C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) 10-K 1 Mar 17 2016 FY Annual report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 24, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	C H ROBINSON WORLDWIDE INC
Entity Central Index Key	1,043,277
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Trading Symbol	CHRW
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		141,359,579
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 10,572,633,621

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 247,666	$ 168,229
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $39,543 and $43,455	1,711,191	1,505,620
Deferred tax asset	0	16,788
Prepaid expenses and other	49,245	40,061
Total current assets	2,008,102	1,730,698
Property and equipment	450,045	379,139
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(217,092)	(188,265)
Net property and equipment	232,953	190,874
Goodwill	1,232,796	1,108,337
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $87,486 and $61,405	167,525	120,242
Deferred tax asset	2,250	0
Other assets	44,132	34,207
Total assets	3,687,758	3,184,358
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	839,736	697,585
Outstanding checks	82,052	86,298
Accrued expenses–
Compensation	98,107	146,666
Income taxes	15,472	12,573
Other accrued liabilities	70,351	55,475
Current portion of debt	740,000	450,000
Total current liabilities	1,845,718	1,448,597
Long-term debt	500,000	500,000
Noncurrent income taxes payable	18,849	19,634
Deferred tax liabilities	65,122	65,460
Other long-term liabilities	222	217
Total liabilities	2,429,911	2,033,908
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ investment:
Preferred stock, $.10 par value, 20,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $.10 par value, 480,000 shares authorized; 179,006 and 178,784 shares issued, 141,258 and 143,455 outstanding	14,126	14,345
Additional paid-in capital	419,280	379,444
Retained earnings	3,190,578	2,922,620
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(61,442)	(37,946)
Treasury stock at cost (37,748 and 35,329 shares)	(2,304,695)	(2,128,013)
Total stockholders’ investment	1,257,847	1,150,450
Total liabilities and stockholders’ investment	$ 3,687,758	$ 3,184,358

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 39,543	$ 43,455
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$ 87,486	$ 61,405
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	480,000,000	480,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	179,006,000	178,784,000
Common stock shares outstanding (in shares)	141,258,000	143,455,000
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	37,748,000	35,329,000

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Transportation	$ 11,704,745	$ 11,989,780	$ 11,936,512
Sourcing	1,439,668	1,486,304	1,533,555
Total revenues	13,144,413	13,476,084	13,470,067
Costs and expenses:
Purchased transportation and related services	9,549,934	9,842,271	10,044,406
Purchased products sourced for resale	1,316,951	1,365,333	1,418,009
Personnel expenses	1,064,936	1,051,410	939,021
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses	375,061	358,760	320,213
Total costs and expenses	12,306,882	12,617,774	12,721,649
Income from operations	837,531	858,310	748,418
Interest and other expense	(25,581)	(35,529)	(24,987)
Income before provision for income taxes	811,950	822,781	723,431
Provision for income taxes	298,566	313,082	273,720
Net income	513,384	509,699	449,711
Other comprehensive loss	(23,496)	(9,336)	(17,990)
Comprehensive income	$ 489,888	$ 500,363	$ 431,721
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.60	$ 3.52	$ 3.06
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.59	$ 3.51	$ 3.05
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	142,706	144,967	147,202
Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards (in shares)	285	382	340
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	142,991	145,349	147,542

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		$ 1,150,450		$ 1,047,015	$ 1,150,450	$ 1,047,015	$ 939,724
Net income	$ 122,303	$ 118,963	$ 126,583	$ 106,476	513,384	509,699	449,711
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(23,496)	(9,336)	(17,990)
Dividends declared, $1.57 in 2015, $1.43 in 2014 and $1.40 in 2013 per share					(245,426)	(235,618)	(215,005)
Stock issued for employee benefit plans					$ (17,405)	4,188	(667)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					1,797,991
Issuance of restricted stock					$ 0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense					38,554	58,067	47,721
Excess tax benefit on deferred compensation and employee stock plans					18,462	8,548	7,558
Repurchase of common stock					(176,676)	(232,113)	(164,037)
Ending Balance	$ 1,257,847		$ 1,150,450		$ 1,257,847	$ 1,150,450	$ 1,047,015
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance (in shares)		143,455,000		146,458,000	143,455,000	146,458,000	150,197,000
Beginning Balance		$ 14,345		$ 14,646	$ 14,345	$ 14,646	$ 15,020
Stock issued for employee benefit plans (in shares)					32,000	254,000	405,000
Stock issued for employee benefit plans					$ 3	$ 25	$ 40
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					221,000	164,000	(410,000)
Issuance of restricted stock					$ 22	$ 16	$ (41)
Stock-based compensation expense (in shares)					17,000		30,000
Stock-based compensation expense					$ 3		$ 3
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					(2,467,000)	(3,421,000)	(3,764,000)
Repurchase of common stock					$ (247)	$ (342)	$ (376)
Ending Balance (in shares)	141,258,000		143,455,000		141,258,000	143,455,000	146,458,000
Ending Balance	$ 14,126		$ 14,345		$ 14,126	$ 14,345	$ 14,646
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		379,444		321,968	379,444	321,968	217,894
Stock issued for employee benefit plans					(16,121)	(9,095)	(24,644)
Issuance of restricted stock					(22)	(16)	41
Stock-based compensation expense					37,517	58,039	46,119
Excess tax benefit on deferred compensation and employee stock plans					18,462	8,548	7,558
Repurchase of common stock							75,000
Ending Balance	419,280		379,444		419,280	379,444	321,968
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		2,922,620		2,648,539	2,922,620	2,648,539	2,413,833
Net income					513,384	509,699	449,711
Dividends declared, $1.57 in 2015, $1.43 in 2014 and $1.40 in 2013 per share					(245,426)	(235,618)	(215,005)
Ending Balance	3,190,578		2,922,620		3,190,578	2,922,620	2,648,539
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		(37,946)		(28,610)	(37,946)	(28,610)	(10,620)
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(23,496)	(9,336)	(17,990)
Ending Balance	(61,442)		(37,946)		(61,442)	(37,946)	(28,610)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		$ (2,128,013)		$ (1,909,528)	(2,128,013)	(1,909,528)	(1,696,403)
Stock issued for employee benefit plans					(1,287)	13,258	23,937
Stock-based compensation expense					1,034	28	1,599
Repurchase of common stock					(176,429)	(231,771)	(238,661)
Ending Balance	$ (2,304,695)		$ (2,128,013)		$ (2,304,695)	$ (2,128,013)	$ (1,909,528)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STO6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends declared, per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.57	$ 1.43

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 513,384	$ 509,699	$ 449,711
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	74,669	66,409	57,009
Provision for doubtful accounts	5,136	11,538	15,092
Stock-based compensation	37,565	57,661	47,861
Gain on divestiture	0	0	(1,848)
Deferred income taxes	15,009	(17,095)	(3,117)
Other	1,907	7,409	710
Changes in operating elements, net of effects of acquisitions:
Receivables	(173,211)	107,560	(137,102)
Prepaid expenses and other	(6,378)	(228)	6,294
Other non-current assets	(3,934)	741	380
Accounts payable and outstanding checks	115,917	(53,272)	40,251
Accrued compensation	(47,570)	18,580	40,236
Accrued income taxes	1,459	5,178	(4,370)
Other accrued liabilities	(4,545)	4,156	2,319
Net cash provided by operating activities	529,408	718,336	513,426
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment	(73,452)	(28,115)	(22,364)
Purchases and development of software	(17,985)	(16,527)	(7,138)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(220,203)	(369,833)	0
Restricted cash	0	359,388	(359,388)
Other	(1,348)	641	(6)
Net cash used for investing activities	(312,988)	(54,446)	(388,896)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from stock issued for employee benefit plans	19,271	15,557	11,942
Stock tendered for payment of withholding taxes	(36,678)	(11,368)	(12,604)
Repurchase of common stock	(172,925)	(229,863)	(164,041)
Cash dividends	(245,430)	(235,615)	(215,008)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation	18,462	8,548	7,558
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	6,600,000	6,833,000	4,823,000
Payments on short-term borrowings	(6,310,000)	(6,988,000)	(4,593,000)
Debt issuance costs	0	0	(1,484)
Net cash used for financing activities	(127,300)	(607,741)	(143,637)
Effect of exchange rates on cash	(9,683)	(16,860)	(14,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	79,437	39,289	(33,107)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	168,229	128,940	162,047
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	247,666	168,229	128,940
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
Cash paid for income taxes	269,187	311,800	271,979
Cash paid for interest	28,908	28,537	27,066
Accrued share repurchases held in other accrued liabilities	$ 5,988	$ 2,250	$ 0

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTI

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF PRESENTATION. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and our subsidiaries (“the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are a global provider of transportation services and logistics solutions through a network of offices operating in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and our majority owned and controlled subsidiaries. Our minority interests in subsidiaries are not significant. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Prior to 2015 we reported payment services revenues separately from transportation revenues. Amounts prior to 2015 have been combined to conform to the current period presentation. This change in presentation had no effect on our prior year consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. USE OF ESTIMATES. The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. We are also required to disclose contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared on the basis of the most current and best information, and our actual results could differ materially from those estimates. REVENUE RECOGNITION. Total revenues consist of the total dollar value of goods and services purchased from us by customers. Our net revenues are our total revenues less purchased transportation and related services, including contracted motor carrier, rail, ocean, air, and other costs, and the purchase price and services related to the products we source. We act principally as the service provider for these transactions and recognize revenue as these services are rendered or goods are delivered. At that time, our obligations to the transactions are completed and collection of receivables is reasonably assured. Most transactions in our transportation and sourcing businesses are recorded at the gross amount we charge our customers for the service we provide and goods we sell. In these transactions, we are the primary obligor, we have credit risk, we have discretion to select the supplier, and we have latitude in pricing decisions. Additionally, in our sourcing business, we take loss of inventory risk during shipment and have general inventory risk. Certain transactions in customs brokerage, managed services, freight forwarding, and sourcing are recorded at the net amount we charge our customers for the service we provide because many of the factors stated above are not present. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. We continuously monitor payments from our customers and maintain a provision for uncollectible accounts based upon our customer aging trends, historical loss experience, and any specific customer collection issues that we have identified. FOREIGN CURRENCY. Most balance sheet accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated or remeasured at the current exchange rate as of the end of the year. Statement of operations items are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded net of tax as a separate component of comprehensive income in our statements of operations and comprehensive income in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, we asserted that we will indefinitely reinvest earnings of foreign subsidiaries to support expansion of our international businesses and now the translation adjustment is recorded gross of related income tax benefits. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS. Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank deposits. PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER. Prepaid expenses and other include such items as prepaid rent, software maintenance contracts, insurance premiums, other prepaid operating expenses, and inventories, consisting primarily of produce and related products held for resale. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT. Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated lives of the assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. We recognized the following depreciation expense (in thousands): 2016 $ 36,212 2015 32,412 2014 29,340 A summary of our property and equipment as of December 31 is as follows (in thousands): Useful Lives (in years) 2016 2015 Furniture, fixtures, and equipment 3 to 12 $ 236,180 $ 200,215 Buildings 3 to 30 130,050 110,056 Corporate aircraft 10 11,334 11,334 Leasehold improvements 3 to 15 40,312 28,178 Land 23,635 23,759 Construction in progress 8,534 5,597 Less accumulated depreciation (217,092 ) (188,265 ) Net property and equipment $ 232,953 $ 190,874 GOODWILL. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired businesses over the net of the fair value of identifiable tangible net assets and identifiable intangible assets purchased and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis (November 30 for us) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. See Note 2. OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS. Other intangible assets include definite-lived customer lists, non-competition agreements, and indefinite-lived trademarks. The definite-lived intangible assets are being amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated lives, ranging from 5 to 8 years. Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The indefinite-lived trademarks are not amortized. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, or annually, at a minimum. See Note 2. OTHER ASSETS. Other assets include such items as purchased and internally developed software, and the investments related to our nonqualified deferred compensation plan. We amortize software using the straight-line method over 3 years. We recognized the following amortization expense of purchased and internally developed software (in thousands): 2016 $ 11,404 2015 9,624 2014 8,921 A summary of our purchased and internally developed software as of December 31 is as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 Purchased software $ 23,753 $ 23,569 Internally developed software 51,507 40,796 Less accumulated amortization (47,957 ) (42,930 ) Net software $ 27,303 $ 21,435 INCOME TAXES. Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates. Annual tax provisions include amounts considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns; however, the amount ultimately paid upon resolution of issues raised may differ from the amounts accrued. The financial statement benefits of an uncertain income tax position are recognized when more likely than not, based on the technical merits, the position will be sustained upon examination. Unrecognized tax benefits are, more likely than not, owed to a taxing authority, and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. Uncertain income tax positions are included in “Noncurrent income taxes payable” in the consolidated balance sheets. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME. Comprehensive income includes any changes in the equity of an enterprise from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Our only component of other comprehensive income is foreign currency translation adjustment. It is presented on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income gross of related income tax effects for 2016, net of related income tax effects for 2015 and 2014. See Note 5. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION. We issue stock awards, including stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units, to key employees and outside directors. In general, the awards vest over five years , either based on the company’s earnings growth or the passage of time. The related compensation expense for each award is recognized over the appropriate vesting period. The fair value of each share-based payment award is established on the date of grant. For grants of performance shares and restricted stock units, the fair value is established based on the market price on the date of the grant, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions. The discounts on outstanding grants vary from 15 percent to 22 percent and are calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Changes in measured stock volatility and interest rates are the primary reason for changes in the discount. For grants of options, we use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards. The determination of the fair value of share-based awards is affected by our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE A

