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, 2014		$ 1,819,087	$ 0	$ 26,520	$ 962,328	$ 1,450,509	$ (620,270)
Beginning balance (in 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 (in shares)	[1]			519,271
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales (in shares)	[2]			751
Benefit plan stock purchases/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 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015				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 (in shares)	[1]			507,104
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales (in shares)	[2]			1,709
Benefit plan stock purchases/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
Tax benefits from share-based compensation					0
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 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		53,463,118		53,463,118
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		$ 917,089				790,558	126,531
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(95,507)				(95,507)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	20,489		$ 289	20,200
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	[1]			578,847
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales (in shares)	[2]			250
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales	[2]	19		$ 0	19
Common stock repurchases		(78,316)		$ (543)	(20,718)	(57,055)
Common stock repurchases, shares (in shares)				(1,086,901)
Share-based compensation		18,967			18,967
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 2,835,016	$ 0	$ 26,478	$ 1,051,017	$ 2,465,022	$ (707,501)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		52,955,314		52,955,314.000

[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.