Consolidated Condensed Statement of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 1,896,561
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income (loss)		36,400
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 1,819,087	$ 0	$ 26,520	$ 962,328	$ 1,450,509	$ (620,270)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		53,039,688		53,039,688
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income (loss)		$ 100
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2015		1,811,031
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 1,819,087	0	$ 26,520	962,328	1,450,509	(620,270)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		53,039,688		53,039,688
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income (loss)		$ 111,360				137,948	(26,588)
Common stock dividends declared — $0.74 per share		(39,519)				(39,519)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	17,052		$ 201	16,851
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			402,573
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	77		$ 1	76
Benefit plan stock sales, shares	[2]			871
Common stock repurchases		(6,141)		$ (35)	(1,215)	(4,891)
Common stock repurchases, shares				(69,107.000)
Share-based compensation		11,169			11,169	0
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		354			354
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2015		$ 1,913,439	0	$ 26,687	989,563	1,544,047	(646,858)
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2015		53,374,025		53,374,025.000
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2015		$ 1,811,031
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income (loss)		111,333
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2015		$ 1,913,439	$ 0	$ 26,687	$ 989,563	$ 1,544,047	$ (646,858)
Ending balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2015		53,374,025		53,374,025.000

[1] Net of common shares delivered as payment for the exercise price or to satisfy the option holders’ withholding tax liability upon exercise of options.

[2] Represents open-market transactions of common shares by the trustee of Ryder’s deferred compensation plans.