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill was allocated to each segment based on the relative fair value at November 30, 2016. The change in the carrying amount of goodwill is as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total December 31, 2014 balance $ 607,156 $ 106,443 $ 93,398 $ 18,041 $ 825,038 Acquisitions 211,369 37,056 32,515 6,280 287,220 Translation (2,886 ) (506 ) (444 ) (85 ) (3,921 ) December 31, 2015 balance 815,639 142,993 125,469 24,236 1,108,337 Acquisitions 97,727 17,133 15,033 2,904 132,797 Translation (6,136 ) (1,076 ) (944 ) (182 ) (8,338 ) December 31, 2016 balance $ 907,230 $ 159,050 $ 139,558 $ 26,958 $ 1,232,796 We allocate goodwill to reporting units based on the reporting unit expected to benefit from the business combination. We evaluate our reporting units on a continual basis and, if necessary, reassign goodwill using a relative fair value allocation approach. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit. During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, due to the reorganization of our reporting structure, we concluded that we had seven reporting units. As a result of this change in reporting units, we allocated goodwill to our reporting units based on each reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow analysis and market approach. Additionally at this time, we changed our annual quantitative goodwill impairment testing date from December 31 to November 30 of each year. The change in the goodwill impairment test date better aligns the impairment testing procedures with the timing of our long-term planning process, which is a significant input to the testing. We performed a goodwill impairment assessment both prior to and after the change in reporting units at November 30. This change in testing date did not delay, accelerate, or avoid a goodwill impairment charge. Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment and is tested for impairment more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test is performed using a two-step process. In the first step, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared with the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit, there is an indication that goodwill impairment exists, and a second step must be completed in order to determine the amount of the goodwill impairment, if any, that should be recorded. In the second step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation. The fair value of each reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis and market approach. Projecting discounted future cash flows requires us to make significant estimates regarding future revenues and expenses, projected capital expenditures, changes in working capital and the appropriate discount rate. Use of the market approach consists of comparisons to comparable publicly-traded companies that are similar in size and industry. Actual results may differ from those used in our valuations. Based on our step one goodwill impairment analysis, no impairments of goodwill were deemed to have occurred, and the fair value of all of reporting units was in excess of their carrying value. No events occurred from November 30, 2016 to December 31, 2016, to indicate any changes to our impairment conclusions at November 30, 2016. Identifiable intangible assets consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands): 2016 2015 Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Finite-lived intangibles Customer relationships $ 244,036 $ (87,199 ) $ 156,837 $ 170,472 $ (61,050 ) $ 109,422 Non-competition agreements 500 (287 ) 213 550 (227 ) 323 Vendor lists — — — 150 (128 ) 22 Total finite-lived intangibles 244,536 (87,486 ) 157,050 171,172 (61,405 ) 109,767 Indefinite-lived intangibles Trademarks 10,475 — 10,475 10,475 — 10,475 Total intangibles $ 255,011 $ (87,486 ) $ 167,525 $ 181,647 $ (61,405 ) $ 120,242 Amortization expense for other intangible assets was (in thousands): 2016 $ 27,053 2015 24,373 2014 18,748 Definite-lived intangible assets, by reportable segment, as of December 31, 2016 , will be amortized over their remaining lives as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total 2017 $ 7,560 $ 26,873 $ — $ 490 $ 34,923 2018 7,560 26,840 — — 34,400 2019 7,560 26,840 — — 34,400 2020 — 24,136 — — 24,136 2021 — 10,615 — — 10,615 Thereafter — 18,576 — — 18,576 Total $ 157,050

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT Accounting guidance on fair value measurements for certain financial assets and liabilities requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: • Level 1-Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2-Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. • Level 3-Unobservable inputs reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions or external inputs from inactive markets. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. We had no Level 3 assets or liabilities as of and during the periods ended December 31, 2016 , or December 31, 2015 . There were no transfers between levels during the period.

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS On October 29, 2012, we entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility for up to $500 million with a $500 million accordion feature (the “Credit Agreement”), with a syndicate of financial institutions led by U.S. Bank. The purpose of this facility was to partially fund the acquisition of Phoenix International Freight Services, Ltd. (“Phoenix”) and to allow us to continue to fund working capital, capital expenditures, dividends, and share repurchases. In December 2014, we amended the credit facility to increase the amount available from $500 million to $900 million and to extend the expiration date from October 2017 to December 2019. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , we had $740.0 million and $450.0 million in borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement, which is classified as a current liability on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2016 , we had borrowing availability of $160.0 million . The recorded amount of borrowings outstanding approximates fair value because of the short maturity period of the debt; therefore, we consider these borrowings to be a Level 2 financial liability. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement generally bear interest at a variable rate determined by a pricing schedule or the base rate (which is the highest of (a) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50 percent , or (c) the sum of one-month LIBOR plus a specified margin). As of December 31, 2016 , the variable rate equaled LIBOR plus 1.13 percent . In addition, there is a commitment fee on the average daily undrawn stated amount under each letter of credit issued under the facility. The weighted average interest rate incurred on borrowings during 2016 was approximately 1.5 percent and at December 31, 2016 , was approximately 1.9 percent . The weighted average interest rate incurred on borrowings during 2015 was approximately 1.3 percent and at December 31, 2015 , was approximately 1.6 percent . The Credit Agreement contains various restrictions and covenants. Among other requirements, we may not permit our leverage ratio, as of the end of each of our fiscal quarters, of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated Total Capitalization to be greater than 0.65 to 1.00 . Additionally, as a result of amending the Note Purchase Agreement in February 2015, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to (ii) EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), as of the end of each of our fiscal quarters, may not exceed 3.00 to 1.00 . We were in compliance with the financial debt covenants as of December 31, 2016 . The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default. If an event of default under the Credit Agreement occurs and is continuing, then the administrative agent may declare any outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement to be immediately due and payable. In addition, if we become the subject of voluntary or involuntary proceedings under any bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar law, then any outstanding obligations under the Credit Agreement will automatically become immediately due and payable. On August 23, 2013, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors (the “Purchasers”) named therein (the “Note Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the Purchasers purchased, on August 27, 2013, (i) $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the company’s 3.97 percent Senior Notes, Series A, due August 27, 2023 (the “Series A Notes”), (ii) $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the company’s 4.26 percent Senior Notes, Series B, due August 27, 2028 (the “Series B Notes”), and (iii) $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the company’s 4.60 percent Senior Notes, Series C, due August 27, 2033 (the “Series C Notes” and, together with the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes, the “Notes”). Interest on the fixed-rate Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. We applied the proceeds of the sale of the Notes for share repurchases. See Note 9. The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary provisions for transactions of this type, including representations and warranties regarding the company and its subsidiaries and various covenants, including covenants that require us to maintain specified financial ratios. The Note Purchase Agreement includes the following financial covenants: we will not permit our leverage ratio, as of the end of each of our fiscal quarters, of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated Total Capitalization to be greater than 0.65 to 1.00 ; we will not permit the interest coverage ratio, as of the end of each of our fiscal quarters and for the twelve-month period ending, of (i) Consolidated EBIT (earnings before income taxes) to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense to be less than 2.00 to 1.00 ; we will not permit, as of the end of each of our fiscal quarters, Consolidated Priority Debt to exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets. The Note Purchase Agreement was amended in February 2015 to conform its financial covenants to be consistent with the amended Credit Agreement. As a result of amending the Note Purchase Agreement in February 2015, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to (ii) EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), as of the end of each of our fiscal quarters, may not exceed 3.00 to 1.00 . We were in compliance with the financial debt covenants as of December 31, 2016 . The Note Purchase Agreement provides for customary events of default, generally with corresponding grace periods, including, without limitation, payment defaults with respect to the Notes, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to other agreements evidencing indebtedness of the company or its subsidiaries, certain judgments against the company or its subsidiaries, and events of bankruptcy involving the company or its material subsidiaries. The occurrence of an event of default would permit certain Purchasers to declare certain Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable. Under the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, the Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at 100% of the principal amount being redeemed together with a “make-whole amount,” and accrued and unpaid interest (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement) with respect to each Note. The obligations of the company under the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes are guaranteed by C.H. Robinson Company, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, and by C.H. Robinson Company, Inc., a Minnesota corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. The Notes were issued by the company to such initial Purchasers in a private placement in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes will not be and have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The fair value of long-term debt was approximately $528.0 million at December 31, 2016 , and $522.2 million at December 31, 2015 . We estimate the fair value of our debt primarily using an expected present value technique, which is based on observable market inputs using interest rates currently available to companies of similar credit standing for similar terms and remaining maturities, and considering our own credit risk. If our long-term debt was recorded at fair value, it would be classified as Level 2.

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and its 80 percent (or more) owned U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. We file unitary or separate state returns based on state filing requirements. During the first quarter of 2016, we asserted that we will indefinitely reinvest earnings of foreign subsidiaries to support expansion of our international business. In 2016, our indefinite reinvestment strategy, with respect to unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries provided an approximate $5.1 million benefit to our provision for income taxes related to current year earnings. If we repatriated all foreign earnings, the estimated effect on income taxes payable would be an increase of approximately $16.6 million as of December 31, 2016 . With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to audits of U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax returns before 2009. Income before provision for income taxes consisted of (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Domestic $ 710,931 $ 729,390 $ 659,996 Foreign 101,019 93,391 63,435 Total $ 811,950 $ 822,781 $ 723,431 A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period $ 13,271 $ 18,274 $ 16,897 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year — 1,520 2,002 Additions for tax positions of prior years 55 — 839 Reductions for tax positions of prior years (211 ) (810 ) (183 ) Lapse in statute of limitations (847 ) (5,188 ) (1,281 ) Settlements — (525 ) — Unrecognized tax benefits, end of the period $ 12,268 $ 13,271 $ 18,274 As of December 31, 2016 , we had $18.9 million of unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties, all of which would affect our effective tax rate if recognized. We are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefit will significantly increase or decrease in the next 12 months. Income tax expense considers amounts which may be needed to cover exposures for open tax years. We do not expect any material impact related to open tax years; however, actual settlements may differ from amounts accrued. We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 , and 2014 , we recognized approximately $0.9 million , $1.2 million , and $1.5 million in interest and penalties. We had approximately $6.6 million and $6.4 million for the payment of interest and penalties accrued within noncurrent income taxes payable as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 . These amounts are not included in the reconciliation above. The components of the provision for income taxes consist of the following for the years ended December 31 (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Tax provision: Federal $ 222,685 $ 259,793 $ 224,468 State 31,786 37,129 32,110 Foreign 29,086 33,255 20,259 283,557 330,177 276,837 Deferred provision (benefit): Federal 13,936 (14,559 ) (5,302 ) State 1,986 (2,074 ) (755 ) Foreign (913 ) (462 ) 2,940 15,009 (17,095 ) (3,117 ) Total provision $ 298,566 $ 313,082 $ 273,720 A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes using the statutory federal income tax rate to our effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31 is as follows: 2016 2015 2014 Federal statutory rate 35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of federal benefit 2.7 2.8 2.8 Other (0.9 ) 0.3 — 36.8 % 38.1 % 37.8 % Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following at December 31 (in thousands): 2016 2015 Deferred tax assets: Compensation $ 80,338 $ 91,729 Receivables 13,471 16,243 Other 11,433 9,242 Deferred tax liabilities: Intangible assets (131,698 ) (133,375 ) Prepaid assets (14,540 ) (13,418 ) Long-lived assets (21,268 ) (18,666 ) Other (608 ) (427 ) Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets $ (62,872 ) $ (48,672 ) We had foreign net operating loss carryforwards with a tax effect of $9.0 million as of December 31, 2016 , and $8.0 million as of December 31, 2015 . The net operating loss carryforwards will expire at various dates from 2018 to 2025, with certain jurisdictions having indefinite carryforward terms. A full valuation allowance has been established for these net operating loss carryforwards due to the uncertainty of the use of the tax benefit in future periods.

