate Governance” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 2, 2012.

ITEM 14 — PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to information under the caption “Relationship with Independent Public Accountants”

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in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for its annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 2, 2012.

PART IV

ITEM 15 — EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

			Page
(a)	1	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
		Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	F-1 and F-2
		Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010	F-3
		Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009	F-4
		Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009	F-5 and F-6
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009	F-7
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	F-8 through F-19
	2	FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
		Schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
	3	EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS

The following list is a subset of the list of exhibits described below and contains all compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements in which any director or executive officer of the Company is a participant, unless the method of allocation of benefits thereunder is the same for management and non-management participants:

(1) Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. See Exhibit 10.23.

(2) Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer and certain of the Company’s executive officers. See Exhibit 10.24.

(3) Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. See Exhibit 10.25.

(4) The Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.4.

(5) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.5.

(6) The Company’s Amended 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.39.

(7) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.9.

(8) The Company’s Amended 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.40.

(9) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Non-Qualified options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.30.

(10) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.31.

(11) The Company’s 2008 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. See Exhibit 10.35.

(12) The Company’s 2008 Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. See Exhibit 10.36.

(13) The Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. See Exhibit 10.42.

(14) The Company’s 2005 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.45.

(15) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 2005 Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.46.

(16) The Company’s 2006 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.47.

(17) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 2006 Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.48.

(18) The Company’s 2007 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.49.

(19) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 2007 Incentive Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.50.

(20) The Company’s 2008 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.51.

(21) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 2008 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.52.

(22) The Company’s 2009 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.53.

(23) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 2009 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.54.

(24) The Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.55.

(25) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 2010 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.56.

(26) The Company’s 2011 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.57.

(27) Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 2011 Stock Option Plan. See Exhibit 10.58.

(b) EXHIBITS

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Exhibit Number	Exhibit
3.1	The Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Articles of Amendment thereto dated December 9, 1993. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1995.)
3.1.1	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated November 12, 1996. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1997.)
3.1.2	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated May 20, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 2003.)
3.1.3	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 12, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.3 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 2003.)
3.2	The Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 8-K, filed on or about November 4, 2010.)
10.4	The Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1991.)
10.5	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s Amended 1985 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1991.)
10.9	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 28, 1994.)
10.23	Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer dated December 31, 2008. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Form 10-K, filed on or about February 27, 2009.)
10.24	Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer and certain of the Company’s executive officers dated December 31, 2008. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Form 10-K, filed on or about February 27, 2009.)
10.25	Form of Employment Agreement executed by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer dated December 31, 2008. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Form 10-K, filed on or about February 27, 2009.)
10.30	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Non-Qualified options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1998.)
10.31	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 1997 Non Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Form 10-K, filed on or about March 31, 1998.)
10.35	The Company’s 2008 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix C of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 21, 2008.)
10.36	The Company’s 2008 Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 21, 2008.)
10.39	The Company’s Amended 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 28, 2001.)
10.39.1	Amendment to Amended 1993 Directors’ Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39.1 to Form 10-Q filed on or about August 9, 2007.)
10.40	The Company’s Amended 1997 Non-Qualified and Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix C of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 28, 2001.)
10.42	The Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 30, 2007.)
10.45	The Company’s 2005 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 31, 2005.)
10.46	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 2005 Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to Form 10-K filed on or about March 1, 2007.)
10.47	The Company’s 2006 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about April 4, 2006.)
10.48	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 2006 Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to Form 10-K filed on or about March 1, 2007.)
10.49	The Company’s 2007 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 30, 2007.)
10.50	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with Incentive options granted under the Company’s 2007 Incentive Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to Form 10-K filed on or about February 9, 2008.)
10.51	The Company’s 2008 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 21, 2008.)
10.52	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 2008 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.52 to Form 10-K filed on or about February 27, 2009.)

|27.

10.53	The Company’s 2009 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 20, 2009.)
10.54	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company’s 2009 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed on or about May 11, 2009.)
10.55	The Company's 2010 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company's Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 19, 2010.)
10.56	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company's 2010 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company's Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 19, 2010.)
10.57	The Company's 2011 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company's Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 18, 2011.)
10.58	Form of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with options granted under the Company's 2011 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Company's Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A filed on or about March 18, 2011.)
21.1	Subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS	Instance Document.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

|28.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: February 28, 2012

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.
	By:	/s/ Bradley S. Powell
		Bradley S. Powell
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

|29.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 28, 2012.

Signature	Title
/s/ Peter J. Rose	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
(Peter J. Rose)	(Principal Executive Officer) and Director
/s/ R. Jordan Gates	President and Chief Operating Officer and Director
(R. Jordan Gates)
/s/ James Li Kou Wang	President-Asia Pacific and Director
(James Li Kou Wang)
/s/ Bradley S. Powell	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Bradley S. Powell)	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Mark A. Emmert	Director
(Mark A. Emmert)
/s/ Dan P. Kourkoumelis	Director
(Dan P. Kourkoumelis)
/s/ Michael J. Malone	Director
(Michael J. Malone)
/s/ John W. Meisenbach	Director
(John W. Meisenbach)
/s/ Robert R. Wright	Director
(Robert R. Wright)

|30.

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

COMPRISING ITEM 8

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TO SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR THE

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010, AND 2009

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 28, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington

February 28, 2012

|F-1

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.:

We have audited Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011 and our report dated February 28, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington

February 28, 2012

|F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets

In thousands except share data

December 31,	2011			2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,294,356		1,084,465
Short-term investments	472			524
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,381 in 2011 and $14,636 in 2010	934,752			1,003,884
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	10,415			8,706
Other	46,888			42,776
Total current assets	2,286,883			2,140,355
Property and Equipment:
Land	167,037			163,291
Buildings and leasehold improvements	400,487			372,788
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software	233,447			215,054
Construction in progress	34,316			29,166
Property and equipment, at cost	835,287			780,299
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	296,481			281,651
Property and equipment, net	538,806			498,648
Goodwill, net	7,927			7,927
Other intangibles, less accumulated amortization of $20,123 in 2011 and $18,921 in 2010	2,630			3,716
Other assets, net	30,581			28,533
Total assets	$	2,866,827		2,679,179
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	606,628		652,161
Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs	169,445			177,869
Federal, state, and foreign income taxes	20,072			31,948
Total current liabilities	796,145			861,978
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	60,613			69,047
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued	—			—
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 320,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding 212,003,662 shares at December 31, 2011
and 212,047,774 shares at December 31, 2010	2,120			2,120
Additional paid-in capital	13,260			13,412
Retained earnings	1,991,222			1,717,249
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,964		)	8,125
Total shareholders’ equity	2,003,638			1,740,906
Noncontrolling interest	6,431			7,248
Total equity	2,010,069			1,748,154
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,866,827		2,679,179

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

|F-3.

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

In thousands except share data

Years ended December 31,	2011			2010		2009
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$	2,893,474		2,821,828		1,831,317
Ocean freight and ocean services	1,878,595			1,955,400		1,297,685
Customs brokerage and other services	1,378,429			1,190,345		963,281
Total revenues	6,150,498			5,967,573		4,092,283
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight consolidation	2,193,122			2,181,598		1,341,842
Ocean freight consolidation	1,443,170			1,569,877		973,462
Customs brokerage and other services	617,729			523,312		394,193
Salaries and related costs	993,358			894,132		774,214
Rent and occupancy costs	84,665			77,209		74,324
Depreciation and amortization	36,776			36,900		40,035
Selling and promotion	38,974			32,055		26,295
Other	124,377			105,260		82,917
Total operating expenses	5,532,171			5,420,343		3,707,282
Operating income	618,327			547,230		385,001
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	10,235			7,002		10,177
Interest expense	(970		)	(576	)	(499	)
Other, net	10,436			10,412		8,193
Other income, net	19,701			16,838		17,871
Earnings before income taxes	638,028			564,068		402,872
Income tax expense	251,785			219,863		162,475
Net earnings	386,243			344,205		240,397
Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	564			33		180
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679		344,172		240,217
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$	1.79		1.59		1.11
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$	1.82		1.62		1.13
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	215,033,580			216,446,656		216,533,240
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	212,117,511			212,283,966		212,112,744

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

|F-4.

Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income

In thousands except share data

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

	Common Stock
	Shares		Par Value
Balance at December 31, 2008	211,973,377		$	2,120
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	2,068,603		20
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	714,799		7
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(2,731,285	)	(27		)
Stock compensation expense	—		—
Tax benefits from stock plans	—		—
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	—		—
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	—		—
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $8,672	—		—
Total comprehensive income	—		—
Dividends paid ($.38 per share)	—		—
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	—		—
Balance at December 31, 2009	212,025,494		2,120
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	4,781,971		48
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	694,329		7
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(5,454,020	)	(55		)
Stock compensation expense	—		—
Tax benefits from stock plans	—		—
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	—		—
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $4,122	—		—
Total comprehensive income	—		—
Dividends paid ($.40 per share)	—		—
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	—		—
Balance at December 31, 2010	212,047,774		2,120
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	1,632,077		16
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	663,386		7
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(2,339,575	)	(23		)
Stock compensation expense	—		—
Tax benefits from stock plans	—		—
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	—		—
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $6,471	—		—
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $393	—		—
Total comprehensive income	—		—
Dividends paid ($.50 per share)	—		—
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	—		—
Balance at December 31, 2011	212,003,662		2,120

|F-5.

	Additional paid-in capital		Retained earnings		Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		Total shareholders’ equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total  equity
Balance at December 31, 2008	7,150		1,372,356		(15,208	)	1,366,418		17,498		1,383,916
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	26,393		—		—		26,413		—		26,413
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	20,505		—		—		20,512		—		20,512
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(84,482	)	—		—		(84,509	)	—		(84,509	)
Stock compensation expense	39,135		—		—		39,135		—		39,135
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,726		—		—		5,726		—		5,726
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	3,838		—		—		3,838		(4,306	)	(468	)
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	—		240,217		—		240,217		180		240,397
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $8,672	—		—		15,812		15,812		(634	)	15,178
Total comprehensive income	—		—		—		256,029		(454	)	255,575
Dividends paid ($.38 per share)	—		(80,555	)	—		(80,555	)	—		(80,555	)
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		—		(4,398	)	(4,398	)
Balance at December 31, 2009	18,265		1,532,018		604		1,553,007		8,340		1,561,347
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	79,186		—		—		79,234		—		79,234
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	20,543		—		—		20,550		—		20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(172,188	)	(74,069	)	—		(246,312	)	—		(246,312	)
Stock compensation expense	43,743		—		—		43,743		—		43,743
Tax benefits from stock plans	23,863		—		—		23,863		—		23,863
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	—		344,172		—		344,172		33		344,205
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $4,122	—		—		7,521		7,521		(74	)	7,447
Total comprehensive income	—		—		—		351,693		(41	)	351,652
Dividends paid ($.40 per share)	—		(84,872	)	—		(84,872	)	—		(84,872	)
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		—		(1,051	)	(1,051	)
Balance at December 31, 2010	13,412		1,717,249		8,125		1,740,906		7,248		1,748,154
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	32,406		—		—		32,422		—		32,422
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan	24,217		—		—		24,224		—		24,224
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(106,353	)	(5,695	)	—		(112,071	)	—		(112,071	)
Stock compensation expense	44,278		—		—		44,278		—		44,278
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,300		—		—		5,300		—		5,300
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	—		385,679		—		385,679		564		386,243
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $6,471	—		—		(11,705	)	(11,705	)	(426	)	(12,131	)
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax of $393	—		—		616		616		—		616
Total comprehensive income	—		—		—		374,590		138		374,728
Dividends paid ($.50 per share)	—		(106,011	)	—		(106,011	)	—		(106,011	)
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		—		(955	)	(955	)
Balance at December 31, 2011	13,260		1,991,222		(2,964	)	2,003,638		6,431		2,010,069

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

|F-6.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

In thousands

Years ended December 31,	2011			2010		2009
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$	386,243		344,205		240,397
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	1,327			3,414		804
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(4,065		)	10,569		(1,609	)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	(5,300		)	(23,863	)	(5,726	)
Stock compensation expense	44,278			43,743		39,135
Depreciation and amortization	36,776			36,900		40,035
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	360			(321	)	(42	)
Amortization of other intangible assets	1,156			1,413		1,520
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	46,915			(188,823	)	(1,077	)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(40,819		)	130,138		29,910
(Decrease) increase in income taxes payable, net	(3,237		)	39,495		(12,706	)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	(6,503		)	(1,352	)	159
Net cash provided by operating activities	457,131			395,518		330,800
Investing Activities:
Decrease in short-term investments, net	29			188		26
Purchase of property and equipment	(78,115		)	(42,408	)	(34,700	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	193			360		276
Prepayment on long-term leases, net	(936		)	—		(5,049	)
Other	(1,510		)	(319	)	(1,901	)
Net cash used in investing activities	(80,339		)	(42,179	)	(41,348	)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	56,646			99,784		46,925
Repurchases of common stock	(112,071		)	(246,312	)	(84,509	)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	5,300			23,863		5,726
Dividends paid	(106,011		)	(84,872	)	(80,555	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(955		)	(1,051	)	(1,084	)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	—			—		(3,851	)
Net cash used in financing activities	(157,091		)	(208,588	)	(117,348	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9,810		)	13,785		12,797
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	209,891			158,536		184,901
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,084,465			925,929		741,028
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1,294,356			1,084,465		925,929
Interest and Taxes Paid:
Interest	296			110		497
Income taxes	266,621			171,618		158,745

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

|F-7.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A.  |  Basis of Presentation

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, regulatory environments, cargo and other security concerns, laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation. Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions. The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business. Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises. In addition to being influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies as well as economic turbulence or security concerns in the nations in which it does business.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries stated in U.S. dollars, the Company’s reporting currency. In addition, the consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of operating entities where the Company maintains a parent-subsidiary relationship through unilateral control over assets and operations together with responsibility for payment of all liabilities, notwithstanding a lack of technical majority ownership of the subsidiary common stock. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B.  |  Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

C.  |  Short-term Investments

Short-term investments have a maturity date of greater than three months at date of purchase and are designated as available-for-sale. Cost approximates market at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

D.  |  Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $10,381, $14,636 and $14,235 as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in any of these years.

