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, 2013		$ 1,896,561	$ 0	$ 26,667	$ 917,539	$ 1,390,603	$ (438,248)
Beginning 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 (in 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
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	[2]			751
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	83		$ 0	83
Common stock repurchases		(6,141)		$ (35)	(1,215)	(4,891)
Common stock repurchases, shares (in 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		$ 141,180				262,477	(121,297)
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(91,100)				(91,100)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	18,006		$ 254	17,752
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans, shares	[1]			507,104
Benefit plan stock sales, shares	[2]			1,709
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	81		$ 1	80
Common stock repurchases		(37,274)		$ (268)	(9,968)	(27,038)
Common stock repurchases, shares (in shares)				(536,298)
Share-based compensation		18,664			18,664
Adoption of new accounting standard		15,607				15,607
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 2,052,275	$ 0	$ 26,732	$ 1,032,549	$ 1,827,026	$ (834,032)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		53,463,118		53,463,118.000

[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.