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