E.  |  Long-Lived Assets, Depreciation and Amortization

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the assets’ estimated useful lives or lease terms. Useful lives for major categories of property and equipment are as follows:

Land Improvements	50 years
Buildings	28 to 40 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software	3 to 5 years

Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and replacements of minor items are charged to earnings as incurred. Major upgrades and improvements that extend the life of the asset are capitalized. Upon disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in income for the period.

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company performed the required goodwill annual impairment test during the fourth quarter and determined that no impairment had occurred.

Other intangibles consist principally of payments made to purchase customer lists of agents in countries where the Company established its own presence by opening offices. Other intangibles assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives for periods up to 15 years and are reviewed for impairment if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. The estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next five years is not significant.

F.  |  Revenues and Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. These are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets. Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers. The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate), and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy

|F-8.

rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield”. By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

Airfreight services revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a freight consolidator. Ocean freight services revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC). In each case the Company is acting as an indirect carrier. When acting as an indirect carrier, the Company will issue a House Airway Bill (HAWB) or a House Ocean Bill of Lading (HOBL) to customers as the contract of carriage. In turn, when the freight is physically tendered to a direct carrier, the Company receives a contract of carriage known as a Master Airway Bill for airfreight shipments and a Master Ocean Bill of Lading for ocean shipments. At this point, the risk of loss passes to the carrier, however, in order to claim for any such loss, the customer is first obligated to pay the freight charges.

Based upon the terms in the contract of carriage, revenues related to shipments where the Company issues an HAWB or an HOBL are recognized at the time the freight is tendered to the direct carrier at origin. Costs related to the shipments are also recognized at this same time.

Revenues realized in other capacities, for instance, when the Company acts as an agent for the shipper, and does not issue an HAWB or an HOBL, include only the commissions and fees earned for the services performed. These revenues are recognized upon completion of the services.

Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices. Revenues related to customs brokerage and other services are recognized upon completion of the services. Arranging international shipments is a complex task. Each actual movement can require multiple services. In some instances, the Company is asked to perform only one of these services. However, in most instances, the Company may perform multiple services. These services include destination breakbulk services and value added ancillary services such as local transportation, export customs formalities, distribution services and logistics management. Each of these services has an associated fee which is recognized as revenue upon completion of the service.

Typically, the fees for each of these services are quoted as separate components, however, customers on occasion will request an all-inclusive rate for a set of services known in the industry as “door-to-door service.” This means that the customer is billed a single rate for all services from pickup at origin to delivery at destination. In these instances, the revenue for origin and destination services, as well as revenue that will be characterized as freight charges, is allocated to branches as set by preexisting Company policy perhaps supplemented by customer specific negotiations between the offices involved. Each of the Company’s branches are separate profit centers and the primary compensation for the branch management group comes in the form of incentive-based compensation calculated directly from the operating income of that branch. This compensation structure ensures that the allocation of revenue and expense among components of services, when provided under an all-inclusive rate, is done in an objective manner on a relative selling price basis.

The Company presents revenues net of sales and value-added taxes.

G.  |  Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributed to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, the tax effect of loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States and, accordingly, U.S. Federal and State income taxes have been provided for all undistributed earnings net of related foreign tax credits. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized. The Company recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits or underpayment of income taxes in interest expense and recognizes penalties in operating expenses.

H.  |  Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders per Common Share

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. Dilutive potential common shares represent outstanding stock options and stock purchase rights. Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding without taking into consideration dilutive potential common shares outstanding.

I.  |  Stock Plans

The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. This expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting periods.

J.  |  Foreign Currency

Foreign currency amounts attributable to foreign operations have been translated into U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities, historical rates for equity, and weighted average rates for revenues and expenses. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are recorded as components of other comprehensive income until complete or substantially complete

|F-9.

liquidation by the Company of its investment in a foreign entity. Currency fluctuations are a normal operating factor in the conduct of the Company’s business and foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in revenues and operating expenses. Also, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange fluctuations on monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies that are not the local functional currency. Foreign exchange gains and losses on such balances are recognized in net earnings as other income. Net foreign currency gains in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $1,930, $2,026 and $1,418, respectively.

The Company follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage its foreign exchange exposure. Accordingly, the Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely. Such hedging activity during 2011, 2010, and 2009 was insignificant. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

K.  |  Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings. For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects and comprehensive income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests.

Accumulated other comprehensive income consisted entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of related income tax effects, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

L.  |  Segment Reporting

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating effectiveness of geographic management. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

M.  |  Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

N.  |  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05, as amended by ASU 2011-No. 12, beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-No. 13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements”, which amends ASC Topic 605 -”Revenue Recognition”. This update provided amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This update established a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009-No. 13 was effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2009-No. 13 beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption had no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 2. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

A.  |  Stock Repurchase Plans

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, originally approved by the Board of Directors in November 1993, under which management is authorized to repurchase up to 40,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of employee and director stock options.

In November 2001, under the Company’s Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200,000,000 shares of common stock.

The following table summarizes by repurchase plan the Company’s repurchasing activity:

	Cumulative shares repurchased	Average price  per share
Non-Discretionary Plan (1994 through 2011)	23,120,426	$	22.61
Discretionary Plan (2001 through 2011)	21,156,206	$	35.15

|F-10.

B.  |  Stock Option Plans

At December 31, 2011, the Company has two stock option plans (the “1985 Plan” and the “2011 Plan”) under which the Board of Directors may grant officers and employees options to purchase common stock at prices equal to or greater than market value on the date of grant. On May 4, 2011, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2011 Plan, which made available a total of 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for purchase upon exercise of options granted under the 2011 Plan. The 1985 Plan provides for non-qualified grants. The 2011 Plan provides for qualified and non-qualified grants. Grants under the 2011 Plan are limited to not more than 100,000 shares per person. No additional shares can be granted under the 2011 Plan after April 30, 2012. Outstanding options generally vest and become exercisable over periods up to five years from the date of grant and expire no more than 10 years from the date of grant.

Upon the exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, the Company derives a tax deduction measured by the excess of the market value over the option price at the date of exercise or disqualifying disposition. The portion of the benefit from the deduction which equals the estimated fair value of the options (previously recognized as compensation expense) is recorded as a credit to the deferred tax asset for non-qualified stock options and is recorded as a credit to current tax expense for any disqualified dispositions of incentive stock options. All of the tax benefit received upon option exercise for the tax deduction in excess of the estimated fair value of the options is credited to additional paid-in capital.

The following table summarizes by plan stock option activity and shares available for granting of options:

	1985 Plan	2008 Plan		2009 Plan		2010  Plan		2011 Plan
Balance at December 31, 2008	6,912	911,585		—		—		—
Options authorized	—	—		3,000,000		—		—
Options granted	—	—		(2,449,200	)	—		—
Options not granted	—	(911,585	)	—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2009	6,912	—		550,800		—		—
Options authorized	—	—		—		3,000,000		—
Options granted	—	—		—		(2,634,885	)	—
Options not granted	—	—		(550,800	)	—		—
Balance at December 31, 2010	6,912	—		—		365,115		—
Options authorized	—	—		—		—		3,000,000
Options granted	—	—		—		—		(2,998,390	)
Options not granted	—	—		—		(365,115	)	—
Balance at December 31, 2011	6,912	—		—		—		1,610

C.  |  Stock Purchase Plan

In May 2002, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2002 Plan”), which became effective August 1, 2002. The Company’s amended 2002 Plan provides for 9,305,452 shares of the Company’s common stock to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of purchase rights granted to employees who elect to participate through regular payroll deductions beginning August 1 of each year. The purchase rights are exercisable on July 31 of the following year at a price equal to the lesser of (1) 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the last trading day in July or (2) 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the first trading day in August of the preceding year. A total of 6,565,359 shares have been issued under the 2002 Plan and $13,419 have been withheld from employees at December 31, 2011 in connection with the plan year ending July 31, 2012.

D.  |  Director Restricted Stock Plan

In May 2008, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2008 Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan (the 2008 Directors’ Plan), which provides for annual awards of restricted stock to non-employee directors and makes 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock available for grant. The 2008 Directors’ Plan replaced the 1993 Directors’ Non-qualified Stock Option Plan. The plan provides for an annual grant of restricted stock awards with a fair market value equal to $200 to each participant on June 1^st of each year. There are 99,402 shares available for grant under the 2008 Directors’ Plan as of December 31, 2011. Each restricted stock award under the 2008 Directors’ Plan vests in equal amounts monthly over one year. Restricted shares entitle the grantees to all shareholder rights once vested, except for cash dividends and transfer rights which are forfeited until the final vesting date of the award. If a non-employee director’s service is terminated, any unvested portion of an award will be forfeited unless the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines otherwise.

|F-11.

E.  |  Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes information about stock options:

	Number of shares		Weighted average exercise price per share		Weighted average remaining contractual life	Aggregate  intrinsic value  (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2010	16,293,671		$	34.11
Options granted	2,998,390		$	52.80
Options exercised	(1,605,342	)	$	20.20
Options forfeited	(409,163	)	$	42.59
Options cancelled	(25,327	)	$	38.76
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	17,252,229		$	38.45	5.85	$	98,668
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	8,422,318		$	32.07	3.48	$	89,452

F.  |  Share-Based Compensation Expense

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield	.97 - .98%			1.07 - 1.08%			1.22 - 1.25%
Volatility – stock option plans	38 - 40%			38 - 40%			38 - 39%
Volatility – stock purchase rights plans	26		%	29		%	59		%
Risk-free interest rates	.19 - 2.84%			.29 - 2.86%			.48 - 3.37%
Expected life (years) – stock option plans	5.50 - 7.11			5.44 - 6.90			6.09 - 7.86
Expected life (years) – stock purchase rights plans	1			1			1
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$	19.35		$	14.51		$	13.84
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$	11.70		$	11.16		$	12.78

The Company’s expected volatility assumptions are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock over a period of time commensurate to the expected life. The expected life assumption is primarily based on historical employee exercise patterns and employee post-vesting termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the corresponding yield curve in effect at the time of grant for U.S. Treasury bonds having the same term as the expected life of the option, i.e. a ten year bond rate is used for valuing an option with a ten year expected life. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical experience. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.

The compensation for restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of the Company’s share of common stock on the date of grant. In 2011, restricted shares totaling 19,500 were granted with a fair value per share of $51.27.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $47 million, $135 million and $38 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options, unvested restricted stock awards and stock purchase rights is $92 million and the weighted average period over which that cost is expected to be recognized is 3.2 years.

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Stock compensation expense	$	44,278	$	43,743	$	39,135
Recognized tax benefit	$	156	$	187	$	258

Shares issued as a result of stock option exercises, restricted stock awards and employee stock plan purchases are issued as new shares outstanding by the Company’s transfer agent.

|F-12.

NOTE 3. BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders per share.

	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings  per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	212,117,511	$	1.82
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		2,916,069	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	215,033,580	$	1.79
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	344,172	212,283,966	$	1.62
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,162,690	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	344,172	216,446,656	$	1.59
2009
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	240,217	212,112,744	$	1.13
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,420,496	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	240,217	216,533,240	$	1.11

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

Years ended December 31,	2011	2010	2009
Shares	7,321,670	10,675,403	8,698,730

NOTE 4. INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense (benefit) includes the following components:

	Federal			State		Foreign	Total
2011
Current	$	100,479		20,219		135,152	255,850
Deferred	(4,335		)	270		—	(4,065	)
	$	96,144		20,489		135,152	251,785
2010
Current	$	76,745		13,558		118,991	209,294
Deferred	10,197			372		—	10,569
	$	86,942		13,930		118,991	219,863
2009
Current	$	62,865		10,908		90,311	164,084
Deferred	(1,388		)	(221	)	—	(1,609	)
	$	61,477		10,687		90,311	162,475

Income tax expense differs from amounts computed by applying the United States Federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes as a result of the following:

	2011		2010	2009
Computed “expected” tax expense	$	223,310	197,424	141,005
Increase in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit	13,318		9,054	6,947
Nondeductible stock compensation expense, net	12,877		10,254	11,586
Other, net	2,280		3,131	2,937
	$	251,785	219,863	162,475

The components of earnings before income taxes are as follows:

	2011		2010	2009
United States	$	212,308	196,382	117,889
Foreign	425,720		367,686	284,983
	$	638,028	564,068	402,872

|F-13.

The tax effects of temporary differences and tax credits that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

Years ended December 31,	2011			2010
Deferred Tax Assets:
Accrued third party charges, deductible for taxes upon economic performance	$	9,220		6,503
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	1,074			1,561
Excess of financial statement over tax depreciation	8,138			8,079
Deductible stock compensation expense, net	4,651			5,450
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,625			—
Partnership basis difference	1,043			—
Retained liability for cargo claims	192			713
Total gross deferred tax assets	25,943			22,306
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Unremitted foreign earnings, net of related foreign tax credits	(76,070		)	(78,112	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—			(4,453	)
Other	(71		)	(82	)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	$	(76,141	)	(82,647	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(50,198	)	(60,341	)
Current deferred tax assets	$	(10,415	)	(8,706	)
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	$	(60,613	)	(69,047	)

Based on management’s review of the Company’s tax positions, the Company had no significant unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2008. With respect to state and local jurisdictions and countries outside of the United States, with limited exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to income tax audits for years prior to 2001. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company believes that adequate amounts of tax, interest and penalties have been provided for any adjustments that may result from these open tax years. Any interest and penalties expensed in relation to the underpayment of income taxes were insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

NOTE 5. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase. Short term investments have a maturity of greater than three months at date of purchase. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:

	December 31, 2011				December 31, 2010
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and overnight deposits	$	445,586	$	445,586	$	443,716	$	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	791,729		791,902		571,260		571,373
Time deposits	57,041		57,041		69,489		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,294,356		1,294,529		1,084,465		1,084,578
Short-term investments:
Time deposits	472		472		524		524
Total	$	1,294,828	$	1,295,001	$	1,084,989	$	1,085,102

The fair value of corporate commercial paper is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets.