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD P

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS	CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS PREFERRED STOCK. Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share. There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. The preferred stock may be issued by resolution of our Board of Directors at any time without any action of the stockholders. The Board of Directors may issue the preferred stock in one or more series and fix the designation and relative powers. These include voting powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of each series. The issuance of any such series may have an adverse effect on the rights of holders of common stock and may impede the completion of a merger, tender offer, or other takeover attempt. COMMON STOCK. Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes 480,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share. Subject to the rights of preferred stock which may from time to time be outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available, when and if declared by the Board of Directors, and to receive their share of the net assets of the company legally available for distribution upon liquidation or dissolution. For each share of common stock held, stockholders are entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted on by the stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting. The stockholders do not have preemptive rights. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. STOCK AWARD PLANS. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense as it vests. A summary of our total compensation expense recognized in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for stock-based compensation is as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Stock options $ 9,178 $ 14,607 $ 9,243 Stock awards 25,912 40,785 36,510 Company expense on ESPP discount 2,475 2,269 2,108 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 37,565 $ 57,661 $ 47,861 On May 12, 2016, our shareholders approved an amendment to and restatement of our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, which allows us to grant certain stock awards, including stock options at fair market value and performance shares and restricted stock units, to our key employees and outside directors. A maximum of 13,041,803 shares can be granted under this plan. Approximately 4,851,473 shares were available for stock awards under this plan as of December 31, 2016 . Shares subject to awards that expire or are canceled without delivery of shares or that are settled in cash, generally become available again for issuance under the plan. We have awarded performance-based stock options to certain key employees. These options are subject to certain vesting requirements over a five -year period, based on the company’s earnings growth. Any options remaining unvested at the end of the five -year vesting period are forfeited to the company. Although participants can exercise options via a stock swap exercise, we do not issue reloads (restoration options) on the grants. The fair value of these options is established based on the market price on the date of grant, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions, calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Changes in measured stock price volatility and interest rates are the primary reasons for changes in the discount. These grants are being expensed based on the terms of the awards. As of December 31, 2016 , unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options was $56.8 million . The amount of future expense to be recognized will be based on the company’s earnings growth and certain other conditions. The following schedule summarizes stock option activity in the plans. All outstanding unvested options as of December 31, 2016 , relate to the performance-based grants from 2011 through 2016 . Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) Average Remaining Life (years) Outstanding at December 31, 2015 6,150,861 $ 65.03 $ — 8.1 Grants 1,250,154 76.72 Exercised (86,840 ) 61.82 Terminated (306,252 ) 68.81 Outstanding at December 31, 2016 7,007,923 $ 67.00 $ 43,875 7.7 Vested at December 31, 2016 2,646,205 $ 64.63 6.7 Exercisable at December 31, 2016 2,646,205 $ 64.63 6.7 Additional potential dilutive stock options totaling 233,446 for 2016 and 125,797 for 2015 have been excluded from our diluted net income per share calculations because these securities’ exercise prices were anti-dilutive (e.g., greater than the average market price of our common stock). Information on the intrinsic value of options exercised is as follows (in thousands): 2016 $ 981 2015 400 2014 4 The following table summarizes performance-based options by year of grant: Year of Grant First Vesting Date Last Vesting Date Options Weighted Unvested Options 2012 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2017 1,149,441 $ 13.15 666,676 2013 December 31, 2014 December 31, 2018 1,425,529 11.83 541,701 2014 December 31, 2015 December 31, 2019 1,277,409 14.17 804,595 3,852,379 $ 13.00 2,012,972 We issued no performance-based options in 2015 or 2016. We have awarded stock options to certain key employees that vest primarily based on their continued employment. The value of these awards is established by the market price on the date of the grant and is being expensed over the vesting period of the award. The following table summarizes these unvested stock option grants as of December 31, 2016 : Year of Grant First Vesting Date Last Vesting Date Options Weighted Unvested Options 2015 December 31, 2016 December 31, 2020 1,428,531 $ 12.66 1,142,825 2016 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2021 1,250,154 12.60 1,250,154 2,678,685 $ 12.63 2,392,979 Determining Fair Value We estimated the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We estimate the fair value of restricted shares and units using the Black-Scholes option pricing model-protective put method. A description of significant assumptions used to estimate the expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected terms is as follows: Expected Volatility -Expected volatility was determined based on implied volatility of our traded options and historical volatility of our stock price. Risk-Free Interest Rate -The risk-free interest rate was based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues at the date of grant with a term equal to the expected term. Expected Term - Expected term represents the period that our stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and was determined based on historical experience and anticipated future exercise patterns, giving consideration to the contractual terms of unexercised stock-based awards. The fair value per option was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: 2016 Grants 2015 Grants 2014 Grants Risk-free interest rate 2.13-2.14% 1.95-1.96% 1.93-1.96% Dividend per share (quarterly amounts) $0.43-0.45 $0.38-0.43 $0.35-0.38 Expected volatility factor 20.0-21.5% 22.0-24.0% 22.0-25.0% Expected option term 6.26 years 6.29 years 6.3 years Weighted average fair value per option $ 12.60 $ 12.68 $ 14.23 FULL VALUE AWARDS. We have awarded performance shares and restricted stock units to certain key employees and non-employee directors. These awards are subject to certain vesting requirements over a five -year period, based on the company’s earnings growth. The awards also contain restrictions on the awardees’ ability to sell or transfer vested awards for a specified period of time. The fair value of these awards is established based on the market price on the date of grant, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions. The discounts on outstanding grants vary from 15 percent to 22 percent and are calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model-protective put method. Changes in measured stock price volatility and interest rates are the primary reasons for changes in the discount. These grants are being expensed based on the terms of the awards. The following table summarizes our unvested performance shares and restricted stock unit grants as of December 31, 2016 : Number of Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Unvested at December 31, 2015 1,272,040 $ 52.56 Granted 350,937 64.91 Vested (175,413 ) 52.40 Forfeitures (202,389 ) 53.61 Unvested at December 31, 2016 1,245,175 $ 55.90 The following table summarizes performance shares and restricted stock units by year of grant: Year of grant First vesting date Last vesting date Performance Shares and Stock Units Granted, Net of Forfeitures Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (1) Unvested Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units 2012 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2017 325,536 $ 48.65 188,811 2013 December 31, 2014 December 31, 2018 394,672 46.50 149,975 2014 December 31, 2015 December 31, 2019 336,683 60.57 212,110 2015 December 31, 2016 December 31, 2020 390,163 51.88 343,342 2016 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2021 350,937 64.91 350,937 1,797,991 $ 54.29 1,245,175 ________________________ (1) Amount shown is the weighted average grant date fair value of performance shares and restricted stock units granted, net of forfeitures. We have also awarded restricted shares and restricted stock units to certain key employees that vest primarily based on their continued employment. The value of these awards is established by the market price on the date of the grant and is being expensed over the vesting period of the award. The following table summarizes these unvested restricted share and restricted stock unit grants as of December 31, 2016 : Number of Restricted Shares and Stock Units Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Unvested at December 31, 2015 1,127,522 $ 52.69 Granted 464,823 63.02 Vested (291,525 ) 52.01 Forfeitures (60,664 ) 53.06 Unvested at December 31, 2016 1,240,156 $ 56.70 We have also issued to certain key employees and non-employee directors restricted stock units which are fully vested upon issuance. These units contain restrictions on the awardees’ ability to sell or transfer vested units for a specified period of time. The fair value of these units is established using the same method discussed above. These grants have been expensed during the year they were earned. A summary of the fair value of full value awards vested (in thousands): 2016 $ 25,912 2015 40,785 2014 36,510 As of December 31, 2016 , there was unrecognized compensation expense of $140.3 million related to previously granted full value awards. The amount of future expense to be recognized will be based on the company’s earnings growth and certain other conditions. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN. Our 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan allows our employees to contribute up to $10,000 of their annual cash compensation to purchase company stock. Purchase price is determined using the closing price on the last day of the quarter discounted by 15 percent . Shares are vested immediately. The following is a summary of the employee stock purchase plan activity (dollar amounts in thousands): Shares Purchased By Employees Aggregate Cost to Employees Expense Recognized By the Company 2016 225,241 $ 14,032 $ 2,475 2015 228,103 13,045 2,269 2014 231,564 11,943 2,108 SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMS. During 2013, our Board of Directors increased the number of shares authorized to be repurchased by 15,000,000 shares. The activity under this authorization is as follows (dollar amounts in thousands): Shares Repurchased Total Value of Shares 2013 Program 2013 Purchases 930,075 $ 57,689 2014 Purchases 3,763,583 239,037 2015 Purchases 3,420,681 232,113 2016 Purchases 2,467,097 176,676 As of December 31, 2016 , there were 4,418,564 shares remaining for repurchase under the 2013 authorization.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. We offer a defined contribution plan, which qualifies under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and covers all eligible U.S. employees. We can also elect to make matching contributions to the plan. Annual discretionary contributions may also be made to the plan. Defined contribution plan expense, including matching contributions, was approximately (in thousands): 2016 $ 25,740 2015 46,507 2014 30,112 We have committed to a defined contribution match of four percent of eligible compensation in 2017. We contributed a defined contribution match of four percent in 2016, 2015, and 2014. NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN. All restricted shares vested but not yet delivered, as well as a deferred share award granted to our CEO, are held within this plan. LEASE COMMITMENTS. We lease certain facilities and equipment under operating leases. Information regarding our lease expense is as follows (in thousands): 2016 $ 55,170 2015 56,210 2014 56,871 Minimum future lease commitments under noncancelable lease agreements in excess of one year as of December 31, 2016 , are as follows (in thousands): 2017 $ 47,034 2018 38,531 2019 32,249 2020 29,716 2021 24,393 Thereafter 113,786 Total $ 285,709 In addition to minimum lease payments, we are typically responsible under our lease agreements to pay our pro rata share of maintenance expenses, common charges, and real estate taxes of the buildings in which we lease space. LITIGATION. We are not subject to any pending or threatened litigation other than routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business operations, including 18 contingent auto liability cases as of December 31, 2016 . For some legal proceedings, we have accrued an amount that reflects the aggregate liability deemed probable and estimable, but this amount is not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Because of the preliminary nature of many of these proceedings, the difficulty in ascertaining the applicable facts relating to many of these proceedings, the inconsistent treatment of claims made in many of these proceedings, and the difficulty of predicting the settlement value of many of these proceedings, we are not able to estimate an amount or range of any reasonably possible additional losses. However, based upon our historical experience, the resolution of these proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In February 2017, we resolved an outstanding legal claim. The outcome of the resolution will be an $8.75 million increase in operating income in the first quarter of 2017.

