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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) employee	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) employee	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) employee	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) employee	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) employee
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues	$ 3,414,975	$ 3,355,754	$ 3,299,741	$ 3,073,943	$ 3,210,853	$ 3,419,253	$ 3,545,088	$ 3,300,890	$ 13,144,413	$ 13,476,084	$ 13,470,067
Net Revenues									2,277,528	2,268,480	2,007,652
Operating Income	193,565	$ 211,267	$ 233,747	$ 198,952	214,579	$ 232,711	$ 229,095	$ 181,925	837,531	858,310	748,418
Depreciation and amortization									74,669	66,409	57,009
Total assets	$ 3,687,758				$ 3,184,358				$ 3,687,758	$ 3,184,358	$ 3,214,338
Weighted Average
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Average headcount \| employee	13,670				12,902				13,670	12,902	11,617
NAST
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									$ 9,036,154	$ 9,239,906	$ 8,993,568
Net Revenues									1,524,355	1,564,917	1,351,335
Operating Income									674,436	718,329	644,708
Depreciation and amortization									22,126	21,846	10,141
Total assets	$ 2,088,611				$ 1,878,203				$ 2,088,611	$ 1,878,203	$ 1,610,929
NAST \| Weighted Average
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Average headcount \| employee	6,773				6,575				6,773	6,575	5,447
Global Forwarding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									$ 1,604,997	$ 1,659,046	$ 1,731,281
Net Revenues									397,537	365,467	350,193
Operating Income									80,931	76,081	55,591
Depreciation and amortization									23,099	20,790	21,657
Total assets	$ 703,741				$ 556,606				$ 703,741	$ 556,606	$ 562,029
Global Forwarding \| Weighted Average
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Average headcount \| employee	3,673				3,381				3,673	3,381	3,202
Robinson Fresh
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									$ 2,463,534	$ 2,484,473	$ 2,545,738
Net Revenues									234,794	235,334	203,591
Operating Income									75,757	81,332	62,395
Depreciation and amortization									3,782	2,927	2,393
Total assets	$ 376,654				$ 346,728				$ 376,654	$ 346,728	$ 320,680
Robinson Fresh \| Weighted Average
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Average headcount \| employee	942				892				942	892	912
All Other and Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									$ 490,091	$ 474,458	$ 540,662
Net Revenues									120,842	102,762	102,533
Operating Income									6,407	(17,432)	(14,276)
Depreciation and amortization									25,662	20,846	22,818
Total assets	$ 518,752				$ 402,821				$ 518,752	$ 402,821	$ 720,700
All Other and Corporate \| Weighted Average
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Average headcount \| employee	2,282				2,054				2,282	2,054	2,056
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									$ 13,144,413	$ 13,476,084	$ 13,470,067
Operating Segments \| NAST
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									8,737,716	8,968,349	8,738,747
Operating Segments \| Global Forwarding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									1,574,686	1,639,944	1,708,789
Operating Segments \| Robinson Fresh
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									2,344,131	2,395,440	2,483,163
Operating Segments \| All Other and Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									487,880	472,351	539,368
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									(450,363)	(381,799)	(341,182)
Eliminations \| NAST
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									298,438	271,557	254,821
Eliminations \| Global Forwarding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									30,311	19,102	22,492
Eliminations \| Robinson Fresh
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									119,403	89,033	62,575
Eliminations \| All Other and Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Revenues									$ 2,211	$ 2,107	$ 1,294