NOTE 6. CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries maintain bank lines of credit for short-term working capital purposes. These credit lines are supported by standby letters of credit issued by a United States bank, or guarantees issued by the Company to the foreign banks issuing the credit line. Amounts available for borrowing under lines of credit totaled $15,128 and $21,857 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2011, the Company had no amounts outstanding under these lines and was contingently liable for approximately $103,813 under outstanding standby letters of credit and guarantees. At December 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of these credit lines and the associated credit facilities.

The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate to obligations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities

|F-14.

responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation. The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective foreign subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company were to be required to perform.

NOTE 7. COMMITMENTS

A.  |  Leases

The Company occupies office and warehouse facilities under terms of operating leases expiring up to 2021. The Company also has two long term operating lease arrangements to use land, for which the usage rights were entirely prepaid in 2009 and 2007. Usage rights for those arrangements are recognized in rent expense over the lease terms up to 2057. Total rent expense for all operating leases in 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $58,978, $54,024 and $52,581, respectively.

At December 31, 2011, future minimum annual lease payments under all noncancelable leases are as follows:

2012	$	44,971
2013	31,917
2014	18,436
2015	9,450
2016	6,605
Thereafter	7,206
	$	118,585

B.  |  Unconditional Purchase Obligations

The Company enters into short-term unconditional purchase obligations with asset-based providers reserving space on a guaranteed basis. The pricing of these obligations varies to some degree with market conditions. The Company only enters into agreements that management believes the Company can fulfill with relative ease. Historically, the Company has met these obligations in the normal course of business. Management believes, in line with historical experience, committed purchase obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2011 of $377,345, will be fulfilled during 2012 in the Company’s ordinary course of business.

C.  |  Employee Benefits

The Company has employee savings plans under which the Company provides a discretionary matching contribution. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company’s contributions under the plans were $6,312, $6,127, and $6,100, respectively.

NOTE 8. CONTINGENCIES

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company may incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. On February 28, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement, which is subject to preliminary approval by the Court, notice to the putative class and final approval, with the plaintiffs individually and on behalf of a class of direct purchasers of freight forwarding services, to resolve this lawsuit. The Company has not made, and continues to make no admission of liability by entering into this agreement. The agreement, if approved by the Court, will dismiss all allegations that the Company violated the Sherman Act. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will be dismissed from this lawsuit. In exchange for being dismissed from this lawsuit, the Company has agreed to assign to the plaintiffs 70% of the proceeds (Air Cargo proceeds) it may receive as one of the members in a separate class action litigation brought against many of the largest international air cargo carriers. The agreement provides for no other sources of consideration from the Company. Based on the terms of the agreement, and the Company's previously publicly-expressed intent not to profit and thereby effectively distribute any Air Cargo proceeds it may receive, management does not expect there to be any material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the amounts assigned to the plaintiffs and the class it seeks to represent, which includes the Company's customers, net of attorneys' fees and other administrative costs allowed by the Court, will be allocated by the Court to members of this class action lawsuit in an equitable manner consistent with their participation in the international airfreight markets over the relevant time periods.

|F-15.

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company replied to the letter. On February 24, 2012, the Company received notice from the EC that it plans to hold additional meetings, known as State of Play meetings, related to its on-going investigation of freight forwarders on or about March 15, 2012. The Company expects to participate in the meetings to continue its vigorous defense against the allegations. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior. Based on recent changes in Brazilian anti-competition laws that reduce the maximum amount of fines that can be assessed, and further investigation of this matter, management believes that such fines, if any, will not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

|F-16.

NOTE 9. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Financial information regarding 2011, 2010 and 2009 operations by the Company’s designated geographic areas are as follows:

	United States		Other North America
2011
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,540,477	189,843
Transfers between geographic areas	101,738		11,095
Total revenues	$	1,642,215	200,938
Net revenues	$	732,299	90,432
Operating income	$	210,702	29,209
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,521,657	86,020
Capital expenditures	$	23,219	1,122
Depreciation and amortization	$	20,037	1,038
Equity	$	1,285,812	49,571
2010
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,348,259	163,750
Transfers between geographic areas	99,547		10,836
Total revenues	$	1,447,806	174,586
Net revenues	$	666,669	77,079
Operating income	$	198,393	23,521
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,343,098	95,298
Capital expenditures	$	18,128	574
Depreciation and amortization	$	20,125	1,344
Equity	$	1,089,053	46,601
2009
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	982,103	129,272
Transfers between geographic areas	75,964		7,344
Total revenues	$	1,058,067	136,616
Net revenues	$	547,879	65,331
Operating income	$	117,908	20,253
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,188,111	82,166
Capital expenditures	$	24,908	724
Depreciation and amortization	$	21,010	1,391
Equity	$	965,620	40,421

|F-17.

	Latin America	Asia Pacific	Europe and Africa	Middle East and India	Eliminations		Consolidated
2011
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	82,312	3,144,641	891,185	302,040	—		6,150,498
Transfers between geographic areas	21,222	40,012	43,359	17,897	(235,323	)	—
Total revenues	103,534	3,184,653	934,544	319,937	(235,323	)	6,150,498
Net revenues	59,968	605,151	307,471	101,156	—		1,896,477
Operating income	19,151	258,952	72,248	28,065	—		618,327
Identifiable assets at year end	48,221	667,171	401,518	141,379	861		2,866,827
Capital expenditures	628	25,295	25,856	1,995	—		78,115
Depreciation and amortization	999	7,243	5,414	2,045	—		36,776
Equity	27,346	448,613	145,998	85,605	(32,876	)	2,010,069
2010
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	74,327	3,349,960	729,022	302,255	—		5,967,573
Transfers between geographic areas	16,932	32,837	40,778	16,184	(217,114	)	—
Total revenues	91,259	3,382,797	769,800	318,439	(217,114	)	5,967,573
Net revenues	50,937	543,869	264,663	89,569	—		1,692,786
Operating income	15,985	222,944	63,115	23,272	—		547,230
Identifiable assets at year end	51,326	612,085	432,019	144,043	1,310		2,679,179
Capital expenditures	1,320	5,743	14,383	2,260	—		42,408
Depreciation and amortization	880	7,511	4,661	2,379	—		36,900
Equity	27,462	371,610	160,428	84,456	(31,456	)	1,748,154
2009
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	64,060	2,101,323	582,759	232,766	—		4,092,283
Transfers between geographic areas	13,520	26,771	27,699	14,602	(165,900	)	—
Total revenues	77,580	2,128,094	610,458	247,368	(165,900	)	4,092,283
Net revenues	44,182	413,627	229,432	82,335	—		1,382,786
Operating income	12,538	167,299	43,953	23,050	—		385,001
Identifiable assets at year end	42,478	493,338	387,494	128,690	1,445		2,323,722
Capital expenditures	688	2,772	3,407	2,201	—		34,700
Depreciation and amortization	1,087	8,106	5,968	2,473	—		40,035
Equity	17,809	341,991	148,592	77,566	(30,652	)	1,561,347

Other than the United States, only the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, represented more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue, net revenue, total identifiable assets or equity in any period presented as noted in the table below.

	2011		2010		2009
Total revenues	34	%	37	%	34	%
Net revenues	19	%	19	%	17	%
Identifiable assets at year end	14	%	13	%	13	%
Equity	13	%	10	%	10	%

|F-18.

NOTE 10. QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

	1st		2nd	3rd	4th
2011
Revenues	$	1,460,848	1,581,368	1,606,368	1,501,914
Net revenues	453,915		472,561	493,846	476,155
Net earnings	91,207		95,020	106,876	93,140
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	91,232		95,000	106,604	92,843
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.42		.44	.50	.43
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.43		.45	.50	.44
2010
Revenues	$	1,201,109	1,516,770	1,667,559	1,582,135
Net revenues	361,823		418,858	458,743	453,362
Net earnings	61,310		90,409	96,038	96,448
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	61,247		90,318	96,105	96,502
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.28		.42	.44	.45
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.29		.43	.45	.45

Net revenues are determined by deducting transportation expenses from total revenues. The sum of quarterly per share data may not equal the per share total reported for the year.

|F-19.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

ANNUAL REPORT

ON

FORM 10-K

FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED

December 31, 2011

EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON, INC.

EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number	Description
21.1	Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

EX-21.1

EXHIBIT 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

Subsidiary (1)(2)(3)	State or Country of Organization
Beijing Kang Jie Kong International Cargo Agent Co., Ltd	People's Republic of China
Certuspact, LLC	Washington
CV Miami, LLC (8)	Delaware
ECI Taiwan Co., Ltd.	Taiwan
EI Freight (Argentina) S.A.	Argentina
EI Freight (U.S.A.), Inc.	Illinois
EIF SDN. BHD.	Malaysia
Expeditors (Bangladesh), Ltd.	Bangladesh
Expeditors (China) Co., Ltd.	People's Republic of China
Expeditors (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.	Malaysia
Expeditors (Portugal) Transitarios Internacionais Lda.	Portugal
Expeditors (Singapore) Private Limited	Singapore
Expeditors (Thailand) Ltd. (4)	Thailand
Expeditors Argentina S.A.	Argentina
Expeditors Assurance of Vermont, Inc.	Vermont
Expeditors Cambodia Ltd.	Cambodia
Expeditors Canada, Inc.	Canada
Expeditors Cargo Insurance Brokers, Inc.	Washington
Expeditors Chile Transportes Internacionales Limitada	Chile
Expeditors de Colombia Ltda.	Colombia
Expeditors International Forwarding and Clearing, LLC	United Arab Emirates
Expeditors Egypt S.A.E.	Egypt
Expeditors Finland Oy	Finland
Expeditors Guatemala S.A.	Guatemala
Expeditors Hong Kong Limited	Hong Kong
Expeditors Insurance Brokers (U.A.E.) LLC	United Arab Emirates
Expeditors International Bahrain (SPC)	Bahrain
Expeditors International Tasimacilik AS (5)	Turkey
Expeditors International (Hellas) A.E.	Greece
Expeditors International (India) Pvt. Ltd.	India
Expeditors International-Jordan	Jordan
Expeditors International (Kuwait) W.L.L. (6)	Kuwait
Expeditors International Norway AS	Norway
Expeditors International (NZ) Ltd.	New Zealand
Expeditors International (Puerto Rico) Inc.	Puerto Rico
Expeditors International (Switzerland) Sagl	Switzerland
Expeditors International (UK) Ltd.	United Kingdom
Expeditors International - Lebanon (s.a.l.) (5)	Lebanon
Expeditors International B.V.	Netherlands
Expeditors International CR s.r.o.	Czech Republic
Expeditors International Cargo Co. Ltd.	Saudi Arabia
Expeditors International de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.	Mexico
Expeditors International do Brasil Ltda.	Brazil
Expeditors International España, S.A.	Spain
Expeditors International Forwarding and Clearing (Abu Dhabi) LLC	United Arab Emirates
Expeditors International France, SAS	France
Expeditors International GmbH	Germany
Expeditors International Hungary Kft	Hungary
Expeditors International Italia S.r.l.	Italy

Expeditors International N.V.	Belgium
Expeditors International Ocean, Inc.	Delaware
Expeditors International Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. (7)	Pakistan
Expeditors International Pty. Limited	Australia
Expeditors International Romania S.R.L.	Romania
Expeditors International SA (Proprietary) Limited	South Africa
Expeditors International Sverige AB	Sweden
Expeditors International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd	People's Republic of China
Expeditors Ireland Limited	Ireland
Expeditors Japan KK	Japan
Expeditors Korea Ltd.	South Korea
Expeditors Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.	Sri Lanka
Expeditors LLC	Oman
Expeditors Madagascar Sarl	Madagascar
Expeditors Mar y Tierra S.A.	Costa Rica
Expeditors Peru S.A.C.	Peru
Expeditors Philippines, Inc.	Philippines
Expeditors Polska Sp. z o. o.	Poland
Expeditors Qatar LLC	Qatar
Expeditors Speditions GmbH	Austria
Expeditors TradeWin, LLC	Washington
P.T. Expeditors Indonesia	Indonesia

(1) For purposes of this list, if the Company owns directly or indirectly a controlling interest in the voting securities of any entity or if the Company has unilateral control over the assets and operations of any entity, such entity is deemed to be a subsidiary. Except as otherwise noted, the Company has 100% controlling interest in subsidiary operations. With respect to certain companies, shares of voting securities in the names of nominees and qualifying shares in the names of directors are included in Company's ownership percentage.

(2) Except as otherwise noted, each subsidiary does business in its own name and in the name of the Company.

(3) The names of other subsidiaries have been omitted from the above list since, considered in the aggregate, they would not constitute a significant subsidiary.

(4) Company has 99.5% controlling interest in subsidiary.

(5) Company has 75% controlling interest in subsidiary.

(6) Company has 61% controlling interest in subsidiary.

(7) Company has 80% controlling interest in subsidiary.

(8) Company has 50% controlling interest in subsidiary.