ACQUISITIONS

ACQUISITIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS On September 30, 2016, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of APC Logistics (“APC”) for the purpose of expanding our global presence and bringing additional capabilities and expertise to the company’s portfolio. Total purchase consideration was $229.4 million , which was paid in cash. We used advances under the Credit Agreement to fund part of the cash consideration. The following is a preliminary summary of the allocation of purchase price consideration to the estimated fair value of net assets for the acquisition of APC (in thousands): Cash $ 10,181 Receivables 37,190 Inventory and other current assets 2,609 Property and equipment 1,696 Identifiable intangible assets 78,842 Goodwill 132,797 Other noncurrent assets 70 Long term deferred tax asset 814 Total assets 264,199 Accounts payable (22,147 ) Accrued expenses (12,700 ) Estimated net assets acquired $ 229,352 Identifiable intangible assets and estimated useful lives are as follows (dollars in thousands): Estimated Life (years) Customer relationships 7 $ 78,842 During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, we finalized our valuation of the customer relationship intangible asset, resulting in an increase of the intangible asset and decrease to goodwill of approximately $30.8 million , compared to the preliminary provisional value that was recorded at September 30, 2016. The APC goodwill is a result of acquiring and retaining the APC existing workforce and expected synergies from integrating their business into ours. Purchase accounting is considered preliminary, subject to revision primarily related to certain potential post-closing and working capital adjustments, as final information was not available as of December 31, 2016. The goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes. The results of operations of APC have been included in our consolidated financial statements since October 1, 2016. Pro forma financial information for prior periods is not presented because we believe the acquisition to be not material to our consolidated results. On January 1, 2015, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Freightquote.com, Inc., (“Freightquote”) for the purpose of enhancing our less than truckload (“LTL”) and truckload businesses and expanding our ecommerce capabilities. Total purchase consideration was $398.6 million , which was paid in cash. We used advances under the Credit Agreement to fund part of the cash consideration. The following is a summary of the allocation of purchase consideration to the estimated fair value of net assets for the acquisition of Freightquote (in thousands): Cash and cash equivalents $ 29,302 Receivables 56,228 Other current assets 2,395 Property and equipment 43,687 Identifiable intangible assets 37,800 Goodwill 287,220 Trademarks 8,600 Other noncurrent assets 3,421 Total assets 468,653 Accounts payable (44,622 ) Accrued expenses (5,485 ) Other liabilities (19,939 ) Net assets acquired $ 398,607 Following are the details of the purchase price allocated to the intangible assets acquired (dollars in thousands): Estimated Life (years) Customer relationships 5 $ 37,500 Noncompete agreements 5 300 Total identifiable intangible assets $ 37,800 We also acquired a trademark valued at $8.6 million , which has been determined to be indefinite-lived. The Freightquote goodwill is a result of acquiring and retaining the Freightquote existing workforce and expected synergies from integrating their business in C.H. Robinson. Purchase accounting is considered final. The goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes. On an unaudited pro forma basis, assuming the Freightquote acquisition had closed on January 1, 2014, the results of C.H. Robinson including Freightquote, would have resulted in the following (in thousands): Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2014 C.H. Robinson as Reported Freightquote Operations Combined Pro Forma Total revenues $ 13,470,067 $ 623,245 $ 14,093,312 Income from operations 748,418 24,131 772,549 Freightquote pro forma financial information includes the following adjustments for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands): Additional amortization expense on identifiable intangible assets $ (7,560 ) Contractual changes in compensation 1,973 Additional compensation paid by sellers 2,627 Accounting policy changes 1,303 Third party advisory fees paid by sellers 5,355 Other 2,196 The pro forma consolidated information was prepared for comparative purposes only and includes certain adjustments, as noted above. The adjustments are estimates based on currently available information, and actual amounts may have differed from these estimates. They do not reflect the effect of costs or synergies that would have been expected to result from the integration of the acquisition. The pro forma information does not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually would have resulted had the acquisition occurred at the beginning of each period presented or of future results of the consolidated entity. The results of operations and financial condition of Freightquote have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date of January 1, 2015.

ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE

ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
CAPITAL STOCK [Abstract]
ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE	ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE On August 24, 2013, we entered into two letter agreements with unrelated third party financial institutions to repurchase an aggregate of $500.0 million of our outstanding common stock (the “ASR agreements”). The total aggregate number of shares repurchased pursuant to these agreements was determined based on the volume-weighted average price of our common stock during the purchase period, less a fixed discount of 0.94 percent . Under the ASR agreements, we paid $500.0 million to the financial institutions and received 6.1 million shares of common stock with a fair value of $350.0 million during the third quarter of 2013, which represented approximately 70 percent of the total shares expected to be repurchased under the agreements. One of the two financial institutions terminated their ASR agreement and delivered 1.2 million shares on December 13, 2013. We recorded this transaction as an increase in treasury stock of $425.0 million , and recorded the remaining $75.0 million as a decrease to additional paid in capital on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013. In accordance with the terms of the other ASR agreement, we had the option to settle our delivery obligation, if any, in cash or shares, and we may be required to settle in cash in very limited circumstances. We accounted for the variable component of shares to be delivered under the ASR agreements as a forward contract indexed to our common stock, which met all of the applicable criteria for equity classification, and therefore, was not accounted for as a derivative instrument, but instead was also accounted for as a component of equity. The remaining ASR agreement continued to meet those requirements for equity classification as of December 31, 2013. In February 2014, the remaining ASR agreement was terminated. Approximately 1.2 million shares were delivered as final settlement of the remaining agreement. We reclassified the $75.0 million recorded in additional paid in capital to treasury stock during the first quarter of 2014. The delivery of 7.3 million shares of our common stock reduced our outstanding shares used to determine our weighted average shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013. These shares, along with the 1.2 million shares received in February 2014, reduced our outstanding shares used to determine our weighted average shares outstanding for the purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. We evaluated the ASR agreement for the potential dilutive effects of any shares remaining to be received upon settlement and determined that the additional shares would be anti-dilutive, and therefore were not included in our EPS calculation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

SEGMENT REPORTING

SEGMENT REPORTING	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT REPORTING	SEGMENT REPORTING Our reportable segments are based on our method of internal reporting, which generally segregates the segments by service line and the primary services they provide to our customers. Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2016, based on certain internal reporting changes, we identified three reportable segments as follows: • North American Surface Transportation -NAST provides freight transportation services across North America through a network of offices in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The primary services provided by NAST include truckload, LTL, and intermodal. • Global Forwarding -Global Forwarding provides global logistics services through an international network of offices in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South America and also contracts with independent agents worldwide. The primary services provided by Global Forwarding include ocean freight services, airfreight services, and customs brokerage. • Robinson Fresh -Robinson Fresh provides sourcing services under the trade name of Robinson Fresh. Our sourcing services primarily include the buying, selling, and marketing of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items. Robinson Fresh sources products from around the world and has a physical presence in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. This segment often provides the logistics and transportation of the products they sell, in addition to temperature controlled transportation services for its customers. • All Other and Corporate -All Other and Corporate includes our Managed Services segment, as well as Other Surface Transportation outside of North America and other miscellaneous revenues and unallocated corporate expenses. Managed Services provides Transportation Management Services, or Managed TMS ® . Other Surface Transportation revenues are primarily earned by Europe Surface Transportation. Europe Surface Transportation provides services similar to NAST across Europe. The internal reporting of segments is defined, based in part, on the reporting and review process used by our chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer. The accounting policies of our reporting segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Segment information for prior years has been retroactively recast to align with current year presentation. Segment information as of, and for the years ended, December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 is as follows (dollars in thousands): Twelve months ended December 31, 2016 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 8,737,716 $ 1,574,686 $ 2,344,131 $ 487,880 $ — $ 13,144,413 Intersegment revenues 298,438 30,311 119,403 2,211 (450,363 ) — Total Revenues $ 9,036,154 $ 1,604,997 $ 2,463,534 $ 490,091 $ (450,363 ) $ 13,144,413 Net Revenues $ 1,524,355 $ 397,537 $ 234,794 $ 120,842 $ — $ 2,277,528 Operating Income 674,436 80,931 75,757 6,407 — 837,531 Depreciation and amortization 22,126 23,099 3,782 25,662 — 74,669 Total assets (1) 2,088,611 703,741 376,654 518,752 — 3,687,758 Average headcount 6,773 3,673 942 2,282 — 13,670 Twelve months ended December 31, 2015 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 8,968,349 $ 1,639,944 $ 2,395,440 $ 472,351 $ — $ 13,476,084 Intersegment revenues 271,557 19,102 89,033 2,107 (381,799 ) — Total Revenues $ 9,239,906 $ 1,659,046 $ 2,484,473 $ 474,458 $ (381,799 ) $ 13,476,084 Net Revenues $ 1,564,917 $ 365,467 $ 235,334 $ 102,762 $ — $ 2,268,480 Operating Income/(Loss) 718,329 76,081 81,332 (17,432 ) — 858,310 Depreciation and amortization 21,846 20,790 2,927 20,846 — 66,409 Total assets (1) 1,878,203 556,606 346,728 402,821 — 3,184,358 Average headcount 6,575 3,381 892 2,054 — 12,902 Twelve months ended December 31, 2014 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 8,738,747 $ 1,708,789 $ 2,483,163 $ 539,368 $ — $ 13,470,067 Intersegment revenues 254,821 22,492 62,575 1,294 (341,182 ) — Total Revenues $ 8,993,568 $ 1,731,281 $ 2,545,738 $ 540,662 $ (341,182 ) $ 13,470,067 Net Revenues $ 1,351,335 $ 350,193 $ 203,591 $ 102,533 $ — $ 2,007,652 Operating Income/(Loss) 644,708 55,591 62,395 (14,276 ) — 748,418 Depreciation and amortization 10,141 21,657 2,393 22,818 — 57,009 Total assets (1) 1,610,929 562,029 320,680 720,700 — 3,214,338 Average headcount 5,447 3,202 912 2,056 — 11,617 (1) All cash and cash equivalents and debt are included in All Other and Corporate. Goodwill was allocated to each segment based on relative fair value at November 30, 2016. The following table presents our total revenues (based on location of the customer) and long-lived assets (including intangible and other assets) by geographic regions (in thousands): For the year ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Total revenues United States $ 11,749,602 $ 12,097,633 $ 11,800,140 Other locations 1,394,811 1,378,451 1,669,927 Total revenues $ 13,144,413 $ 13,476,084 $ 13,470,067 December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Long-lived assets United States $ 348,299 $ 320,445 $ 257,587 Other locations 96,311 24,878 26,254 Total long-lived assets $ 444,610 $ 345,323 $ 283,841

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER CO

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Abstract]
CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Accumulated other comprehensive loss is included in the Stockholders’ investment on our consolidated balance sheets. The recorded balance at December 31, 2016 , and December 31, 2015 , was $61.4 million and $37.9 million , respectively. Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised solely of foreign currency translation adjustment as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , and are reported net of tax impact of $0 and $12.6 million , respectively.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRON

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and in August 2015 issued ASU No. 2015-14, which amended the standard as to effective date. The new comprehensive revenue recognition standard will supersede all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. For the majority of our revenue arrangements, no significant impacts are expected as these transactions are not accounted for under industry-specific guidance that will be superseded by the ASU and generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods or services. This standard is effective for us effective January 1, 2018, and permits the use of either a retrospective or a cumulative effect transition method. In preparation for our adoption of the new standard in the quarter beginning January 1, 2018, management assembled a project management team, which has obtained representative samples of contracts and other forms of agreements with our customers and is evaluating the provisions contained within those documents based on the new guidance. We do not expect this change to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows once implemented. We are still evaluating the disclosure requirements under these standards. As we complete our overall evaluation, we are also identifying and preparing to implement changes to our accounting policies, practices, and controls to support the new standards. In November 2015, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-17, “ Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes .” ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We have adopted this standard on a prospective basis as of December 31, 2016. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This update requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a corresponding right-of-use asset. The guidance also requires certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted, although we do not plan to adopt early. We have obligations under lease agreements for facilities and equipment, which are classified as operating leases under the existing lease standard. While we are still evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows, our financial statements will reflect an increase in both assets and liabilities due to the requirement to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets for our facility and equipment leases. Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements presents our operating lease commitments as of December 31, 2016 . In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This update was issued as part of the FASB’s simplification initiative and affects all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this update cover such areas as the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the classification of those excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, and accounting policy election for forfeitures, the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes and still qualify for equity classification, and the classification of those taxes paid on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is expected to prospectively impact the recording of income taxes related to share-based payment awards in our consolidated statement of financial position and results of operations, as well as the operating and financing cash flows on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The magnitude of such impacts are dependent on our future grants of stock-based compensation, our future stock price in relation to the fair value of awards on grant date, and the exercise behavior of our option holders. We will prospectively adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2017. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . This update simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairments by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, and impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The ASU is effective for annual and any interim impairment tests for periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We have not yet selected a transition date nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED)

