Consolidated Condensed Statement 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, 2017		$ 2,453,577	$ 0	$ 26,478	$ 1,051,017	$ 2,086,918	$ (710,836)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017				52,955,314
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		54,257				36,886	17,371
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(27,695)				(27,695)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	1,350		$ 155	1,195
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	[1]			310,173
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	67		$ 0	67
Benefit plan stock sales (in shares)	[2]			715
Common stock repurchases		(12,922)		$ (86)	(3,354)	(9,482)
Common stock repurchases (in shares)				(171,304)
Share-based compensation		5,341			5,341
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018		2,473,975	0	$ 26,547	1,054,266	2,187,194	(794,032)
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2018				53,094,898
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 2,536,568	0	$ 26,559	1,084,391	2,337,252	(911,634)
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018		53,116,485		53,116,485
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income		$ 66,532				45,316	21,216
Common stock dividends declared and paid		(29,207)				(29,207)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans	[1]	(342)		$ 205	(547)
Common stock issued under employee stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)	[1]			409,294
Benefit plan stock sales	[2]	10		$ 0	10
Benefit plan stock sales (in shares)	[2]			270
Common stock repurchases		(14,156)		$ (113)	(4,539)	(9,504)
Common stock repurchases (in shares)				(225,844)
Share-based compensation		7,399			7,399
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 2,566,804	$ 0	$ 26,651	$ 1,086,714	$ 2,343,857	$ (890,418)
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2019		53,300,205		53,300,205

[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.