EX-23.1

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (No. 33-17219, No. 33-36392, No. 33-67066, No. 333-36406, No. 333-88818, No. 333-142814, No. 333-151204, No. 333-159316, No. 333-166657 and No. 333-174057) on Form S-8 of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. of our reports dated February 28, 2012, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, which reports appear in the December 31, 2011 annual report on Form 10-K of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington

February 28, 2012

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Peter J. Rose, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 28, 2012

/s/ PETER J. ROSE

Peter J. Rose

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Bradley S. Powell, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: February 28, 2012

/s/ BRADLEY S. POWELL

Bradley S. Powell

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, Peter J. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Bradley S. Powell, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

February 28, 2012	/s/ Peter J. Rose
	Peter J. Rose
	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

February 28, 2012	/s/ Bradley S. Powell
	Bradley S. Powell
	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

XML

Income Taxes - Components of Earnings Before Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Schedule of Components of Income Before Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Line Items]
United States	$ 212,308	$ 196,382	$ 117,889
Foreign	425,720	367,686	284,983
Earnings before income taxes	$ 638,028	$ 564,068	$ 402,872

XML

Business Segment Information - People's Republic of China Including Hong Kong Percentage Share of the Company's Total Revenue, Net Revenue, Total Identifiable Assets or Equity (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Total Revenues [Member] | People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percentage	34.00%	37.00%	34.00%
Net Revenues [Member] | People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percentage	19.00%	19.00%	17.00%
Identifiable assets at year end [Member] | People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percentage	14.00%	13.00%	13.00%
Equity [Member] | People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percentage	13.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Minimum [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration percentage	10.00%

XML

Shareholders’ Equity - Assumptions to Estimate Fair Value of Option Grant on Date of Grant Using Black Scholes Option Pricing Model (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk free interest rates lower end	0.19%	0.29%	0.48%
Risk free interest rates upper end	2.84%	2.86%	3.37%
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$ 19.35	$ 14.51	$ 13.84
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.97%	1.07%	1.22%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.98%	1.08%	1.25%
Employee Stock Option Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Volatility lower end - stock option plans	38.00%	38.00%	38.00%
Volatility upper end - stock option plans	40.00%	40.00%	39.00%
Expected life (years) lower end - stock option plans	5.50	5.44	6.09
Expected life (years) upper end - stock option plans	7.11	6.90	7.86
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Volatility - stock purchase rights plans	26.00%	29.00%	59.00%
Expected life (years) - stock purchase rights plans	1	1	1
Weighted average fair value of award granted during the period	$ 11.70	$ 11.16	$ 12.78

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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

Financial information regarding 2011, 2010 and 2009 operations by the Company’s designated geographic areas are as follows:

	United States		Other North America
2011
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,540,477	189,843
Transfers between geographic areas	101,738		11,095
Total revenues	$	1,642,215	200,938
Net revenues	$	732,299	90,432
Operating income	$	210,702	29,209
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,521,657	86,020
Capital expenditures	$	23,219	1,122
Depreciation and amortization	$	20,037	1,038
Equity	$	1,285,812	49,571
2010
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,348,259	163,750
Transfers between geographic areas	99,547		10,836
Total revenues	$	1,447,806	174,586
Net revenues	$	666,669	77,079
Operating income	$	198,393	23,521
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,343,098	95,298
Capital expenditures	$	18,128	574
Depreciation and amortization	$	20,125	1,344
Equity	$	1,089,053	46,601
2009
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	982,103	129,272
Transfers between geographic areas	75,964		7,344
Total revenues	$	1,058,067	136,616
Net revenues	$	547,879	65,331
Operating income	$	117,908	20,253
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,188,111	82,166
Capital expenditures	$	24,908	724
Depreciation and amortization	$	21,010	1,391
Equity	$	965,620	40,421

	Latin America	Asia Pacific	Europe and Africa	Middle East and India	Eliminations		Consolidated
2011
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	82,312	3,144,641	891,185	302,040	—		6,150,498
Transfers between geographic areas	21,222	40,012	43,359	17,897	(235,323	)	—
Total revenues	103,534	3,184,653	934,544	319,937	(235,323	)	6,150,498
Net revenues	59,968	605,151	307,471	101,156	—		1,896,477
Operating income	19,151	258,952	72,248	28,065	—		618,327
Identifiable assets at year end	48,221	667,171	401,518	141,379	861		2,866,827
Capital expenditures	628	25,295	25,856	1,995	—		78,115
Depreciation and amortization	999	7,243	5,414	2,045	—		36,776
Equity	27,346	448,613	145,998	85,605	(32,876	)	2,010,069
2010
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	74,327	3,349,960	729,022	302,255	—		5,967,573
Transfers between geographic areas	16,932	32,837	40,778	16,184	(217,114	)	—
Total revenues	91,259	3,382,797	769,800	318,439	(217,114	)	5,967,573
Net revenues	50,937	543,869	264,663	89,569	—		1,692,786
Operating income	15,985	222,944	63,115	23,272	—		547,230
Identifiable assets at year end	51,326	612,085	432,019	144,043	1,310		2,679,179
Capital expenditures	1,320	5,743	14,383	2,260	—		42,408
Depreciation and amortization	880	7,511	4,661	2,379	—		36,900
Equity	27,462	371,610	160,428	84,456	(31,456	)	1,748,154
2009
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	64,060	2,101,323	582,759	232,766	—		4,092,283
Transfers between geographic areas	13,520	26,771	27,699	14,602	(165,900	)	—
Total revenues	77,580	2,128,094	610,458	247,368	(165,900	)	4,092,283
Net revenues	44,182	413,627	229,432	82,335	—		1,382,786
Operating income	12,538	167,299	43,953	23,050	—		385,001
Identifiable assets at year end	42,478	493,338	387,494	128,690	1,445		2,323,722
Capital expenditures	688	2,772	3,407	2,201	—		34,700
Depreciation and amortization	1,087	8,106	5,968	2,473	—		40,035
Equity	17,809	341,991	148,592	77,566	(30,652	)	1,561,347

Schedule of Revenues and Long-lived Assets Attributed to Material Foreign Countries

Other than the United States, only the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, represented more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue, net revenue, total identifiable assets or equity in any period presented as noted in the table below.

	2011		2010		2009
Total revenues	34	%	37	%	34	%
Net revenues	19	%	19	%	17	%
Identifiable assets at year end	14	%	13	%	13	%
Equity	13	%	10	%	10	%

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Credit Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Available borrowing capacity under lines of credit	$ 15,128	$ 21,857
Amount outstanding under lines of credit	0
Standby Letters of Credit	$ 103,813

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Income Taxes - Components of Income Tax Expense (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Federal
Current	$ 100,479	$ 76,745	$ 62,865
Deferred	(4,335)	10,197	(1,388)
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	96,144	86,942	61,477
State
Current	20,219	13,558	10,908
Deferred	270	372	(221)
State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	20,489	13,930	10,687
Foreign
Current	135,152	118,991	90,311
Deferred	0	0	0
Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total	135,152	118,991	90,311
Total
Current	255,850	209,294	164,084
Deferred	(4,065)	10,569	(1,609)
Income tax expense	$ 251,785	$ 219,863	$ 162,475

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QUARTERLY RESULTS (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,501,914	$ 1,606,368	$ 1,581,368	$ 1,460,848	$ 1,582,135	$ 1,667,559	$ 1,516,770	$ 1,201,109	$ 6,150,498	$ 5,967,573	$ 4,092,283
Net revenues	476,155	493,846	472,561	453,915	453,362	458,743	418,858	361,823	1,896,477	1,692,786	1,382,786
Net earnings	93,140	106,876	95,020	91,207	96,448	96,038	90,409	61,310	386,243	344,205	240,397
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 92,843	$ 106,604	$ 95,000	$ 91,232	$ 96,502	$ 96,105	$ 90,318	$ 61,247	$ 385,679	$ 344,172	$ 240,217
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.43	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 0.42	$ 0.45	$ 0.44	$ 0.42	$ 0.28	$ 1.79	$ 1.59	$ 1.11
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.44	$ 0.50	$ 0.45	$ 0.43	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 0.43	$ 0.29	$ 1.82	$ 1.62	$ 1.13

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

NOTE 2. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

A.  |  Stock Repurchase Plans

The Company has a Non-Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, originally approved by the Board of Directors in November 1993, under which management is authorized to repurchase up to 40,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market with the proceeds received from the exercise of employee and director stock options.

In November 2001, under the Company’s Discretionary Stock Repurchase Plan, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of such shares as may be necessary to reduce the issued and outstanding stock to 200,000,000 shares of common stock.

The following table summarizes by repurchase plan the Company’s repurchasing activity:

	Cumulative shares repurchased	Average price  per share
Non-Discretionary Plan (1994 through 2011)	23,120,426	$	22.61
Discretionary Plan (2001 through 2011)	21,156,206	$	35.15

B.  |  Stock Option Plans

At December 31, 2011, the Company has two stock option plans (the “1985 Plan” and the “2011 Plan”) under which the Board of Directors may grant officers and employees options to purchase common stock at prices equal to or greater than market value on the date of grant. On May 4, 2011, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2011 Plan, which made available a total of 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for purchase upon exercise of options granted under the 2011 Plan. The 1985 Plan provides for non-qualified grants. The 2011 Plan provides for qualified and non-qualified grants. Grants under the 2011 Plan are limited to not more than 100,000 shares per person. No additional shares can be granted under the 2011 Plan after April 30, 2012. Outstanding options generally vest and become exercisable over periods up to five years from the date of grant and expire no more than 10 years from the date of grant.

Upon the exercise of non-qualified stock options and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, the Company derives a tax deduction measured by the excess of the market value over the option price at the date of exercise or disqualifying disposition. The portion of the benefit from the deduction which equals the estimated fair value of the options (previously recognized as compensation expense) is recorded as a credit to the deferred tax asset for non-qualified stock options and is recorded as a credit to current tax expense for any disqualified dispositions of incentive stock options. All of the tax benefit received upon option exercise for the tax deduction in excess of the estimated fair value of the options is credited to additional paid-in capital.

The following table summarizes by plan stock option activity and shares available for granting of options:

	1985 Plan	2008 Plan		2009 Plan		2010  Plan		2011 Plan
Balance at December 31, 2008	6,912	911,585		—		—		—
Options authorized	—	—		3,000,000		—		—
Options granted	—	—		(2,449,200	)	—		—
Options not granted	—	(911,585	)	—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2009	6,912	—		550,800		—		—
Options authorized	—	—		—		3,000,000		—
Options granted	—	—		—		(2,634,885	)	—
Options not granted	—	—		(550,800	)	—		—
Balance at December 31, 2010	6,912	—		—		365,115		—
Options authorized	—	—		—		—		3,000,000
Options granted	—	—		—		—		(2,998,390	)
Options not granted	—	—		—		(365,115	)	—
Balance at December 31, 2011	6,912	—		—		—		1,610

C.  |  Stock Purchase Plan

In May 2002, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2002 Plan”), which became effective August 1, 2002. The Company’s amended 2002 Plan provides for 9,305,452 shares of the Company’s common stock to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of purchase rights granted to employees who elect to participate through regular payroll deductions beginning August 1 of each year. The purchase rights are exercisable on July 31 of the following year at a price equal to the lesser of (1) 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the last trading day in July or (2) 85% of the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the first trading day in August of the preceding year. A total of 6,565,359 shares have been issued under the 2002 Plan and $13,419 have been withheld from employees at December 31, 2011 in connection with the plan year ending July 31, 2012.

D.  |  Director Restricted Stock Plan

In May 2008, the shareholders approved the Company’s 2008 Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan (the 2008 Directors’ Plan), which provides for annual awards of restricted stock to non-employee directors and makes 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock available for grant. The 2008 Directors’ Plan replaced the 1993 Directors’ Non-qualified Stock Option Plan. The plan provides for an annual grant of restricted stock awards with a fair market value equal to $200 to each participant on June 1^st of each year. There are 99,402 shares available for grant under the 2008 Directors’ Plan as of December 31, 2011. Each restricted stock award under the 2008 Directors’ Plan vests in equal amounts monthly over one year. Restricted shares entitle the grantees to all shareholder rights once vested, except for cash dividends and transfer rights which are forfeited until the final vesting date of the award. If a non-employee director’s service is terminated, any unvested portion of an award will be forfeited unless the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines otherwise.

E.  |  Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes information about stock options:

	Number of shares		Weighted average exercise price per share		Weighted average remaining contractual life	Aggregate  intrinsic value  (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2010	16,293,671		$	34.11
Options granted	2,998,390		$	52.80
Options exercised	(1,605,342	)	$	20.20
Options forfeited	(409,163	)	$	42.59
Options cancelled	(25,327	)	$	38.76
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	17,252,229		$	38.45	5.85	$	98,668
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	8,422,318		$	32.07	3.48	$	89,452

F.  |  Share-Based Compensation Expense

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield	.97 - .98%			1.07 - 1.08%			1.22 - 1.25%
Volatility – stock option plans	38 - 40%			38 - 40%			38 - 39%
Volatility – stock purchase rights plans	26		%	29		%	59		%
Risk-free interest rates	.19 - 2.84%			.29 - 2.86%			.48 - 3.37%
Expected life (years) – stock option plans	5.50 - 7.11			5.44 - 6.90			6.09 - 7.86
Expected life (years) – stock purchase rights plans	1			1			1
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$	19.35		$	14.51		$	13.84
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$	11.70		$	11.16		$	12.78

The Company’s expected volatility assumptions are based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock over a period of time commensurate to the expected life. The expected life assumption is primarily based on historical employee exercise patterns and employee post-vesting termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the corresponding yield curve in effect at the time of grant for U.S. Treasury bonds having the same term as the expected life of the option, i.e. a ten year bond rate is used for valuing an option with a ten year expected life. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical experience. The forfeiture assumption used to calculate compensation expense is primarily based on historical pre-vesting employee forfeiture patterns.

The compensation for restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of the Company’s share of common stock on the date of grant. In 2011, restricted shares totaling 19,500 were granted with a fair value per share of $51.27.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $47 million, $135 million and $38 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2011, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options, unvested restricted stock awards and stock purchase rights is $92 million and the weighted average period over which that cost is expected to be recognized is 3.2 years.

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Stock compensation expense	$	44,278	$	43,743	$	39,135
Recognized tax benefit	$	156	$	187	$	258

Shares issued as a result of stock option exercises, restricted stock awards and employee stock plan purchases are issued as new shares outstanding by the Company’s transfer agent.