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED)	SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED) Our unaudited results of operations for each of the quarters in the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , are summarized below (in thousands, except per share data). 2016 March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Revenues: Transportation $ 2,713,688 $ 2,881,496 $ 2,998,583 $ 3,110,978 Sourcing 360,255 418,245 357,171 303,997 Total revenues 3,073,943 3,299,741 3,355,754 3,414,975 Costs and expenses: Purchased transportation and related services 2,179,622 2,324,995 2,469,939 2,575,378 Purchased products sourced for resale 330,986 380,531 327,353 278,081 Personnel expenses 277,497 270,251 256,883 260,305 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 86,886 90,217 90,312 107,646 Total costs and expenses 2,874,991 3,065,994 3,144,487 3,221,410 Income from operations 198,952 233,747 211,267 193,565 Net income $ 118,963 $ 143,090 $ 129,028 $ 122,303 Basic net income per share $ 0.83 $ 1.00 $ 0.90 $ 0.86 Diluted net income per share $ 0.83 $ 1.00 $ 0.90 $ 0.86 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 143,525 142,998 142,611 141,711 Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards 133 218 272 453 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 143,658 143,216 142,883 142,164 Market price range of common stock: High $ 75.11 $ 76.10 $ 75.69 $ 77.89 Low $ 60.31 $ 69.84 $ 66.62 $ 65.57 2015 March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Revenues: Transportation $ 2,947,257 $ 3,130,722 $ 3,044,500 $ 2,867,301 Sourcing 353,633 414,366 374,753 343,552 Total revenues 3,300,890 3,545,088 3,419,253 3,210,853 Costs and expenses: Purchased transportation and related services 2,452,112 2,582,374 2,484,409 2,323,376 Purchased products sourced for resale 323,668 378,696 346,269 316,700 Personnel expenses 255,144 263,999 264,077 268,190 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 88,041 90,924 91,787 88,008 Total costs and expenses 3,118,965 3,315,993 3,186,542 2,996,274 Income from operations 181,925 229,095 232,711 214,579 Net income $ 106,476 $ 137,208 $ 139,432 $ 126,583 Basic net income per share $ 0.73 $ 0.94 $ 0.96 $ 0.88 Diluted net income per share $ 0.73 $ 0.94 $ 0.96 $ 0.88 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 146,204 145,515 144,578 143,484 Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards 179 164 204 660 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 146,383 145,679 144,782 144,144 Market price range of common stock: High $ 76.18 $ 73.09 $ 71.50 $ 73.34 Low $ 67.11 $ 61.46 $ 61.64 $ 59.71

SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUAL

SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
SCHEDULE II. VALUTAION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS	SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The transactions in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31 were as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Balance, beginning of year $ 43,455 $ 41,051 $ 39,292 Provision 5,136 11,538 15,092 Write-offs (9,048 ) (9,134 ) (13,333 ) Balance, end of year $ 39,543 $ 43,455 $ 41,051

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN22

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and our subsidiaries (“the company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are a global provider of transportation services and logistics solutions through a network of offices operating in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and our majority owned and controlled subsidiaries. Our minority interests in subsidiaries are not significant. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Prior to 2015 we reported payment services revenues separately from transportation revenues. Amounts prior to 2015 have been combined to conform to the current period presentation. This change in presentation had no effect on our prior year consolidated results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
USE OF ESTIMATES	USE OF ESTIMATES. The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. We are also required to disclose contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared on the basis of the most current and best information, and our actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
REVENUE RECOGNITION	REVENUE RECOGNITION. Total revenues consist of the total dollar value of goods and services purchased from us by customers. Our net revenues are our total revenues less purchased transportation and related services, including contracted motor carrier, rail, ocean, air, and other costs, and the purchase price and services related to the products we source. We act principally as the service provider for these transactions and recognize revenue as these services are rendered or goods are delivered. At that time, our obligations to the transactions are completed and collection of receivables is reasonably assured. Most transactions in our transportation and sourcing businesses are recorded at the gross amount we charge our customers for the service we provide and goods we sell. In these transactions, we are the primary obligor, we have credit risk, we have discretion to select the supplier, and we have latitude in pricing decisions. Additionally, in our sourcing business, we take loss of inventory risk during shipment and have general inventory risk. Certain transactions in customs brokerage, managed services, freight forwarding, and sourcing are recorded at the net amount we charge our customers for the service we provide because many of the factors stated above are not present.
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS	ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS. Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. We continuously monitor payments from our customers and maintain a provision for uncollectible accounts based upon our customer aging trends, historical loss experience, and any specific customer collection issues that we have identified.
FOREIGN CURRENCY	FOREIGN CURRENCY. Most balance sheet accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated or remeasured at the current exchange rate as of the end of the year. Statement of operations items are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded net of tax as a separate component of comprehensive income in our statements of operations and comprehensive income in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, we asserted that we will indefinitely reinvest earnings of foreign subsidiaries to support expansion of our international businesses and now the translation adjustment is recorded gross of related income tax benefits.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS. Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank deposits.
PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER	PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER. Prepaid expenses and other include such items as prepaid rent, software maintenance contracts, insurance premiums, other prepaid operating expenses, and inventories, consisting primarily of produce and related products held for resale.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT	PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT. Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated lives of the assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.
GOODWILL	GOODWILL. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired businesses over the net of the fair value of identifiable tangible net assets and identifiable intangible assets purchased and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis (November 30 for us) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. We allocate goodwill to reporting units based on the reporting unit expected to benefit from the business combination. We evaluate our reporting units on a continual basis and, if necessary, reassign goodwill using a relative fair value allocation approach. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit. During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, due to the reorganization of our reporting structure, we concluded that we had seven reporting units. As a result of this change in reporting units, we allocated goodwill to our reporting units based on each reporting unit’s fair value using a discounted cash flow analysis and market approach. Additionally at this time, we changed our annual quantitative goodwill impairment testing date from December 31 to November 30 of each year. The change in the goodwill impairment test date better aligns the impairment testing procedures with the timing of our long-term planning process, which is a significant input to the testing. We performed a goodwill impairment assessment both prior to and after the change in reporting units at November 30. This change in testing date did not delay, accelerate, or avoid a goodwill impairment charge. Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment and is tested for impairment more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test is performed using a two-step process. In the first step, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared with the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the reporting unit, there is an indication that goodwill impairment exists, and a second step must be completed in order to determine the amount of the goodwill impairment, if any, that should be recorded. In the second step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation. The fair value of each reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis and market approach. Projecting discounted future cash flows requires us to make significant estimates regarding future revenues and expenses, projected capital expenditures, changes in working capital and the appropriate discount rate. Use of the market approach consists of comparisons to comparable publicly-traded companies that are similar in size and industry. Actual results may differ from those used in our valuations.
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS. Other intangible assets include definite-lived customer lists, non-competition agreements, and indefinite-lived trademarks. The definite-lived intangible assets are being amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated lives, ranging from 5 to 8 years. Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The indefinite-lived trademarks are not amortized. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, or annually, at a minimum.
OTHER ASSETS	OTHER ASSETS. Other assets include such items as purchased and internally developed software, and the investments related to our nonqualified deferred compensation plan. We amortize software using the straight-line method over 3 years.
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES. Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates. Annual tax provisions include amounts considered sufficient to pay assessments that may result from examination of prior year tax returns; however, the amount ultimately paid upon resolution of issues raised may differ from the amounts accrued. The financial statement benefits of an uncertain income tax position are recognized when more likely than not, based on the technical merits, the position will be sustained upon examination. Unrecognized tax benefits are, more likely than not, owed to a taxing authority, and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. Uncertain income tax positions are included in “Noncurrent income taxes payable” in the consolidated balance sheets.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	COMPREHENSIVE INCOME. Comprehensive income includes any changes in the equity of an enterprise from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Our only component of other comprehensive income is foreign currency translation adjustment. It is presented on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income gross of related income tax effects for 2016, net of related income tax effects for 2015 and 2014.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION. We issue stock awards, including stock options, performance shares, and restricted stock units, to key employees and outside directors. In general, the awards vest over five years , either based on the company’s earnings growth or the passage of time. The related compensation expense for each award is recognized over the appropriate vesting period. The fair value of each share-based payment award is established on the date of grant. For grants of performance shares and restricted stock units, the fair value is established based on the market price on the date of the grant, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions. The discounts on outstanding grants vary from 15 percent to 22 percent and are calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Changes in measured stock volatility and interest rates are the primary reason for changes in the discount. For grants of options, we use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards. The determination of the fair value of share-based awards is affected by our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT Accounting guidance on fair value measurements for certain financial assets and liabilities requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: • Level 1-Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. • Level 2-Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. • Level 3-Unobservable inputs reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions or external inputs from inactive markets. A financial asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRNOUNCEMENTS	In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and in August 2015 issued ASU No. 2015-14, which amended the standard as to effective date. The new comprehensive revenue recognition standard will supersede all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. For the majority of our revenue arrangements, no significant impacts are expected as these transactions are not accounted for under industry-specific guidance that will be superseded by the ASU and generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods or services. This standard is effective for us effective January 1, 2018, and permits the use of either a retrospective or a cumulative effect transition method. In preparation for our adoption of the new standard in the quarter beginning January 1, 2018, management assembled a project management team, which has obtained representative samples of contracts and other forms of agreements with our customers and is evaluating the provisions contained within those documents based on the new guidance. We do not expect this change to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows once implemented. We are still evaluating the disclosure requirements under these standards. As we complete our overall evaluation, we are also identifying and preparing to implement changes to our accounting policies, practices, and controls to support the new standards. In November 2015, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-17, “ Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes .” ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We have adopted this standard on a prospective basis as of December 31, 2016. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This update requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a corresponding right-of-use asset. The guidance also requires certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which will require us to adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted, although we do not plan to adopt early. We have obligations under lease agreements for facilities and equipment, which are classified as operating leases under the existing lease standard. While we are still evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows, our financial statements will reflect an increase in both assets and liabilities due to the requirement to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets for our facility and equipment leases. Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements presents our operating lease commitments as of December 31, 2016 . In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This update was issued as part of the FASB’s simplification initiative and affects all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this update cover such areas as the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies, the classification of those excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, and accounting policy election for forfeitures, the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes and still qualify for equity classification, and the classification of those taxes paid on the statement of cash flows. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is expected to prospectively impact the recording of income taxes related to share-based payment awards in our consolidated statement of financial position and results of operations, as well as the operating and financing cash flows on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The magnitude of such impacts are dependent on our future grants of stock-based compensation, our future stock price in relation to the fair value of awards on grant date, and the exercise behavior of our option holders. We will prospectively adopt these provisions in the first quarter of 2017. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . This update simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairments by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, and impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The ASU is effective for annual and any interim impairment tests for periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We have not yet selected a transition date nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN23

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Depreciation Expense	We recognized the following depreciation expense (in thousands): 2016 $ 36,212 2015 32,412 2014 29,340
Property, Plant and Equipment	A summary of our property and equipment as of December 31 is as follows (in thousands): Useful Lives (in years) 2016 2015 Furniture, fixtures, and equipment 3 to 12 $ 236,180 $ 200,215 Buildings 3 to 30 130,050 110,056 Corporate aircraft 10 11,334 11,334 Leasehold improvements 3 to 15 40,312 28,178 Land 23,635 23,759 Construction in progress 8,534 5,597 Less accumulated depreciation (217,092 ) (188,265 ) Net property and equipment $ 232,953 $ 190,874
Schedule of Amortization Expense of Software	We recognized the following amortization expense of purchased and internally developed software (in thousands): 2016 $ 11,404 2015 9,624 2014 8,921
Schedule of Other Assets, Noncurrent	A summary of our purchased and internally developed software as of December 31 is as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 Purchased software $ 23,753 $ 23,569 Internally developed software 51,507 40,796 Less accumulated amortization (47,957 ) (42,930 ) Net software $ 27,303 $ 21,435

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE24

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Goodwill	The change in the carrying amount of goodwill is as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total December 31, 2014 balance $ 607,156 $ 106,443 $ 93,398 $ 18,041 $ 825,038 Acquisitions 211,369 37,056 32,515 6,280 287,220 Translation (2,886 ) (506 ) (444 ) (85 ) (3,921 ) December 31, 2015 balance 815,639 142,993 125,469 24,236 1,108,337 Acquisitions 97,727 17,133 15,033 2,904 132,797 Translation (6,136 ) (1,076 ) (944 ) (182 ) (8,338 ) December 31, 2016 balance $ 907,230 $ 159,050 $ 139,558 $ 26,958 $ 1,232,796
Schedule of Intangible Assets	Identifiable intangible assets consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands): 2016 2015 Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Finite-lived intangibles Customer relationships $ 244,036 $ (87,199 ) $ 156,837 $ 170,472 $ (61,050 ) $ 109,422 Non-competition agreements 500 (287 ) 213 550 (227 ) 323 Vendor lists — — — 150 (128 ) 22 Total finite-lived intangibles 244,536 (87,486 ) 157,050 171,172 (61,405 ) 109,767 Indefinite-lived intangibles Trademarks 10,475 — 10,475 10,475 — 10,475 Total intangibles $ 255,011 $ (87,486 ) $ 167,525 $ 181,647 $ (61,405 ) $ 120,242
Schedule of Amortization Expense	Amortization expense for other intangible assets was (in thousands): 2016 $ 27,053 2015 24,373 2014 18,748
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	Definite-lived intangible assets, by reportable segment, as of December 31, 2016 , will be amortized over their remaining lives as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total 2017 $ 7,560 $ 26,873 $ — $ 490 $ 34,923 2018 7,560 26,840 — — 34,400 2019 7,560 26,840 — — 34,400 2020 — 24,136 — — 24,136 2021 — 10,615 — — 10,615 Thereafter — 18,576 — — 18,576 Total $ 157,050

