Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 1,467,255	$ 0	$ 25,686	$ 808,230	$ 1,220,958	$ (587,619)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				51,371,696
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		387,242				237,871	149,371
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(68,226)				(68,226)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	87,168		$ 956	86,212
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			1,913,067
Benefit plan stock sales, shares	[2]			50,623
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	3,478		$ 25	3,453
Share-based compensation		19,310			19,310
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		334			334
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013		1,896,561	0	$ 26,667	917,539	1,390,603	(438,248)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013				53,335,386
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		36,319				218,341	(182,022)
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(75,631)				(75,631)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	45,882		$ 511	45,371
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			1,019,341
Benefit plan stock sales, shares	[2]			8,239
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	686		$ 4	682
Common stock repurchases		(106,286)		$ (662)	(22,820)	(82,804)
Common stock repurchases, shares				(1,323,278)
Share-based compensation		20,905			20,905
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		651			651
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		$ 212,303				304,768	(92,465)
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(83,306)				(83,306)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	23,552		$ 260	23,292
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			519,271
Benefit plan stock sales, shares				751
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	83		$ 0	83
Common stock repurchases		(6,141)		$ (35)	(1,215)	(4,891)
Common stock repurchases, shares				(69,107)
Share-based compensation		21,181			21,181
Tax benefits from share-based compensation		352			352
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 1,987,111	$ 0	$ 26,745	$ 1,006,021	$ 1,667,080	$ (712,735)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		53,490,603		53,490,603

[1] Net of common shares delivered as payment for the exercise price or to satisfy the 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.