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COMMITMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Prepaid land leasing arrangements	2
Rent expense	$ 58,978	$ 54,024	$ 52,581
Contribution by employer for employee saving plan	6,312	6,127	6,100
Short Term Committed Purchase Obligations	$ 377,345
Buildings
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Terms of operating leases expiring year	2021
Land
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Terms of operating leases expiring year	2057

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Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			115 Months Ended													12 Months Ended	132 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 1993 Non-Discretionary Plan	Nov. 30, 2001 Discretionary Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2008 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Option Plan 2008	Dec. 31, 2008 Stock Option Plan 2008	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option Plan 2009	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Option Plan 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2010	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option Plan 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2011	May 04, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2011 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	Dec. 31, 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	Dec. 31, 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Directors' Restricted Stock Plan 2008	May 31, 2008 Directors' Restricted Stock Plan 2008
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Share authorized for repurchase					40,000,000
Expected Common Stock Shares Issued and Outstanding						200,000,000
Shares authorized for grant														3,000,000		3,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000		9,305,452				200,000
Grants, maximum number of shares per person																	100,000
Award vesting period																				5 years				1 year
Maximum Contractual Term																		10 years
Purchase Price Percentage of Fair Market Value																					85.00%
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan				6,565,359
Amount withheld Employee Stock Purchase Plan																					$ 13,419,000
Fair Value of Annual Grant per Participant of Restricted Stock Awards																								200,000
Shares available for granting of awards							6,912	6,912	6,912	6,912	0	911,585	0	550,800	0	365,115	1,610	1,610						99,402
Restricted shares granted																								19,500
Weighted average fair value of award granted during the period																					$ 11.70	$ 11.16	$ 12.78	$ 51.27
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	47,000,000	135,000,000	38,000,000
Total Unrecognized Share-Based compensation cost	$ 92,000,000			$ 92,000,000
Unrecognized Share-Based compensation cost, weighted average period	3.2

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Useful Lives for Major Categories of Property and Equipment (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years
Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant and Equipment useful life (in years)	50
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant and Equipment minimum useful life (in years)	28
Property Plant and Equipment maximum useful life (in years)	40
Furniture Fixtures Equipment And Purchased Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant and Equipment minimum useful life (in years)	3
Property Plant and Equipment maximum useful life (in years)	5

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Commitments - Future Minimum Annual Lease Payments Under All Leases (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Future minimum annual Lease payments due in 2012	$ 44,971
Future minimum annual Lease payments due in 2013	31,917
Future minimum annual Lease payments due in 2014	18,436
Future minimum annual Lease payments due in 2015	9,450
Future minimum annual Lease payments due in 2016	6,605
Future minimum annual Lease payments due Thereafter	7,206
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total	$ 118,585

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Shareholders' Equity - Company's Repurchasing Activity by Repurchase Plan (Detail) (USD $)	216 Months Ended	132 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Discretionary Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Discretionary Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cumulative shares repurchased	23,120,426	21,156,206
Average price per share	$ 22.61	$ 35.15

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Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Stock Option Plan Activity and Shares Available for Granting of Options (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Option Plan 1985	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Option Plan 2008	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option Plan 2009	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Option Plan 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2010	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Option Plan 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2011	May 04, 2011 Stock Option Plan 2011
Shares Available for Grant of Options [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		6,912	6,912	6,912	911,585	550,800		365,115
Options authorized							3,000,000		3,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Options granted	(2,998,390)	0	0	0	0	0	(2,449,200)	0	(2,634,885)	(2,998,390)
Options not granted					(911,585)	(550,800)		(365,115)
Ending Balance		6,912	6,912	6,912	0	0	550,800	0	365,115	1,610

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

A.  |  Basis of Presentation

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, regulatory environments, cargo and other security concerns, laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation. Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions. The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business. Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises. In addition to being influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies as well as economic turbulence or security concerns in the nations in which it does business.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries stated in U.S. dollars, the Company’s reporting currency. In addition, the consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of operating entities where the Company maintains a parent-subsidiary relationship through unilateral control over assets and operations together with responsibility for payment of all liabilities, notwithstanding a lack of technical majority ownership of the subsidiary common stock. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

B.  |  Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

C.  |  Short-term Investments

Short-term investments have a maturity date of greater than three months at date of purchase and are designated as available-for-sale. Cost approximates market at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

D.  |  Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $10,381, $14,636 and $14,235 as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in any of these years.

E.  |  Long-Lived Assets, Depreciation and Amortization

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the assets’ estimated useful lives or lease terms. Useful lives for major categories of property and equipment are as follows:

Land Improvements	50 years
Buildings	28 to 40 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software	3 to 5 years

Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and replacements of minor items are charged to earnings as incurred. Major upgrades and improvements that extend the life of the asset are capitalized. Upon disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in income for the period.

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company performed the required goodwill annual impairment test during the fourth quarter and determined that no impairment had occurred.

Other intangibles consist principally of payments made to purchase customer lists of agents in countries where the Company established its own presence by opening offices. Other intangibles assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives for periods up to 15 years and are reviewed for impairment if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. The estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next five years is not significant.

F.  |  Revenues and Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. These are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets. Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers. The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate), and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield”. By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

Airfreight services revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a freight consolidator. Ocean freight services revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC). In each case the Company is acting as an indirect carrier. When acting as an indirect carrier, the Company will issue a House Airway Bill (HAWB) or a House Ocean Bill of Lading (HOBL) to customers as the contract of carriage. In turn, when the freight is physically tendered to a direct carrier, the Company receives a contract of carriage known as a Master Airway Bill for airfreight shipments and a Master Ocean Bill of Lading for ocean shipments. At this point, the risk of loss passes to the carrier, however, in order to claim for any such loss, the customer is first obligated to pay the freight charges.

Based upon the terms in the contract of carriage, revenues related to shipments where the Company issues an HAWB or an HOBL are recognized at the time the freight is tendered to the direct carrier at origin. Costs related to the shipments are also recognized at this same time.

Revenues realized in other capacities, for instance, when the Company acts as an agent for the shipper, and does not issue an HAWB or an HOBL, include only the commissions and fees earned for the services performed. These revenues are recognized upon completion of the services.

Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices. Revenues related to customs brokerage and other services are recognized upon completion of the services. Arranging international shipments is a complex task. Each actual movement can require multiple services. In some instances, the Company is asked to perform only one of these services. However, in most instances, the Company may perform multiple services. These services include destination breakbulk services and value added ancillary services such as local transportation, export customs formalities, distribution services and logistics management. Each of these services has an associated fee which is recognized as revenue upon completion of the service.

Typically, the fees for each of these services are quoted as separate components, however, customers on occasion will request an all-inclusive rate for a set of services known in the industry as “door-to-door service.” This means that the customer is billed a single rate for all services from pickup at origin to delivery at destination. In these instances, the revenue for origin and destination services, as well as revenue that will be characterized as freight charges, is allocated to branches as set by preexisting Company policy perhaps supplemented by customer specific negotiations between the offices involved. Each of the Company’s branches are separate profit centers and the primary compensation for the branch management group comes in the form of incentive-based compensation calculated directly from the operating income of that branch. This compensation structure ensures that the allocation of revenue and expense among components of services, when provided under an all-inclusive rate, is done in an objective manner on a relative selling price basis.

The Company presents revenues net of sales and value-added taxes.

G.  |  Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributed to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, the tax effect of loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States and, accordingly, U.S. Federal and State income taxes have been provided for all undistributed earnings net of related foreign tax credits. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized. The Company recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits or underpayment of income taxes in interest expense and recognizes penalties in operating expenses.

H.  |  Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders per Common Share

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. Dilutive potential common shares represent outstanding stock options and stock purchase rights. Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding without taking into consideration dilutive potential common shares outstanding.

I.  |  Stock Plans

The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. This expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting periods.

J.  |  Foreign Currency

Foreign currency amounts attributable to foreign operations have been translated into U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities, historical rates for equity, and weighted average rates for revenues and expenses. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are recorded as components of other comprehensive income until complete or substantially complete liquidation by the Company of its investment in a foreign entity. Currency fluctuations are a normal operating factor in the conduct of the Company’s business and foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in revenues and operating expenses. Also, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange fluctuations on monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies that are not the local functional currency. Foreign exchange gains and losses on such balances are recognized in net earnings as other income. Net foreign currency gains in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $1,930, $2,026 and $1,418, respectively.

The Company follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage its foreign exchange exposure. Accordingly, the Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely. Such hedging activity during 2011, 2010, and 2009 was insignificant. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

K.  |  Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings. For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects and comprehensive income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests.

Accumulated other comprehensive income consisted entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of related income tax effects, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

L.  |  Segment Reporting

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating effectiveness of geographic management. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents.

M.  |  Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

N.  |  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05, as amended by ASU 2011-No. 12, beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-No. 13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements”, which amends ASC Topic 605 -”Revenue Recognition”. This update provided amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This update established a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009-No. 13 was effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2009-No. 13 beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption had no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Shareholders' Equity - Summary of Information about Stock Options (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years
Number of shares
Outstanding Beginning Balance	16,293,671
Options granted	2,998,390
Options exercised	(1,605,342)
Options forfeited	(409,163)
Options cancelled	(25,327)
Outstanding Ending Balance	17,252,229
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	8,422,318
Weighted average exercise price per share
Outstanding Beginning Balance	$ 34.11
Options granted	$ 52.80
Options exercised	$ 20.20
Options forfeited	$ 42.59
Options cancelled	$ 38.76
Outstanding Ending Balance	$ 38.45
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	$ 32.07
Weighted average remaining contractual life
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	5.85
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	3.48
Aggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	$ 98,668
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	$ 89,452

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Income Taxes - Components of Deferred Taxes (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Tax Assets:
Accrued third party charges, deductible for taxes upon economic performance	$ 9,220	$ 6,503
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	1,074	1,561
Excess of financial statement over tax depreciation	8,138	8,079
Deductible stock compensation expense, net	4,651	5,450
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,625	0
Partnership basis difference	1,043	0
Retained liability for cargo claims	192	713
Total gross deferred tax assets	25,943	22,306
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Unremitted foreign earnings, net of related foreign tax credits	(76,070)	(78,112)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	(4,453)
Other	(71)	(82)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(76,141)	(82,647)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(50,198)	(60,341)
Current deferred tax assets	(10,415)	(8,706)
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	$ (60,613)	$ (69,047)

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,294,356	$ 1,084,465
Short-term investments	472	524
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,381 in 2011 and $14,636 in 2010	934,752	1,003,884
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	10,415	8,706
Other	46,888	42,776
Total current assets	2,286,883	2,140,355
Property and Equipment:
Land	167,037	163,291
Buildings and leasehold improvements	400,487	372,788
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software	233,447	215,054
Construction in progress	34,316	29,166
Property and equipment, at cost	835,287	780,299
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	296,481	281,651
Property and equipment, net	538,806	498,648
Goodwill, net	7,927	7,927
Other intangibles, less accumulated amortization of $20,123 in 2011 and $18,921 in 2010	2,630	3,716
Other assets, net	30,581	28,533
Total assets	2,866,827	2,679,179
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	606,628	652,161
Accrued expenses, primarily salaries and related costs	169,445	177,869
Federal, state, and foreign income taxes	20,072	31,948
Total current liabilities	796,145	861,978
Deferred Federal and state income taxes	60,613	69,047
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 320,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 212,003,662 shares at December 31, 2011 and 212,047,774 shares at December 31, 2010	2,120	2,120
Additional paid-in capital	13,260	13,412
Retained earnings	1,991,222	1,717,249
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,964)	8,125
Total shareholders' equity	2,003,638	1,740,906
Noncontrolling interest	6,431	7,248
Total equity	2,010,069	1,748,154
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,866,827	$ 2,679,179

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Business Segment Information - Financial Information Regarding Company's Operations by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$ 1,501,914	$ 1,606,368	$ 1,581,368	$ 1,460,848	$ 1,582,135	$ 1,667,559	$ 1,516,770	$ 1,201,109	$ 6,150,498	$ 5,967,573	$ 4,092,283
Total revenues									6,150,498	5,967,573	4,092,283
Net revenues	476,155	493,846	472,561	453,915	453,362	458,743	418,858	361,823	1,896,477	1,692,786	1,382,786
Operating income									618,327	547,230	385,001
Identifiable assets at year end	2,866,827				2,679,179				2,866,827	2,679,179	2,323,722
Capital expenditures									78,115	42,408	34,700
Depreciation and amortization									36,776	36,900	40,035
Equity	2,010,069				1,748,154				2,010,069	1,748,154	1,561,347	1,383,916
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers									1,540,477	1,348,259	982,103
Transfers between geographic areas									101,738	99,547	75,964
Total revenues									1,642,215	1,447,806	1,058,067
Net revenues									732,299	666,669	547,879
Operating income									210,702	198,393	117,908
Identifiable assets at year end	1,521,657				1,343,098				1,521,657	1,343,098	1,188,111
Capital expenditures									23,219	18,128	24,908
Depreciation and amortization									20,037	20,125	21,010
Equity	1,285,812				1,089,053				1,285,812	1,089,053	965,620
Other North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers									189,843	163,750	129,272
Transfers between geographic areas									11,095	10,836	7,344
Total revenues									200,938	174,586	136,616
Net revenues									90,432	77,079	65,331
Operating income									29,209	23,521	20,253
Identifiable assets at year end	86,020				95,298				86,020	95,298	82,166
Capital expenditures									1,122	574	724
Depreciation and amortization									1,038	1,344	1,391
Equity	49,571				46,601				49,571	46,601	40,421
Latin America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers									82,312	74,327	64,060
Transfers between geographic areas									21,222	16,932	13,520
Total revenues									103,534	91,259	77,580
Net revenues									59,968	50,937	44,182
Operating income									19,151	15,985	12,538
Identifiable assets at year end	48,221				51,326				48,221	51,326	42,478
Capital expenditures									628	1,320	688
Depreciation and amortization									999	880	1,087
Equity	27,346				27,462				27,346	27,462	17,809
Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers									3,144,641	3,349,960	2,101,323
Transfers between geographic areas									40,012	32,837	26,771
Total revenues									3,184,653	3,382,797	2,128,094
Net revenues									605,151	543,869	413,627
Operating income									258,952	222,944	167,299
Identifiable assets at year end	667,171				612,085				667,171	612,085	493,338
Capital expenditures									25,295	5,743	2,772
Depreciation and amortization									7,243	7,511	8,106
Equity	448,613				371,610				448,613	371,610	341,991
Europe And Africa
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers									891,185	729,022	582,759
Transfers between geographic areas									43,359	40,778	27,699
Total revenues									934,544	769,800	610,458
Net revenues									307,471	264,663	229,432
Operating income									72,248	63,115	43,953
Identifiable assets at year end	401,518				432,019				401,518	432,019	387,494
Capital expenditures									25,856	14,383	3,407
Depreciation and amortization									5,414	4,661	5,968
Equity	145,998				160,428				145,998	160,428	148,592
Middle East And India
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from unaffiliated customers									302,040	302,255	232,766
Transfers between geographic areas									17,897	16,184	14,602
Total revenues									319,937	318,439	247,368
Net revenues									101,156	89,569	82,335
Operating income									28,065	23,272	23,050
Identifiable assets at year end	141,379				144,043				141,379	144,043	128,690
Capital expenditures									1,995	2,260	2,201
Depreciation and amortization									2,045	2,379	2,473
Equity	85,605				84,456				85,605	84,456	77,566
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Transfers between geographic areas									(235,323)	(217,114)	(165,900)
Total revenues									(235,323)	(217,114)	(165,900)
Identifiable assets at year end	861				1,310				861	1,310	1,445
Equity	$ (32,876)				$ (31,456)				$ (32,876)	$ (31,456)	$ (30,652)