INCOME TAXES (Tables)

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign	Income before provision for income taxes consisted of (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Domestic $ 710,931 $ 729,390 $ 659,996 Foreign 101,019 93,391 63,435 Total $ 811,950 $ 822,781 $ 723,431
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period $ 13,271 $ 18,274 $ 16,897 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year — 1,520 2,002 Additions for tax positions of prior years 55 — 839 Reductions for tax positions of prior years (211 ) (810 ) (183 ) Lapse in statute of limitations (847 ) (5,188 ) (1,281 ) Settlements — (525 ) — Unrecognized tax benefits, end of the period $ 12,268 $ 13,271 $ 18,274
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	The components of the provision for income taxes consist of the following for the years ended December 31 (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Tax provision: Federal $ 222,685 $ 259,793 $ 224,468 State 31,786 37,129 32,110 Foreign 29,086 33,255 20,259 283,557 330,177 276,837 Deferred provision (benefit): Federal 13,936 (14,559 ) (5,302 ) State 1,986 (2,074 ) (755 ) Foreign (913 ) (462 ) 2,940 15,009 (17,095 ) (3,117 ) Total provision $ 298,566 $ 313,082 $ 273,720
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes using the statutory federal income tax rate to our effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31 is as follows: 2016 2015 2014 Federal statutory rate 35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % State income taxes, net of federal benefit 2.7 2.8 2.8 Other (0.9 ) 0.3 — 36.8 % 38.1 % 37.8 %
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are comprised of the following at December 31 (in thousands): 2016 2015 Deferred tax assets: Compensation $ 80,338 $ 91,729 Receivables 13,471 16,243 Other 11,433 9,242 Deferred tax liabilities: Intangible assets (131,698 ) (133,375 ) Prepaid assets (14,540 ) (13,418 ) Long-lived assets (21,268 ) (18,666 ) Other (608 ) (427 ) Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets $ (62,872 ) $ (48,672 )

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD26

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs	A summary of our total compensation expense recognized in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for stock-based compensation is as follows (in thousands): 2016 2015 2014 Stock options $ 9,178 $ 14,607 $ 9,243 Stock awards 25,912 40,785 36,510 Company expense on ESPP discount 2,475 2,269 2,108 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 37,565 $ 57,661 $ 47,861
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity	The following schedule summarizes stock option activity in the plans. All outstanding unvested options as of December 31, 2016 , relate to the performance-based grants from 2011 through 2016 . Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) Average Remaining Life (years) Outstanding at December 31, 2015 6,150,861 $ 65.03 $ — 8.1 Grants 1,250,154 76.72 Exercised (86,840 ) 61.82 Terminated (306,252 ) 68.81 Outstanding at December 31, 2016 7,007,923 $ 67.00 $ 43,875 7.7 Vested at December 31, 2016 2,646,205 $ 64.63 6.7 Exercisable at December 31, 2016 2,646,205 $ 64.63 6.7
Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised	Information on the intrinsic value of options exercised is as follows (in thousands): 2016 $ 981 2015 400 2014 4
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Activity	The following table summarizes these unvested stock option grants as of December 31, 2016 : Year of Grant First Vesting Date Last Vesting Date Options Weighted Unvested Options 2015 December 31, 2016 December 31, 2020 1,428,531 $ 12.66 1,142,825 2016 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2021 1,250,154 12.60 1,250,154 2,678,685 $ 12.63 2,392,979 The following table summarizes performance-based options by year of grant: Year of Grant First Vesting Date Last Vesting Date Options Weighted Unvested Options 2012 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2017 1,149,441 $ 13.15 666,676 2013 December 31, 2014 December 31, 2018 1,425,529 11.83 541,701 2014 December 31, 2015 December 31, 2019 1,277,409 14.17 804,595 3,852,379 $ 13.00 2,012,972 The following table summarizes performance shares and restricted stock units by year of grant: Year of grant First vesting date Last vesting date Performance Shares and Stock Units Granted, Net of Forfeitures Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (1) Unvested Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units 2012 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2017 325,536 $ 48.65 188,811 2013 December 31, 2014 December 31, 2018 394,672 46.50 149,975 2014 December 31, 2015 December 31, 2019 336,683 60.57 212,110 2015 December 31, 2016 December 31, 2020 390,163 51.88 343,342 2016 December 31, 2017 December 31, 2021 350,937 64.91 350,937 1,797,991 $ 54.29 1,245,175 ________________________ (1) Amount shown is the weighted average grant date fair value of performance shares and restricted stock units granted, net of forfeitures.
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions	The fair value per option was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: 2016 Grants 2015 Grants 2014 Grants Risk-free interest rate 2.13-2.14% 1.95-1.96% 1.93-1.96% Dividend per share (quarterly amounts) $0.43-0.45 $0.38-0.43 $0.35-0.38 Expected volatility factor 20.0-21.5% 22.0-24.0% 22.0-25.0% Expected option term 6.26 years 6.29 years 6.3 years Weighted average fair value per option $ 12.60 $ 12.68 $ 14.23
Schedule of Nonvested Restricted Stock Units Activity	The following table summarizes our unvested performance shares and restricted stock unit grants as of December 31, 2016 : Number of Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Unvested at December 31, 2015 1,272,040 $ 52.56 Granted 350,937 64.91 Vested (175,413 ) 52.40 Forfeitures (202,389 ) 53.61 Unvested at December 31, 2016 1,245,175 $ 55.90
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity	The following table summarizes these unvested restricted share and restricted stock unit grants as of December 31, 2016 : Number of Restricted Shares and Stock Units Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Unvested at December 31, 2015 1,127,522 $ 52.69 Granted 464,823 63.02 Vested (291,525 ) 52.01 Forfeitures (60,664 ) 53.06 Unvested at December 31, 2016 1,240,156 $ 56.70
Schedule Of Fair Value Stock Awards Vested	A summary of the fair value of full value awards vested (in thousands): 2016 $ 25,912 2015 40,785 2014 36,510
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Activity	The following is a summary of the employee stock purchase plan activity (dollar amounts in thousands): Shares Purchased By Employees Aggregate Cost to Employees Expense Recognized By the Company 2016 225,241 $ 14,032 $ 2,475 2015 228,103 13,045 2,269 2014 231,564 11,943 2,108
Share Repurchase Program Disclosure	The activity under this authorization is as follows (dollar amounts in thousands): Shares Repurchased Total Value of Shares 2013 Program 2013 Purchases 930,075 $ 57,689 2014 Purchases 3,763,583 239,037 2015 Purchases 3,420,681 232,113 2016 Purchases 2,467,097 176,676

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Costs of Retirement Plans	Defined contribution plan expense, including matching contributions, was approximately (in thousands): 2016 $ 25,740 2015 46,507 2014 30,112
Schedule of Lease Expenses	Information regarding our lease expense is as follows (in thousands): 2016 $ 55,170 2015 56,210 2014 56,871
Operating Leases of Lessee Disclosure	Minimum future lease commitments under noncancelable lease agreements in excess of one year as of December 31, 2016 , are as follows (in thousands): 2017 $ 47,034 2018 38,531 2019 32,249 2020 29,716 2021 24,393 Thereafter 113,786 Total $ 285,709

ACQUISITIONS (Tables)

ACQUISITIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following is a summary of the allocation of purchase consideration to the estimated fair value of net assets for the acquisition of Freightquote (in thousands): Cash and cash equivalents $ 29,302 Receivables 56,228 Other current assets 2,395 Property and equipment 43,687 Identifiable intangible assets 37,800 Goodwill 287,220 Trademarks 8,600 Other noncurrent assets 3,421 Total assets 468,653 Accounts payable (44,622 ) Accrued expenses (5,485 ) Other liabilities (19,939 ) Net assets acquired $ 398,607 The following is a preliminary summary of the allocation of purchase price consideration to the estimated fair value of net assets for the acquisition of APC (in thousands): Cash $ 10,181 Receivables 37,190 Inventory and other current assets 2,609 Property and equipment 1,696 Identifiable intangible assets 78,842 Goodwill 132,797 Other noncurrent assets 70 Long term deferred tax asset 814 Total assets 264,199 Accounts payable (22,147 ) Accrued expenses (12,700 ) Estimated net assets acquired $ 229,352
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class	Identifiable intangible assets and estimated useful lives are as follows (dollars in thousands): Estimated Life (years) Customer relationships 7 $ 78,842 Following are the details of the purchase price allocated to the intangible assets acquired (dollars in thousands): Estimated Life (years) Customer relationships 5 $ 37,500 Noncompete agreements 5 300 Total identifiable intangible assets $ 37,800
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information	On an unaudited pro forma basis, assuming the Freightquote acquisition had closed on January 1, 2014, the results of C.H. Robinson including Freightquote, would have resulted in the following (in thousands): Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2014 C.H. Robinson as Reported Freightquote Operations Combined Pro Forma Total revenues $ 13,470,067 $ 623,245 $ 14,093,312 Income from operations 748,418 24,131 772,549
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Adjustments	Freightquote pro forma financial information includes the following adjustments for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands): Additional amortization expense on identifiable intangible assets $ (7,560 ) Contractual changes in compensation 1,973 Additional compensation paid by sellers 2,627 Accounting policy changes 1,303 Third party advisory fees paid by sellers 5,355 Other 2,196

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Summary of Segment Information	Segment information as of, and for the years ended, December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 is as follows (dollars in thousands): Twelve months ended December 31, 2016 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 8,737,716 $ 1,574,686 $ 2,344,131 $ 487,880 $ — $ 13,144,413 Intersegment revenues 298,438 30,311 119,403 2,211 (450,363 ) — Total Revenues $ 9,036,154 $ 1,604,997 $ 2,463,534 $ 490,091 $ (450,363 ) $ 13,144,413 Net Revenues $ 1,524,355 $ 397,537 $ 234,794 $ 120,842 $ — $ 2,277,528 Operating Income 674,436 80,931 75,757 6,407 — 837,531 Depreciation and amortization 22,126 23,099 3,782 25,662 — 74,669 Total assets (1) 2,088,611 703,741 376,654 518,752 — 3,687,758 Average headcount 6,773 3,673 942 2,282 — 13,670 Twelve months ended December 31, 2015 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 8,968,349 $ 1,639,944 $ 2,395,440 $ 472,351 $ — $ 13,476,084 Intersegment revenues 271,557 19,102 89,033 2,107 (381,799 ) — Total Revenues $ 9,239,906 $ 1,659,046 $ 2,484,473 $ 474,458 $ (381,799 ) $ 13,476,084 Net Revenues $ 1,564,917 $ 365,467 $ 235,334 $ 102,762 $ — $ 2,268,480 Operating Income/(Loss) 718,329 76,081 81,332 (17,432 ) — 858,310 Depreciation and amortization 21,846 20,790 2,927 20,846 — 66,409 Total assets (1) 1,878,203 556,606 346,728 402,821 — 3,184,358 Average headcount 6,575 3,381 892 2,054 — 12,902 Twelve months ended December 31, 2014 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Revenues $ 8,738,747 $ 1,708,789 $ 2,483,163 $ 539,368 $ — $ 13,470,067 Intersegment revenues 254,821 22,492 62,575 1,294 (341,182 ) — Total Revenues $ 8,993,568 $ 1,731,281 $ 2,545,738 $ 540,662 $ (341,182 ) $ 13,470,067 Net Revenues $ 1,351,335 $ 350,193 $ 203,591 $ 102,533 $ — $ 2,007,652 Operating Income/(Loss) 644,708 55,591 62,395 (14,276 ) — 748,418 Depreciation and amortization 10,141 21,657 2,393 22,818 — 57,009 Total assets (1) 1,610,929 562,029 320,680 720,700 — 3,214,338 Average headcount 5,447 3,202 912 2,056 — 11,617 (1) All cash and cash equivalents and debt are included in All Other and Corporate. Goodwill was allocated to each segment based on relative fair value at November 30, 2016.
Schedule Of Revenues and Long Lived Assets by Geographic Regions	The following table presents our total revenues (based on location of the customer) and long-lived assets (including intangible and other assets) by geographic regions (in thousands): For the year ended December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Total revenues United States $ 11,749,602 $ 12,097,633 $ 11,800,140 Other locations 1,394,811 1,378,451 1,669,927 Total revenues $ 13,144,413 $ 13,476,084 $ 13,470,067 December 31, 2016 2015 2014 Long-lived assets United States $ 348,299 $ 320,445 $ 257,587 Other locations 96,311 24,878 26,254 Total long-lived assets $ 444,610 $ 345,323 $ 283,841

