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, 2015		$ 1,987,111	$ 0	$ 26,745	$ 1,006,021	$ 1,667,080	$ (712,735)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015				53,490,603
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		141,772				263,069	(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	[2]	81		$ 1	80
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales (in shares)	[2]			1,709
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
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016		2,057,656	0	$ 26,732	1,032,549	1,832,407	(834,032)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016				53,463,118
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standard		20,396				20,396
Comprehensive income		918,363				791,832	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	[2]	19		$ 0	19
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales (in shares)	[2]			250
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		$ 2,841,671	0	$ 26,478	1,051,017	2,471,677	(707,501)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		52,955,314		52,955,314
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		$ 170,047				273,298	(103,251)
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(112,553)				(112,553)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	16,952		$ 293	16,659
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	[1]			585,290
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales	[2]	68		$ 0	68
Benefit plan stock purchases/sales (in shares)	[2]			700
Common stock repurchases		(30,810)		$ (212)	(8,305)	(22,293)
Common stock repurchases, shares (in shares)				(424,819)
Share-based compensation		24,952			24,952
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 2,910,327	$ 0	$ 26,559	$ 1,084,391	2,710,696	$ (911,319)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		53,116,485		53,116,485
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standard		$ (100,567)				$ 100,567

[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.