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Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	$ 6,471	$ 4,122	$ 8,672
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, tax	$ 393	$ 0	$ 0
Dividends paid, per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.40	$ 0.38

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Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share - Numerator and Denominator of the Basic and Diluted Per Share Computations for Earnings Attributable to Shareholders Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders									$ 385,679	$ 344,172	$ 240,217
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders									$ 385,679	$ 344,172	$ 240,217
Weighted Average Shares
Weighted average basic shares outstanding									212,117,511	212,283,966	212,112,744
Effect of dilutive potential common shares									2,916,069	4,162,690	4,420,496
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding									215,033,580	216,446,656	216,533,240
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.44	$ 0.50	$ 0.45	$ 0.43	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 0.43	$ 0.29	$ 1.82	$ 1.62	$ 1.13
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 0.43	$ 0.50	$ 0.44	$ 0.42	$ 0.45	$ 0.44	$ 0.42	$ 0.28	$ 1.79	$ 1.59	$ 1.11

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INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense (benefit) includes the following components:

	Federal			State		Foreign	Total
2011
Current	$	100,479		20,219		135,152	255,850
Deferred	(4,335		)	270		—	(4,065	)
	$	96,144		20,489		135,152	251,785
2010
Current	$	76,745		13,558		118,991	209,294
Deferred	10,197			372		—	10,569
	$	86,942		13,930		118,991	219,863
2009
Current	$	62,865		10,908		90,311	164,084
Deferred	(1,388		)	(221	)	—	(1,609	)
	$	61,477		10,687		90,311	162,475

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

Income tax expense differs from amounts computed by applying the United States Federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes as a result of the following:

	2011		2010	2009
Computed “expected” tax expense	$	223,310	197,424	141,005
Increase in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit	13,318		9,054	6,947
Nondeductible stock compensation expense, net	12,877		10,254	11,586
Other, net	2,280		3,131	2,937
	$	251,785	219,863	162,475

Schedule of U.S. and Foreign Components of Income Before Income Tax Expense/(Benefit)

The components of earnings before income taxes are as follows:

	2011		2010	2009
United States	$	212,308	196,382	117,889
Foreign	425,720		367,686	284,983
	$	638,028	564,068	402,872

Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences and tax credits that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

Years ended December 31,	2011			2010
Deferred Tax Assets:
Accrued third party charges, deductible for taxes upon economic performance	$	9,220		6,503
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	1,074			1,561
Excess of financial statement over tax depreciation	8,138			8,079
Deductible stock compensation expense, net	4,651			5,450
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,625			—
Partnership basis difference	1,043			—
Retained liability for cargo claims	192			713
Total gross deferred tax assets	25,943			22,306
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Unremitted foreign earnings, net of related foreign tax credits	(76,070		)	(78,112	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—			(4,453	)
Other	(71		)	(82	)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	$	(76,141	)	(82,647	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(50,198	)	(60,341	)
Current deferred tax assets	$	(10,415	)	(8,706	)
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	$	(60,613	)	(69,047	)

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Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share - Shares Excluded From Computation of Diluted earnings Per Share (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares	7,321,670	10,675,403	8,698,730

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COMMITMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule Of Minimum Lease Payments

At December 31, 2011, future minimum annual lease payments under all noncancelable leases are as follows:

2012	$	44,971
2013	31,917
2014	18,436
2015	9,450
2016	6,605
Thereafter	7,206
	$	118,585

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$ 386,243	$ 344,205	$ 240,397
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	1,327	3,414	804
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(4,065)	10,569	(1,609)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	(5,300)	(23,863)	(5,726)
Stock compensation expense	44,278	43,743	39,135
Depreciation and amortization	36,776	36,900	40,035
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	360	(321)	(42)
Amortization of other intangible assets	1,156	1,413	1,520
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	46,915	(188,823)	(1,077)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(40,819)	130,138	29,910
(Decrease) increase in income taxes payable, net	(3,237)	39,495	(12,706)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets	(6,503)	(1,352)	159
Net cash provided by operating activities	457,131	395,518	330,800
Investing Activities:
Decrease in short-term investments, net	29	188	26
Purchase of property and equipment	(78,115)	(42,408)	(34,700)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	193	360	276
Prepayment on long-term leases, net	(936)	0	(5,049)
Other	(1,510)	(319)	(1,901)
Net cash used in investing activities	(80,339)	(42,179)	(41,348)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	56,646	99,784	46,925
Repurchases of common stock	(112,071)	(246,312)	(84,509)
Excess tax benefits from stock plans	5,300	23,863	5,726
Dividends paid	(106,011)	(84,872)	(80,555)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(955)	(1,051)	(1,084)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	0	0	(3,851)
Net cash used in financing activities	(157,091)	(208,588)	(117,348)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9,810)	13,785	12,797
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	209,891	158,536	184,901
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,084,465	925,929	741,028
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	1,294,356	1,084,465	925,929
Interest and Taxes Paid:
Interest	296	110	497
Income taxes	$ 266,621	$ 171,618	$ 158,745

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Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 10,381	$ 14,636
Other intangibles, accumulated amortization	$ 20,123	$ 18,921
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, Authorized	2,000,000	2,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, Authorized	320,000,000	320,000,000
Common stock, issued	212,003,662	212,047,774
Common stock, outstanding	212,003,662	212,047,774

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QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE 10. QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

	1st		2nd	3rd	4th
2011
Revenues	$	1,460,848	1,581,368	1,606,368	1,501,914
Net revenues	453,915		472,561	493,846	476,155
Net earnings	91,207		95,020	106,876	93,140
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	91,232		95,000	106,604	92,843
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.42		.44	.50	.43
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.43		.45	.50	.44
2010
Revenues	$	1,201,109	1,516,770	1,667,559	1,582,135
Net revenues	361,823		418,858	458,743	453,362
Net earnings	61,310		90,409	96,038	96,448
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	61,247		90,318	96,105	96,502
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.28		.42	.44	.45
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.29		.43	.45	.45

Net revenues are determined by deducting transportation expenses from total revenues. The sum of quarterly per share data may not equal the per share total reported for the year.

XML

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 21, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000746515
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	EXPD
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		212,077,956
Entity Public Float			$ 10,685,897,706

XML

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Basis of Presentation, Policy

A.  |  Basis of Presentation

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (“the Company”) is a non-asset based provider of global logistics services operating through a worldwide network of offices and exclusive or non-exclusive agents. The Company’s customers include retailing and wholesaling, electronics, and manufacturing companies around the world.

International trade is influenced by many factors, including economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, currency exchange rates, regulatory environments, cargo and other security concerns, laws and policies relating to tariffs, trade restrictions, foreign investments and taxation. Periodically, governments consider a variety of changes to current tariffs and trade restrictions. The Company cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals may be adopted, nor can the Company predict the effects adoption of any such proposal will have on the Company’s business. Doing business in foreign locations also subjects the Company to a variety of risks and considerations not normally encountered by domestic enterprises. In addition to being influenced by governmental policies concerning international trade, the Company’s business may also be affected by political developments and changes in government personnel or policies as well as economic turbulence or security concerns in the nations in which it does business.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries stated in U.S. dollars, the Company’s reporting currency. In addition, the consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of operating entities where the Company maintains a parent-subsidiary relationship through unilateral control over assets and operations together with responsibility for payment of all liabilities, notwithstanding a lack of technical majority ownership of the subsidiary common stock. All dollar amounts in the notes are presented in thousands except for share data. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash Equivalents, Policy

B.  |  Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

Short Term Investments , Policy

C.  |  Short-term Investments

Short-term investments have a maturity date of greater than three months at date of purchase and are designated as available-for-sale. Cost approximates market at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Accounts Receivable, Policy

D.  |  Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is reviewed at least monthly for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments for services and advances. Additional allowances may be necessary in the future if the ability of its customers to pay deteriorates. The Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $10,381, $14,636 and $14,235 as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Additions and write-offs have not been significant in any of these years.

Property and Equipment, Policy

E.  |  Long-Lived Assets, Depreciation and Amortization

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the assets’ estimated useful lives or lease terms. Useful lives for major categories of property and equipment are as follows:

Land Improvements	50 years
Buildings	28 to 40 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software	3 to 5 years

Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and replacements of minor items are charged to earnings as incurred. Major upgrades and improvements that extend the life of the asset are capitalized. Upon disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in income for the period.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company performed the required goodwill annual impairment test during the fourth quarter and determined that no impairment had occurred.

Other intangibles consist principally of payments made to purchase customer lists of agents in countries where the Company established its own presence by opening offices. Other intangibles assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives for periods up to 15 years and are reviewed for impairment if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. The estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next five years is not significant.

Revenue Recognition, Policy

F.  |  Revenues and Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenues from three principal sources: 1) airfreight services, 2) ocean freight and ocean services, and 3) customs brokerage and other services. These are the revenue categories presented in the financial statements.

As a non-asset based carrier, the Company does not own transportation assets. Rather, the Company generates the major portion of its air and ocean freight revenues by purchasing transportation services from direct (asset-based) carriers and reselling those services to its customers. The difference between the rate billed to customers (the sell rate), and the rate paid to the carrier (the buy rate) is termed “net revenue” or “yield”. By consolidating shipments from multiple customers and concentrating its buying power, the Company is able to negotiate favorable buy rates from the direct carriers, while at the same time offering lower sell rates than customers would otherwise be able to negotiate themselves.

Airfreight services revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a freight consolidator. Ocean freight services revenues include the charges to the Company for carrying the shipments when the Company acts as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC). In each case the Company is acting as an indirect carrier. When acting as an indirect carrier, the Company will issue a House Airway Bill (HAWB) or a House Ocean Bill of Lading (HOBL) to customers as the contract of carriage. In turn, when the freight is physically tendered to a direct carrier, the Company receives a contract of carriage known as a Master Airway Bill for airfreight shipments and a Master Ocean Bill of Lading for ocean shipments. At this point, the risk of loss passes to the carrier, however, in order to claim for any such loss, the customer is first obligated to pay the freight charges.

Based upon the terms in the contract of carriage, revenues related to shipments where the Company issues an HAWB or an HOBL are recognized at the time the freight is tendered to the direct carrier at origin. Costs related to the shipments are also recognized at this same time.

Revenues realized in other capacities, for instance, when the Company acts as an agent for the shipper, and does not issue an HAWB or an HOBL, include only the commissions and fees earned for the services performed. These revenues are recognized upon completion of the services.

Customs brokerage and other services involves providing services at destination, such as helping customers clear shipments through customs by preparing required documentation, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the customers as well as arranging for any required inspections by governmental agencies, and arranging for delivery. This is a complicated function requiring technical knowledge of customs rules and regulations in the multitude of countries in which the Company has offices. Revenues related to customs brokerage and other services are recognized upon completion of the services. Arranging international shipments is a complex task. Each actual movement can require multiple services. In some instances, the Company is asked to perform only one of these services. However, in most instances, the Company may perform multiple services. These services include destination breakbulk services and value added ancillary services such as local transportation, export customs formalities, distribution services and logistics management. Each of these services has an associated fee which is recognized as revenue upon completion of the service.

Typically, the fees for each of these services are quoted as separate components, however, customers on occasion will request an all-inclusive rate for a set of services known in the industry as “door-to-door service.” This means that the customer is billed a single rate for all services from pickup at origin to delivery at destination. In these instances, the revenue for origin and destination services, as well as revenue that will be characterized as freight charges, is allocated to branches as set by preexisting Company policy perhaps supplemented by customer specific negotiations between the offices involved. Each of the Company’s branches are separate profit centers and the primary compensation for the branch management group comes in the form of incentive-based compensation calculated directly from the operating income of that branch. This compensation structure ensures that the allocation of revenue and expense among components of services, when provided under an all-inclusive rate, is done in an objective manner on a relative selling price basis.

The Company presents revenues net of sales and value-added taxes.