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED)

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	Our unaudited results of operations for each of the quarters in the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , are summarized below (in thousands, except per share data). 2016 March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Revenues: Transportation $ 2,713,688 $ 2,881,496 $ 2,998,583 $ 3,110,978 Sourcing 360,255 418,245 357,171 303,997 Total revenues 3,073,943 3,299,741 3,355,754 3,414,975 Costs and expenses: Purchased transportation and related services 2,179,622 2,324,995 2,469,939 2,575,378 Purchased products sourced for resale 330,986 380,531 327,353 278,081 Personnel expenses 277,497 270,251 256,883 260,305 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 86,886 90,217 90,312 107,646 Total costs and expenses 2,874,991 3,065,994 3,144,487 3,221,410 Income from operations 198,952 233,747 211,267 193,565 Net income $ 118,963 $ 143,090 $ 129,028 $ 122,303 Basic net income per share $ 0.83 $ 1.00 $ 0.90 $ 0.86 Diluted net income per share $ 0.83 $ 1.00 $ 0.90 $ 0.86 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 143,525 142,998 142,611 141,711 Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards 133 218 272 453 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 143,658 143,216 142,883 142,164 Market price range of common stock: High $ 75.11 $ 76.10 $ 75.69 $ 77.89 Low $ 60.31 $ 69.84 $ 66.62 $ 65.57 2015 March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31 Revenues: Transportation $ 2,947,257 $ 3,130,722 $ 3,044,500 $ 2,867,301 Sourcing 353,633 414,366 374,753 343,552 Total revenues 3,300,890 3,545,088 3,419,253 3,210,853 Costs and expenses: Purchased transportation and related services 2,452,112 2,582,374 2,484,409 2,323,376 Purchased products sourced for resale 323,668 378,696 346,269 316,700 Personnel expenses 255,144 263,999 264,077 268,190 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 88,041 90,924 91,787 88,008 Total costs and expenses 3,118,965 3,315,993 3,186,542 2,996,274 Income from operations 181,925 229,095 232,711 214,579 Net income $ 106,476 $ 137,208 $ 139,432 $ 126,583 Basic net income per share $ 0.73 $ 0.94 $ 0.96 $ 0.88 Diluted net income per share $ 0.73 $ 0.94 $ 0.96 $ 0.88 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 146,204 145,515 144,578 143,484 Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards 179 164 204 660 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 146,383 145,679 144,782 144,144 Market price range of common stock: High $ 76.18 $ 73.09 $ 71.50 $ 73.34 Low $ 67.11 $ 61.46 $ 61.64 $ 59.71

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN31

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Depreciation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 36,212	$ 32,412	$ 29,340

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN32

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 450,045	$ 379,139
Less accumulated depreciation	(217,092)	(188,265)
Net property and equipment	232,953	190,874
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 236,180	200,215
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	3 years
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	12 years
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 130,050	110,056
Buildings | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	3 years
Buildings | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	30 years
Corporate aircraft
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	10 years
Property and equipment	$ 11,334	11,334
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 40,312	28,178
Leasehold improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	3 years
Leasehold improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Lives (in years)	15 years
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 23,635	23,759
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 8,534	$ 5,597

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN33

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Additional Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Stock Option
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock award, vesting period	5 years
Software
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets, estimated lives	3 years
Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets, estimated lives	5 years
Restricted shares and restricted units grants, discount for post-vesting holding restrictions	15.00%
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Intangible assets, estimated lives	8 years
Restricted shares and restricted units grants, discount for post-vesting holding restrictions	22.00%

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN34

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Amortization Expense of Purchased and Internally Developed Software (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Software
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 11,404	$ 9,624	$ 8,921

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN35

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Summary of Purchased and Internally Developed Software (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Less accumulated amortization	$ (87,486)	$ (61,405)
Net	157,050	109,767
Software
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Less accumulated amortization	(47,957)	(42,930)
Net	27,303	21,435
Software | Purchased software
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Software	23,753	23,569
Software | Internally developed software
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Software	$ 51,507	$ 40,796

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE36

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Change in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 1,108,337	$ 825,038
Acquisitions	132,797	287,220
Translation	(8,338)	(3,921)
Balance, end of year	1,232,796	1,108,337
NAST
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	815,639	607,156
Acquisitions	97,727	211,369
Translation	(6,136)	(2,886)
Balance, end of year	907,230	815,639
Global Forwarding
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	142,993	106,443
Acquisitions	17,133	37,056
Translation	(1,076)	(506)
Balance, end of year	159,050	142,993
Robinson Fresh
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	125,469	93,398
Acquisitions	15,033	32,515
Translation	(944)	(444)
Balance, end of year	139,558	125,469
All Other and Corporate
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	24,236	18,041
Acquisitions	2,904	6,280
Translation	(182)	(85)
Balance, end of year	$ 26,958	$ 24,236

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE37

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016reporting_unit
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of reporting units	7

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE38

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles, Cost	$ 244,536	$ 171,172
Accumulated Amortization	(87,486)	(61,405)
Net	157,050	109,767
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Total intangibles, Cost	255,011	181,647
Total intangibles, Net	167,525	120,242
Trademarks
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Indefinite-lived intangibles	10,475	10,475
Customer relationships
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles, Cost	244,036	170,472
Accumulated Amortization	(87,199)	(61,050)
Net	156,837	109,422
Noncompete agreements
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles, Cost	500	550
Accumulated Amortization	(287)	(227)
Net	213	323
Vendor lists
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles, Cost	0	150
Accumulated Amortization	0	(128)
Net	$ 0	$ 22

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE39

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Amortization Expense of Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 27,053	$ 24,373	$ 18,748

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE40

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Estimated Amortization Expense on Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Estimated amortization expense
2,017	$ 34,923
2,018	34,400
2,019	34,400
2,020	24,136
2,021	10,615
Thereafter	18,576
Net	157,050	$ 109,767
NAST
Estimated amortization expense
2,017	7,560
2,018	7,560
2,019	7,560
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	0
Global Forwarding
Estimated amortization expense
2,017	26,873
2,018	26,840
2,019	26,840
2,020	24,136
2,021	10,615
Thereafter	18,576
Robinson Fresh
Estimated amortization expense
2,017	0
2,018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	0
All Other and Corporate
Estimated amortization expense
2,017	490
2,018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
Thereafter	$ 0

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT - Additi

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities and assets at fair value	$ 0	$ 0

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additi

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2013USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2012USD ($)
Level 2
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt fair value	$ 528,000,000	$ 522,200,000
Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2017 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 900,000,000		$ 500,000,000
Additional borrowing capacity credit facility					$ 500,000,000
Borrowing availability	$ 160,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate during period	1.50%	1.30%
Debt, weighted average interest rate	1.90%	1.60%
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage ratio, minimum	0.65
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage debt to EBITDA ratio, maximum	3
Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2017 Term Loan | Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2017 Term Loan | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.125%
Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2017 Term Loan | Current Liability
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing outstanding	$ 740,000,000	$ 450,000,000
Senior Notes | Series A Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 175,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				3.97%
Senior Notes | Series B Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 150,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				4.26%
Senior Notes | Series C Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 175,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				4.60%
Senior Notes | Note Purchase Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage ratio, minimum	0.65
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage debt to EBITDA ratio, maximum	3
Debt instrument, interest expense ratio, maximum	2
Debt instrument, priority debt, percentage	15.00%
Debt instrument, redemption price, percentage	100.00%

INCOME TAXES - Additional Infor

INCOME TAXES - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Tax benefit related to earnings from foreign subsidiaries	$ 5.1
Increase in income tax payable due to repatriation of foreign earnings	16.6
Unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties, all of which would affect our effective tax rate if recognized	18.9
Interest and penalties recognized	0.9	$ 1.2	$ 1.5
Interest and penalties accrued	6.6	6.4
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards tax effect	$ 9	$ 8

INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Earn

INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Earnings Before Income Tax Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic	$ 710,931	$ 729,390	$ 659,996
Foreign	101,019	93,391	63,435
Income before provision for income taxes	$ 811,950	$ 822,781	$ 723,431

INCOME TAXES - Reconciliation o

INCOME TAXES - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Interest and Penalties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period	$ 13,271	$ 18,274	$ 16,897
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	0	1,520	2,002
Additions for tax positions of prior years	55	0	839
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(211)	(810)	(183)
Lapse in statute of limitations	(847)	(5,188)	(1,281)
Settlements	0	(525)	0
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of the period	$ 12,268	$ 13,271	$ 18,274

INCOME TAXES - Components of th

INCOME TAXES - Components of the Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Tax provision:
Federal	$ 222,685	$ 259,793	$ 224,468
State	31,786	37,129	32,110
Foreign	29,086	33,255	20,259
Current income tax expense (benefit), total	283,557	330,177	276,837
Deferred provision (benefit):
Federal	13,936	(14,559)	(5,302)
State	1,986	(2,074)	(755)
Foreign	(913)	(462)	2,940
Deferred provision (benefit), total	15,009	(17,095)	(3,117)
Total provision	$ 298,566	$ 313,082	$ 273,720

INCOME TAXES - Reconciliation47

INCOME TAXES - Reconciliation of the Provision for Income Taxes using Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate to the Effective Income Tax Rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	2.70%	2.80%	2.80%
Other	(0.90%)	0.30%	0.00%
Effective income tax rate, continuing operations, total	36.80%	38.10%	37.80%

INCOME TAXES - Deferred Tax Ass

INCOME TAXES - Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred tax assets:
Compensation	$ 80,338	$ 91,729
Receivables	13,471	16,243
Other	11,433	9,242
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	(131,698)	(133,375)
Prepaid assets	(14,540)	(13,418)
Long-lived assets	(21,268)	(18,666)
Other	(608)	(427)
Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets	$ (62,872)	$ (48,672)

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD49

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Additional Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)vote$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2015$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2013shares	May 09, 2013shares
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	480,000,000	480,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Entitled vote for each share of Common Stock | vote	1
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	233,446	125,797
Maximum employee contribution to purchase company stock | $	$ 10,000
Discount rate used to determine the purchase price	15.00%
2013 Program
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized to be repurchased (in shares)			15,000,000
Shares remaining for repurchase under authorization (in shares)	4,418,564
Stock Option
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Maximum shares that can be granted under stock plan (in shares)				13,041,803
Shares available for stock awards (in shares)	4,851,473
Stock award, vesting period	5 years
Unrecognized compensation expense | $	$ 56,800,000
Performance Shares
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Options issued during period (in shares)	0	0
Full Value Awards
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Stock award, vesting period	5 years
Unrecognized compensation expense | $	$ 140,300,000
Restricted stock awards, discount for post-vesting holding restriction, lower limit	15.00%
Restricted stock awards, discount for post-vesting holding restriction, upper limit	22.00%

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD50

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Total Compensation Expense Recognized in Statements of Operations for Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 37,565	$ 57,661	$ 47,861
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	9,178	14,607	9,243
Stock awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	25,912	40,785	36,510
Company expense on ESPP discount
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 2,475	$ 2,269	$ 2,108

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD51

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Options Outstanding - Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in shares)	6,150,861
Grants (in shares)	1,250,154
Exercised (in shares)	(86,840)
Terminated (in shares)	(306,252)
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares)	7,007,923	6,150,861
Vested (in shares)	2,646,205
Exercisable (in shares)	2,646,205
Options Outstanding - Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share)	$ 65.03
Grants (in dollars per share)	76.72
Exercised (in dollars per share)	61.82
Terminated (in dollars per share)	68.81
Outstanding, Ending Balance (in dollars per share)	67	$ 65.03
Vested (in dollars per share)	64.63
Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 64.63
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, outstanding options	$ 43,875	$ 0
Average Remaining Life (years)
Average Remaining Life, outstanding options	7 years 8 months 12 days	8 years 1 month 6 days
Vested	6 years 8 months 12 days
Exercisable	6 years 8 months 12 days

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD52

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Intrinsic value	$ 981	$ 400	$ 4

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD53

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Stock Options Grants by Year of Grant (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016$ / sharesshares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	2,678,685
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.63
Unvested Options (in shares)	2,392,979
2,015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	1,428,531
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.66
Unvested Options (in shares)	1,142,825
2,016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	1,250,154,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12,600
Unvested Options (in shares)	1,250,154,000
Performance Shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	3,852,379
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 13
Unvested Options (in shares)	2,012,972
Performance Shares | 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	1,149,441
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 13.15
Unvested Options (in shares)	666,676
Performance Shares | 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	1,425,529
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 11.83
Unvested Options (in shares)	541,701
Performance Shares | 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options Granted, Net of Forfeitures (in shares)	1,277,409
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 14.17
Unvested Options (in shares)	804,595

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD54

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Assumptions Used in Estimating the Fair Value Per Option (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate, minimum	2.13%	1.95%	1.93%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum	2.14%	1.96%	1.96%
Expected volatilty factor, minimum	20.00%	22.00%	22.00%
Expected volatility factor maximum	21.50%	24.00%	25.00%
Expected option term	6 years 3 months 4 days	6 years 3 months 15 days	6 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted average fair value per option (in dollars per share)	$ 12.60	$ 12.68	$ 14.23
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend per share (quarterly amounts) (in dollars per share)	0.43	0.38	0.35
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend per share (quarterly amounts) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.43	$ 0.38

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD55

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Nonvested Performance-Based Restricted Stock Grants (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016$ / sharesshares
Number of Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Unvested, Ending Balance (in shares) | shares	1,245,175
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 54.29
Performance Based Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Number of Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Unvested, Beginning Balance (in shares) | shares	1,272,040
Granted (in shares) | shares	350,937
Vested (in shares) | shares	(175,413)
Forfeitures (in shares) | shares	(202,389)
Unvested, Ending Balance (in shares) | shares	1,245,175
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 52.56
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	64.91
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	52.40
Forfeitures (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	53.61
Unvested, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 55.90

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD56

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Performance Based Shares and Units by Year of Grant (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016$ / sharesshares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares and stock units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	1,797,991
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 54.29
Unvested performance shares and restricted stock units (in shares)	1,245,175
2,012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares and stock units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	325,536
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 48.65
Unvested performance shares and restricted stock units (in shares)	188,811
2,013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares and stock units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	394,672
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 46.50
Unvested performance shares and restricted stock units (in shares)	149,975
2,014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares and stock units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	336,683
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 60.57
Unvested performance shares and restricted stock units (in shares)	212,110
2,015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares and stock units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	390,163
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 51.88
Unvested performance shares and restricted stock units (in shares)	343,342
2,016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance shares and stock units granted, net of forfeitures (in shares)	350,937
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 64.91
Unvested performance shares and restricted stock units (in shares)	350,937

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD57

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Nonvested Restricted Stock Grants (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016$ / sharesshares
Number of Restricted Shares and Stock Units
Unvested, Ending Balance (in shares) | shares	1,245,175
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 54.29
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Number of Restricted Shares and Stock Units
Unvested, Beginning Balance (in shares) | shares	1,127,522
Granted (in shares) | shares	464,823
Vested (in shares) | shares	(291,525)
Forfeitures (in shares) | shares	(60,664)
Unvested, Ending Balance (in shares) | shares	1,240,156
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested, Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 52.69
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	63.02
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	52.01
Forfeitures (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	53.06
Unvested, Ending Balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 56.70

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD58

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Fair Value of Full Value Stock Vested (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Full Value Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value	$ 25,912	$ 40,785	$ 36,510

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD59

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Employee Stock Purchase Plan Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares Purchased By Employees (in shares)	225,241	228,103	231,564
Aggregate Cost to Employees	$ 14,032	$ 13,045	$ 11,943
Expense Recognized By the Company	37,565	57,661	47,861
Company expense on ESPP discount
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expense Recognized By the Company	$ 2,475	$ 2,269	$ 2,108

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD60

CAPITAL STOCK AND STOCK AWARD PLANS - Share Repurchase Programs Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Value of Shares Repurchased	$ 176,676	$ 232,113	$ 164,037
2013 Program
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Shares Repurchased (in shares)	2,467,097	3,420,681	3,763,583	930,075
Total Value of Shares Repurchased	$ 176,676	$ 232,113	$ 239,037	$ 57,689

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES -

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Profit-Sharing Plan Expense, Including Matching Contributions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Profit-sharing plan expense	$ 25,740	$ 46,507	$ 30,112

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES62

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016case
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Defined contribution match		4.00%
Pending litigation claims, number | case		18
Subsequent Event
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Resolution of an outstanding claim | $	$ 8,750

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES63

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Lease Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Lease expense	$ 55,170	$ 56,210	$ 56,871

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES64

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Minimum Future Lease Commitments Under Noncancelable Lease Agreements (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2,017	$ 47,034
2,018	38,531
2,019	32,249
2,020	29,716
2,021	24,393
Thereafter	113,786
Total	$ 285,709

ACQUISITIONS - Additional Info

ACQUISITIONS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Jan. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016
APC Logistics
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business	$ 229.4
Decrease to goodwill			$ 30.8
Freightquote
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business		$ 398.6
Freightquote | Trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired		$ 8.6

ACQUISITIONS - Summary of Purch

ACQUISITIONS - Summary of Purchase Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 01, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 1,232,796		$ 1,108,337		$ 825,038
APC Logistics
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 10,181
Receivables		37,190
Inventory and other current assets		2,609
Property and equipment		1,696
Identifiable intangible assets		78,842
Goodwill		132,797
Other noncurrent assets		70
Long term deferred tax asset		814
Total assets		264,199
Accounts payable		(22,147)
Accrued expenses		(12,700)
Estimated net assets acquired		$ 229,352
Freightquote
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents				$ 29,302
Receivables				56,228
Other current assets				2,395
Property and equipment				43,687
Identifiable intangible assets				37,800
Goodwill				287,220
Trademarks				8,600
Other noncurrent assets				3,421
Total assets				468,653
Accounts payable				(44,622)
Accrued expenses				(5,485)
Other liabilities				(19,939)
Estimated net assets acquired				$ 398,607

ACQUISITIONS - Summary of Ident

ACQUISITIONS - Summary of Identifiable Intangible Assets and Estimated Useful Lives (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Jan. 01, 2015
APC Logistics
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 78,842
APC Logistics | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Life (years)	7 years
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 78,842
Freightquote
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets		$ 37,800
Freightquote | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Life (years)		5 years
Identifiable intangible assets		$ 37,500
Freightquote | Noncompete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Life (years)		5 years
Identifiable intangible assets		$ 300

ACQUISITIONS - Business Acquisi

ACQUISITIONS - Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Infomration (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
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
Revenue, pro forma											14,093,312
Income from operations	$ 193,565	$ 211,267	$ 233,747	$ 198,952	$ 214,579	$ 232,711	$ 229,095	$ 181,925	$ 837,531	$ 858,310	748,418
Income from operations, pro forma											772,549
Freightquote
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues											623,245
Income from operations											$ 24,131

ACQUISITIONS - Business Acqui69

ACQUISITIONS - Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Infomration, Adjustments (Details) - Freightquote $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Additional amortization expense on identifiable intangible assets	$ (7,560)
Contractual changes in compensation	1,973
Additional compensation paid by sellers	2,627
Accounting policy changes	1,303
Third party advisory fees paid by sellers	5,355
Other	$ 2,196

ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE (D

ACCELERATED SHARE REPURCHASE (Details) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	Dec. 13, 2013shares	Aug. 24, 2013USD ($)agreement	Feb. 28, 2014shares	Mar. 31, 2014USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)shares	Dec. 31, 2013USD ($)shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of letter agreements | agreement		2
Treasury stock value						$ 176,676	$ 232,113	$ 164,037
Accelerated Share Repurchase
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Accelerated share repurchases, settlement payment		$ 500,000			$ 500,000
Accelerated share repurchases, pursuant discount percentage		0.94%
Shares repurchased (in shares) | shares	1.2		1.2		6.1			7.3	7.3
Treasury stock value					$ 350,000				$ 425,000
Value of stock repurchased as percentage of total amount of shares estimated under accelerated share repurchase agreement					70.00%
Accelerated share repurchase program adjustment				$ 75,000					$ 75,000

SEGMENT REPORTING - Additional

SEGMENT REPORTING - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)employee	Sep. 30, 2016USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)employee	Sep. 30, 2015USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)employee	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)employee	Dec. 31, 2014USD ($)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

SEGMENT REPORTING - Total Reven

SEGMENT REPORTING - Total Revenues Based on Location of the Customer and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Regions (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Total revenues
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
Long-lived assets
Total long-lived assets	444,610				345,323				444,610	345,323	283,841
United States
Total revenues
Total Revenues									11,749,602	12,097,633	11,800,140
Long-lived assets
Total long-lived assets	348,299				320,445				348,299	320,445	257,587
Other locations
Total revenues
Total Revenues									1,394,811	1,378,451	1,669,927
Long-lived assets
Total long-lived assets	$ 96,311				$ 24,878				$ 96,311	$ 24,878	$ 26,254

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER 74

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Abstract]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 61,442,000	$ 37,946,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss , tax impact	$ 0	$ 12,600,000

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED75

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED) - Summary of Unaudited Results of Operations for Each Quarter (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Transportation	$ 3,110,978	$ 2,998,583	$ 2,881,496	$ 2,713,688	$ 2,867,301	$ 3,044,500	$ 3,130,722	$ 2,947,257	$ 11,704,745	$ 11,989,780	$ 11,936,512
Sourcing	303,997	357,171	418,245	360,255	343,552	374,753	414,366	353,633	1,439,668	1,486,304	1,533,555
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
Costs and expenses:
Purchased transportation and related services	2,575,378	2,469,939	2,324,995	2,179,622	2,323,376	2,484,409	2,582,374	2,452,112	9,549,934	9,842,271	10,044,406
Purchased products sourced for resale	278,081	327,353	380,531	330,986	316,700	346,269	378,696	323,668	1,316,951	1,365,333	1,418,009
Personnel expenses	260,305	256,883	270,251	277,497	268,190	264,077	263,999	255,144	1,064,936	1,051,410	939,021
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses	107,646	90,312	90,217	86,886	88,008	91,787	90,924	88,041	375,061	358,760	320,213
Total costs and expenses	3,221,410	3,144,487	3,065,994	2,874,991	2,996,274	3,186,542	3,315,993	3,118,965	12,306,882	12,617,774	12,721,649
Income from operations	193,565	211,267	233,747	198,952	214,579	232,711	229,095	181,925	837,531	858,310	748,418
Net income	$ 122,303	$ 129,028	$ 143,090	$ 118,963	$ 126,583	$ 139,432	$ 137,208	$ 106,476	$ 513,384	$ 509,699	$ 449,711
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86	$ 0.90	$ 1	$ 0.83	$ 0.88	$ 0.96	$ 0.94	$ 0.73	$ 3.60	$ 3.52	$ 3.06
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86	$ 0.90	$ 1	$ 0.83	$ 0.88	$ 0.96	$ 0.94	$ 0.73	$ 3.59	$ 3.51	$ 3.05
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	141,711	142,611	142,998	143,525	143,484	144,578	145,515	146,204	142,706	144,967	147,202
Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards (in shares)	453	272	218	133	660	204	164	179	285	382	340
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	142,164	142,883	143,216	143,658	144,144	144,782	145,679	146,383	142,991	145,349	147,542
Market price range of common stock:
High (in dollars per share)	$ 77.89	$ 75.69	$ 76.10	$ 75.11	$ 73.34	$ 71.50	$ 73.09	$ 76.18
Low (in dollars per share)	$ 65.57	$ 66.62	$ 69.84	$ 60.31	$ 59.71	$ 61.64	$ 61.46	$ 67.11

SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QU76

SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS - Transactions in the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 43,455	$ 41,051	$ 39,292
Provision	5,136	11,538	15,092
Write-offs	(9,048)	(9,134)	(13,333)
Balance, end of year	$ 39,543	$ 43,455	$ 41,051