Income Taxes, Policy

G.  |  Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributed to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, the tax effect of loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States and, accordingly, U.S. Federal and State income taxes have been provided for all undistributed earnings net of related foreign tax credits. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized. The Company recognizes interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits or underpayment of income taxes in interest expense and recognizes penalties in operating expenses

Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders per Common Share, Policy

H.  |  Net Earnings Attributable to Shareholders per Common Share

Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. Dilutive potential common shares represent outstanding stock options and stock purchase rights. Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding without taking into consideration dilutive potential common shares outstanding

Stock Plans, Policy

I.  |  Stock Plans

The Company recognizes stock compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of awards granted to employees and directors under the Company’s stock option, director restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights plans. This expense, adjusted for expected forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the stock awards' vesting periods

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations, Policy

J.  |  Foreign Currency

Foreign currency amounts attributable to foreign operations have been translated into U.S. dollars using year-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities, historical rates for equity, and weighted average rates for revenues and expenses. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are recorded as components of other comprehensive income until complete or substantially complete liquidation by the Company of its investment in a foreign entity. Currency fluctuations are a normal operating factor in the conduct of the Company’s business and foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in revenues and operating expenses. Also, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange fluctuations on monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies that are not the local functional currency. Foreign exchange gains and losses on such balances are recognized in net earnings as other income. Net foreign currency gains in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $1,930, $2,026 and $1,418, respectively.

The Company follows a policy of accelerating international currency settlements to manage its foreign exchange exposure. Accordingly, the Company enters into foreign currency hedging transactions only in limited locations where there are regulatory or commercial limitations on the Company’s ability to move money freely. Such hedging activity during 2011, 2010, and 2009 was insignificant. The Company had no foreign currency derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010

Comprehensive Income (Loss), Policy

K.  |  Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net earnings and other gains and losses affecting equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings. For the Company, these consist of foreign currency translation gains and losses, net of related income tax effects and comprehensive income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests.

Accumulated other comprehensive income consisted entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments, net of related income tax effects, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010

Segment Reporting, Policy

L.  |  Segment Reporting

The Company is organized functionally in geographic operating segments. Accordingly, management focuses its attention on revenues, net revenues, operating income, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization and equity generated in each of these geographical areas when evaluating effectiveness of geographic management. The Company charges its subsidiaries and affiliates for services rendered in the United States on a cost recovery basis. Transactions among the Company’s various offices are conducted using the same arms-length pricing methodologies the Company uses when its offices transact business with independent agents

Estimates and Assumptions, Policy

M.  |  Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company uses estimates primarily in the following areas: accounts receivable valuation, accrual of costs related to ancillary services the Company provides, accrual of insurance liabilities for the portion of the freight related exposure which the Company has self-insured, accrual of various tax liabilities, accrual of loss contingencies and calculation of share-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted, Policy

N.  |  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-No. 05 “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220 -”Comprehensive Income”. This update is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by giving the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company is required to and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2011-No. 05, as amended by ASU 2011-No. 12, beginning in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption is only expected to have a presentation impact on the Company's consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of equity and comprehensive income.

Description of impact of Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-No. 13 “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements”, which amends ASC Topic 605 -”Revenue Recognition”. This update provided amendments to the criteria for separating deliverables, measuring and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This update established a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009-No. 13 was effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2009-No. 13 beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption had no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Airfreight services	$ 2,893,474	$ 2,821,828	$ 1,831,317
Ocean freight and ocean services	1,878,595	1,955,400	1,297,685
Customs brokerage and other services	1,378,429	1,190,345	963,281
Total revenues	6,150,498	5,967,573	4,092,283
Operating Expenses:
Airfreight consolidation	2,193,122	2,181,598	1,341,842
Ocean freight consolidation	1,443,170	1,569,877	973,462
Customs brokerage and other services	617,729	523,312	394,193
Salaries and related costs	993,358	894,132	774,214
Rent and occupancy costs	84,665	77,209	74,324
Depreciation and amortization	36,776	36,900	40,035
Selling and promotion	38,974	32,055	26,295
Other	124,377	105,260	82,917
Total operating expenses	5,532,171	5,420,343	3,707,282
Operating income	618,327	547,230	385,001
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	10,235	7,002	10,177
Interest expense	(970)	(576)	(499)
Other, net	10,436	10,412	8,193
Other income, net	19,701	16,838	17,871
Earnings before income taxes	638,028	564,068	402,872
Income tax expense	251,785	219,863	162,475
Net earnings	386,243	344,205	240,397
Less net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	564	33	180
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	$ 385,679	$ 344,172	$ 240,217
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 1.79	$ 1.59	$ 1.11
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	$ 1.82	$ 1.62	$ 1.13
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	215,033,580	216,446,656	216,533,240
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	212,117,511	212,283,966	212,112,744

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FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

NOTE 5. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at date of purchase. Short term investments have a maturity of greater than three months at date of purchase. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:

	December 31, 2011				December 31, 2010
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and overnight deposits	$	445,586	$	445,586	$	443,716	$	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	791,729		791,902		571,260		571,373
Time deposits	57,041		57,041		69,489		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,294,356		1,294,529		1,084,465		1,084,578
Short-term investments:
Time deposits	472		472		524		524
Total	$	1,294,828	$	1,295,001	$	1,084,989	$	1,085,102

The fair value of corporate commercial paper is based on the use of market interest rates for identical or similar assets.

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INCOME TAXES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

INCOME TAXES

NOTE 4. INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense (benefit) includes the following components:

	Federal			State		Foreign	Total
2011
Current	$	100,479		20,219		135,152	255,850
Deferred	(4,335		)	270		—	(4,065	)
	$	96,144		20,489		135,152	251,785
2010
Current	$	76,745		13,558		118,991	209,294
Deferred	10,197			372		—	10,569
	$	86,942		13,930		118,991	219,863
2009
Current	$	62,865		10,908		90,311	164,084
Deferred	(1,388		)	(221	)	—	(1,609	)
	$	61,477		10,687		90,311	162,475

Income tax expense differs from amounts computed by applying the United States Federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes as a result of the following:

	2011		2010	2009
Computed “expected” tax expense	$	223,310	197,424	141,005
Increase in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit	13,318		9,054	6,947
Nondeductible stock compensation expense, net	12,877		10,254	11,586
Other, net	2,280		3,131	2,937
	$	251,785	219,863	162,475

The components of earnings before income taxes are as follows:

	2011		2010	2009
United States	$	212,308	196,382	117,889
Foreign	425,720		367,686	284,983
	$	638,028	564,068	402,872

The tax effects of temporary differences and tax credits that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

Years ended December 31,	2011			2010
Deferred Tax Assets:
Accrued third party charges, deductible for taxes upon economic performance	$	9,220		6,503
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	1,074			1,561
Excess of financial statement over tax depreciation	8,138			8,079
Deductible stock compensation expense, net	4,651			5,450
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,625			—
Partnership basis difference	1,043			—
Retained liability for cargo claims	192			713
Total gross deferred tax assets	25,943			22,306
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Unremitted foreign earnings, net of related foreign tax credits	(76,070		)	(78,112	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—			(4,453	)
Other	(71		)	(82	)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	$	(76,141	)	(82,647	)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(50,198	)	(60,341	)
Current deferred tax assets	$	(10,415	)	(8,706	)
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	$	(60,613	)	(69,047	)

Based on management’s review of the Company’s tax positions, the Company had no significant unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2008. With respect to state and local jurisdictions and countries outside of the United States, with limited exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to income tax audits for years prior to 2001. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company believes that adequate amounts of tax, interest and penalties have been provided for any adjustments that may result from these open tax years. Any interest and penalties expensed in relation to the underpayment of income taxes were insignificant for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

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FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fair value of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short Term investments, by Balance Sheet Grouping

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following:

	December 31, 2011				December 31, 2010
	Cost		Fair Value		Cost		Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and overnight deposits	$	445,586	$	445,586	$	443,716	$	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	791,729		791,902		571,260		571,373
Time deposits	57,041		57,041		69,489		69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,294,356		1,294,529		1,084,465		1,084,578
Short-term investments:
Time deposits	472		472		524		524
Total	$	1,294,828	$	1,295,001	$	1,084,989	$	1,085,102

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule Of Useful Lives For Property Plant Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the assets’ estimated useful lives or lease terms. Useful lives for major categories of property and equipment are as follows:

Land Improvements	50 years
Buildings	28 to 40 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and purchased software	3 to 5 years

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CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 8. CONTINGENCIES

On October 10, 2007, the U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a subpoena ordering the Company to produce certain information and records relating to an investigation of alleged anti-competitive behavior amongst air cargo freight forwarders. As part of this process, the Company has met with and continues to co-operate with the DOJ. The Company may incur additional costs during the course of this ongoing investigation, which could include fines and/or penalties if the DOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior and such fines and/or penalties could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible fines and/or penalties, if any, that might result from this investigation.

On January 3, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant, with seven other European and North American-based global logistics providers, in a Federal antitrust class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, Precision Associates, Inc. et al v. Panalpina World Transport, No. 08-CV0042. On July 21, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding a number of new third party defendants and various claims which they assert to violate the Sherman Act. The plaintiffs' amended complaint, which purports to be brought on behalf of a class of customers (and has not yet been certified), asserts claims that the defendants engaged in price fixing regarding eight discrete surcharges in violation of the Sherman Act. The allegations concerning the Company relate to two of these surcharges. The amended complaint seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these allegations. On August 13, 2009, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the Company's motion on January 30, 2010. On January 4, 2011, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation to dismiss the claims against the Company and others, but allowed the plaintiffs' the opportunity to further amend the complaint. The Report and Recommendation is now pending before the Court for resolution. On February 28, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement, which is subject to preliminary approval by the Court, notice to the putative class and final approval, with the plaintiffs individually and on behalf of a class of direct purchasers of freight forwarding services, to resolve this lawsuit. The Company has not made, and continues to make no admission of liability by entering into this agreement. The agreement, if approved by the Court, will dismiss all allegations that the Company violated the Sherman Act. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will be dismissed from this lawsuit. In exchange for being dismissed from this lawsuit, the Company has agreed to assign to the plaintiffs 70% of the proceeds (Air Cargo proceeds) it may receive as one of the members in a separate class action litigation brought against many of the largest international air cargo carriers. The agreement provides for no other sources of consideration from the Company. Based on the terms of the agreement, and the Company's previously publicly-expressed intent not to profit and thereby effectively distribute any Air Cargo proceeds it may receive, management does not expect there to be any material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Management believes that the amounts assigned to the plaintiffs and the class it seeks to represent, which includes the Company's customers, net of attorneys' fees and other administrative costs allowed by the Court, will be allocated by the Court to members of this class action lawsuit in an equitable manner consistent with their participation in the international airfreight markets over the relevant time periods.

On June 18, 2008, the European Commission (EC) issued a request for information to the Company's UK subsidiary, Expeditors International (UK) Ltd., requesting certain information relating to an ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 18, 2009, the EC issued another request for information to the same subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with the EC's ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On February 10, 2010, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Expeditors Hong Kong Limited, received a Statement of Objections (SO) from the EC. The SO initiates a proceeding against the Company alleging anti-competitive behavior contrary to European Union rules on competition. Specific to the Company, the allegations in the SO are limited to the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and only concern airfreight trade lanes between South China/Hong Kong and the European Economic Area. The Company filed a response to the allegations in the SO on April 12, 2010 and participated in an oral hearing on July 6, 2010. On January 20, 2011, the EC issued another request for information to the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary requesting certain additional information in connection with its on-going investigation of freight forwarders. The Company replied to the request. On October 25, 2011, the Company and its Hong Kong subsidiary received a standard letter from the EC regarding its ongoing investigation of freight forwarders. The letter (i) invited comment on the EC's January 20, 2011 request for information and (ii) indicated potential revenue data it may take into account for the calculation of any fine it may impose. The Company replied to the letter. On February 24, 2012, the Company received notice from the EC that it plans to hold additional meetings, known as State of Play meetings, related to its on-going investigation of freight forwarders on or about March 15, 2012. The Company expects to participate in the meetings to continue its vigorous defense against the allegations. The Company expects to incur ongoing attorneys' fees and other defense costs during the course of this ongoing proceeding. Administrative fines, if the EC concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior, could have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself against the allegations, and at this time, the Company has no way of predicting the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Further, the Company is unable to estimate the range of a reasonably possible fine, if any, that might result from this proceeding.

On August 17, 2010, the Company and its Brazilian subsidiary, Expeditors Internacional do Brasil Ltda received an Administrative Proceeding (AP) from the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The AP initiates a proceeding against the Company and one of its employees, alleging possible anti-competitive behavior. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations. The Company expects to incur additional costs during the course of this proceeding, which could include administrative fines if the MOJ concludes that the Company has engaged in anti-competitive behavior. Based on recent changes in Brazilian anti-competition laws that reduce the maximum amount of fines that can be assessed, and further investigation of this matter, management believes that such fines, if any, will not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

No amounts have been accrued for any of the contingencies described above. Legal and associated costs incurred by the Company on the above matters were not significant for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These government investigations and the related litigation matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include substantial monetary damages and, in matters in which injunctive relief or other conduct remedies are sought, an injunction or other order relating to business conduct. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, the Company's results of operations and operating cash flows for the particular quarter or year could be materially harmed.

The Company is involved in other claims and lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of business, none of which currently, in management's opinion, will have a significant effect on the Company's operations or financial position.

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CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

NOTE 6. CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries maintain bank lines of credit for short-term working capital purposes. These credit lines are supported by standby letters of credit issued by a United States bank, or guarantees issued by the Company to the foreign banks issuing the credit line. Amounts available for borrowing under lines of credit totaled $15,128 and $21,857 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. At December 31, 2011, the Company had no amounts outstanding under these lines and was contingently liable for approximately $103,813 under outstanding standby letters of credit and guarantees. At December 31, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants of these credit lines and the associated credit facilities.

The standby letters of credit and guarantees relate to obligations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for credit extended in the ordinary course of business by direct carriers, primarily airlines, and for duty and tax deferrals available from governmental entities responsible for customs and value-added-tax (VAT) taxation. The total underlying amounts due and payable for transportation and governmental excises are properly recorded as obligations in the books of the respective foreign subsidiaries, and there would be no need to record additional expense in the unlikely event the parent company were to be required to perform.

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COMMITMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

COMMITMENTS

NOTE 7. COMMITMENTS

A.  |  Leases

The Company occupies office and warehouse facilities under terms of operating leases expiring up to 2021. The Company also has two long term operating lease arrangements to use land, for which the usage rights were entirely prepaid in 2009 and 2007. Usage rights for those arrangements are recognized in rent expense over the lease terms up to 2057. Total rent expense for all operating leases in 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $58,978, $54,024 and $52,581, respectively.

At December 31, 2011, future minimum annual lease payments under all noncancelable leases are as follows:

2012	$	44,971
2013	31,917
2014	18,436
2015	9,450
2016	6,605
Thereafter	7,206
	$	118,585

B.  |  Unconditional Purchase Obligations

The Company enters into short-term unconditional purchase obligations with asset-based providers reserving space on a guaranteed basis. The pricing of these obligations varies to some degree with market conditions. The Company only enters into agreements that management believes the Company can fulfill with relative ease. Historically, the Company has met these obligations in the normal course of business. Management believes, in line with historical experience, committed purchase obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2011 of $377,345, will be fulfilled during 2012 in the Company’s ordinary course of business.

C.  |  Employee Benefits

The Company has employee savings plans under which the Company provides a discretionary matching contribution. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company’s contributions under the plans were $6,312, $6,127, and $6,100, respectively.

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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

NOTE 9. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Financial information regarding 2011, 2010 and 2009 operations by the Company’s designated geographic areas are as follows:

	United States		Other North America
2011
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,540,477	189,843
Transfers between geographic areas	101,738		11,095
Total revenues	$	1,642,215	200,938
Net revenues	$	732,299	90,432
Operating income	$	210,702	29,209
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,521,657	86,020
Capital expenditures	$	23,219	1,122
Depreciation and amortization	$	20,037	1,038
Equity	$	1,285,812	49,571
2010
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	1,348,259	163,750
Transfers between geographic areas	99,547		10,836
Total revenues	$	1,447,806	174,586
Net revenues	$	666,669	77,079
Operating income	$	198,393	23,521
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,343,098	95,298
Capital expenditures	$	18,128	574
Depreciation and amortization	$	20,125	1,344
Equity	$	1,089,053	46,601
2009
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	$	982,103	129,272
Transfers between geographic areas	75,964		7,344
Total revenues	$	1,058,067	136,616
Net revenues	$	547,879	65,331
Operating income	$	117,908	20,253
Identifiable assets at year end	$	1,188,111	82,166
Capital expenditures	$	24,908	724
Depreciation and amortization	$	21,010	1,391
Equity	$	965,620	40,421

	Latin America	Asia Pacific	Europe and Africa	Middle East and India	Eliminations		Consolidated
2011
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	82,312	3,144,641	891,185	302,040	—		6,150,498
Transfers between geographic areas	21,222	40,012	43,359	17,897	(235,323	)	—
Total revenues	103,534	3,184,653	934,544	319,937	(235,323	)	6,150,498
Net revenues	59,968	605,151	307,471	101,156	—		1,896,477
Operating income	19,151	258,952	72,248	28,065	—		618,327
Identifiable assets at year end	48,221	667,171	401,518	141,379	861		2,866,827
Capital expenditures	628	25,295	25,856	1,995	—		78,115
Depreciation and amortization	999	7,243	5,414	2,045	—		36,776
Equity	27,346	448,613	145,998	85,605	(32,876	)	2,010,069
2010
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	74,327	3,349,960	729,022	302,255	—		5,967,573
Transfers between geographic areas	16,932	32,837	40,778	16,184	(217,114	)	—
Total revenues	91,259	3,382,797	769,800	318,439	(217,114	)	5,967,573
Net revenues	50,937	543,869	264,663	89,569	—		1,692,786
Operating income	15,985	222,944	63,115	23,272	—		547,230
Identifiable assets at year end	51,326	612,085	432,019	144,043	1,310		2,679,179
Capital expenditures	1,320	5,743	14,383	2,260	—		42,408
Depreciation and amortization	880	7,511	4,661	2,379	—		36,900
Equity	27,462	371,610	160,428	84,456	(31,456	)	1,748,154
2009
Revenues from unaffiliated customers	64,060	2,101,323	582,759	232,766	—		4,092,283
Transfers between geographic areas	13,520	26,771	27,699	14,602	(165,900	)	—
Total revenues	77,580	2,128,094	610,458	247,368	(165,900	)	4,092,283
Net revenues	44,182	413,627	229,432	82,335	—		1,382,786
Operating income	12,538	167,299	43,953	23,050	—		385,001
Identifiable assets at year end	42,478	493,338	387,494	128,690	1,445		2,323,722
Capital expenditures	688	2,772	3,407	2,201	—		34,700
Depreciation and amortization	1,087	8,106	5,968	2,473	—		40,035
Equity	17,809	341,991	148,592	77,566	(30,652	)	1,561,347

Other than the United States, only the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong, represented more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue, net revenue, total identifiable assets or equity in any period presented as noted in the table below.

	2011		2010		2009
Total revenues	34	%	37	%	34	%
Net revenues	19	%	19	%	17	%
Identifiable assets at year end	14	%	13	%	13	%
Equity	13	%	10	%	10	%

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Shareholders’ Equity - Stock Compensation Expense and Total Related Tax Benefit Recognized (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock compensation expense	$ 44,278	$ 43,743	$ 39,135
Recognized tax benefit	$ 156	$ 187	$ 258

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BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders per share.

	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings  per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	212,117,511	$	1.82
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		2,916,069	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	215,033,580	$	1.79
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	344,172	212,283,966	$	1.62
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,162,690	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	344,172	216,446,656	$	1.59
2009
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	240,217	212,112,744	$	1.13
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,420,496	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	240,217	216,533,240	$	1.11

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

Years ended December 31,	2011	2010	2009
Shares	7,321,670	10,675,403	8,698,730

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QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information Table

	1st		2nd	3rd	4th
2011
Revenues	$	1,460,848	1,581,368	1,606,368	1,501,914
Net revenues	453,915		472,561	493,846	476,155
Net earnings	91,207		95,020	106,876	93,140
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	91,232		95,000	106,604	92,843
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.42		.44	.50	.43
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.43		.45	.50	.44
2010
Revenues	$	1,201,109	1,516,770	1,667,559	1,582,135
Net revenues	361,823		418,858	458,743	453,362
Net earnings	61,310		90,409	96,038	96,448
Net earnings attributable to shareholders	61,247		90,318	96,105	96,502
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.28		.42	.44	.45
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders per share	.29		.43	.45	.45

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,294,356	$ 1,084,465	$ 925,929	$ 741,028
Cost
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,294,356	1,084,465
Total	1,294,828	1,084,989
Cost | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and overnight deposits	445,586	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	791,729	571,260
Time deposits	57,041	69,489
Cost | Short Term Investments
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Time deposits	472	524
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Total	1,295,001	1,085,102
Fair Value | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and overnight deposits	445,586	443,716
Corporate commercial paper	791,902	571,373
Time deposits	57,041	69,489
Total cash and cash equivalents	1,294,529	1,084,578
Fair Value | Short Term Investments
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Time deposits	$ 472	$ 524

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Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Total shareholders' equity	Noncontrolling interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,383,916	$ 2,120	$ 7,150	$ 1,372,356	$ (15,208)	$ 1,366,418	$ 17,498
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008		211,973,377
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares (in shares)		2,068,603
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	26,413	20	26,393	0	0	26,413
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan		714,799
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan (in shares)	20,512	7	20,505	0	0	20,512
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans (in shares)		(2,731,285)
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(84,509)	(27)	(84,482)	0	0	(84,509)
Stock compensation expense	39,135		39,135	0	0	39,135
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,726		5,726	0	0	5,726
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(468)		3,838	0	0	3,838	(4,306)
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	240,397			240,217		240,217	180
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	15,178				15,812	15,812	(634)
Total comprehensive Income	255,575					256,029	(454)
Dividends paid	(80,555)			(80,555)		(80,555)
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	(4,398)						(4,398)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	1,561,347	2,120	18,265	1,532,018	604	1,553,007	8,340
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		212,025,494
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares (in shares)		4,781,971
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	79,234	48	79,186	0	0	79,234
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan		694,329
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan (in shares)	20,550	7	20,543	0	0	20,550
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans (in shares)		(5,454,020)
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(246,312)	(55)	(172,188)	(74,069)	0	(246,312)
Stock compensation expense	43,743		43,743	0	0	43,743
Tax benefits from stock plans	23,863		23,863	0	0	23,863
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	344,205			344,172		344,172	33
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	7,447				7,521	7,521	(74)
Total comprehensive Income	351,652					351,693	(41)
Dividends paid	(84,872)			(84,872)		(84,872)
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	(1,051)						(1,051)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,748,154	2,120	13,412	1,717,249	8,125	1,740,906	7,248
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	212,047,774	212,047,774
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares (in shares)		1,632,077
Exercise of stock options and release of restricted shares	32,422	16	32,406	0	0	32,422
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan		663,386
Issuance of shares under stock purchase plan (in shares)	24,224	7	24,217	0	0	24,224
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans (in shares)		(2,339,575)
Shares repurchased under provisions of stock repurchase plans	(112,071)	(23)	(106,353)	(5,695)	0	(112,071)
Stock compensation expense	44,278		44,278	0	0	44,278
Tax benefits from stock plans	5,300		5,300	0	0	5,300
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings	386,243			385,679		385,679	564
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(12,131)				(11,705)	(11,705)	(426)
Reclassification adjustments for foreign currency realized losses, net of tax	616				616	616
Total comprehensive Income	374,728					374,590	138
Dividends paid	(106,011)			(106,011)		(106,011)
Distributions or declaration of dividends to noncontrolling interest	(955)						(955)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 2,010,069	$ 2,120	$ 13,260	$ 1,991,222	$ (2,964)	$ 2,003,638	$ 6,431
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	212,003,662	212,003,662

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BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

NOTE 3. BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table reconciles the numerator and the denominator of the basic and diluted per share computations for earnings attributable to shareholders per share.

	Net earnings attributable to shareholders		Weighted average shares	Earnings  per share
2011
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	212,117,511	$	1.82
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		2,916,069	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	385,679	215,033,580	$	1.79
2010
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	344,172	212,283,966	$	1.62
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,162,690	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	344,172	216,446,656	$	1.59
2009
Basic earnings attributable to shareholders	$	240,217	212,112,744	$	1.13
Effect of dilutive potential common shares	—		4,420,496	—
Diluted earnings attributable to shareholders	$	240,217	216,533,240	$	1.11

The following shares have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive:

Years ended December 31,	2011	2010	2009
Shares	7,321,670	10,675,403	8,698,730

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 years	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 10,381	$ 14,636	$ 14,235
Other intangible assets, maximum estimated useful lives - in years	15
Net foreign currency gains	$ 1,930	$ 2,026	$ 1,418

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Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Income Tax Expense Computed by Applying the United States Federal Income Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Reconciliation of Provision of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%
Computed "expected" tax expense	$ 223,310	$ 197,424	$ 141,005
Increase in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit	13,318	9,054	6,947
Nondeductible stock compensation expense, net	12,877	10,254	11,586
Other, net	2,280	3,131	2,937
Income tax expense	$ 251,785	$ 219,863	$ 162,475

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Schedule of Cumulative Repurchasing Activity by Plan

The following table summarizes by repurchase plan the Company’s repurchasing activity:

	Cumulative shares repurchased	Average price  per share
Non-Discretionary Plan (1994 through 2011)	23,120,426	$	22.61
Discretionary Plan (2001 through 2011)	21,156,206	$	35.15

Schedule of Changes to Number of Shares Available for Stock Option Grants by Plan

The following table summarizes by plan stock option activity and shares available for granting of options:

	1985 Plan	2008 Plan		2009 Plan		2010  Plan		2011 Plan
Balance at December 31, 2008	6,912	911,585		—		—		—
Options authorized	—	—		3,000,000		—		—
Options granted	—	—		(2,449,200	)	—		—
Options not granted	—	(911,585	)	—		—		—
Balance at December 31, 2009	6,912	—		550,800		—		—
Options authorized	—	—		—		3,000,000		—
Options granted	—	—		—		(2,634,885	)	—
Options not granted	—	—		(550,800	)	—		—
Balance at December 31, 2010	6,912	—		—		365,115		—
Options authorized	—	—		—		—		3,000,000
Options granted	—	—		—		—		(2,998,390	)
Options not granted	—	—		—		(365,115	)	—
Balance at December 31, 2011	6,912	—		—		—		1,610

Schedule of Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes information about stock options:

	Number of shares		Weighted average exercise price per share		Weighted average remaining contractual life	Aggregate  intrinsic value  (in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2010	16,293,671		$	34.11
Options granted	2,998,390		$	52.80
Options exercised	(1,605,342	)	$	20.20
Options forfeited	(409,163	)	$	42.59
Options cancelled	(25,327	)	$	38.76
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	17,252,229		$	38.45	5.85	$	98,668
Exercisable at December 31, 2011	8,422,318		$	32.07	3.48	$	89,452

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Dividend yield	.97 - .98%			1.07 - 1.08%			1.22 - 1.25%
Volatility – stock option plans	38 - 40%			38 - 40%			38 - 39%
Volatility – stock purchase rights plans	26		%	29		%	59		%
Risk-free interest rates	.19 - 2.84%			.29 - 2.86%			.48 - 3.37%
Expected life (years) – stock option plans	5.50 - 7.11			5.44 - 6.90			6.09 - 7.86
Expected life (years) – stock purchase rights plans	1			1			1
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period	$	19.35		$	14.51		$	13.84
Weighted average fair value of stock purchase rights granted during the period	$	11.70		$	11.16		$	12.78

Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs

Total stock compensation expense and the total related tax benefit recognized are as follows:

	For the years ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Stock compensation expense	$	44,278	$	43,743	$	39,135
Recognized tax benefit	$	156	$	187	$	258