C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) 10-Q 9 May 18 2018 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	May 05, 2018
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-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Trading Symbol	CHRW
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		139,238,642

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 349,782	$ 333,890
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $40,512 and $42,409	2,019,333	2,113,930
Contract assets	161,028	0
Prepaid expenses and other	60,870	63,116
Total current assets	2,591,013	2,510,936
Property and equipment, net	230,609	230,326
Goodwill	1,273,850	1,275,816
Other intangible assets, net	140,874	151,585
Deferred tax asset	11,126	6,870
Other assets	60,304	60,301
Total assets	4,307,776	4,235,834
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	990,065	1,000,305
Outstanding checks	74,896	96,359
Accrued expenses:
Transportation expense	111,920	0
Compensation	69,723	105,316
Income taxes	42,781	12,240
Other accrued liabilities	54,025	58,229
Current portion of debt	651,000	715,000
Total current liabilities	1,994,410	1,987,449
Long-term debt	750,000	750,000
Noncurrent income taxes payable	25,215	26,684
Deferred tax liabilities	52,883	45,355
Other long-term liabilities	596	601
Total liabilities	2,823,104	2,810,089
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; 179,102 and 179,103 shares issued, 139,353 and 139,542 outstanding	13,935	13,954
Additional paid-in capital	451,966	444,280
Retained earnings	3,523,245	3,437,093
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(19,025)	(18,460)
Treasury stock at cost (39,749 and 39,561 shares)	(2,485,449)	(2,451,122)
Total stockholders’ investment	1,484,672	1,425,745
Total liabilities and stockholders’ investment	$ 4,307,776	$ 4,235,834

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 40,512	$ 42,409
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	480,000,000	480,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	179,102,000	179,103,000
Common stock shares outstanding (shares)	139,353,000	139,542,000
Treasury stock (shares)	39,749,000	39,561,000

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMEN

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Transportation	$ 3,637,640	$ 3,102,043
Sourcing	287,687	313,082
Total revenues	3,925,327	3,415,125
Costs and expenses:
Purchased transportation and related services	3,041,602	2,563,885
Purchased products sourced for resale	257,800	282,674
Personnel expenses	328,297	290,504
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses	106,043	90,104
Total costs and expenses	3,733,742	3,227,167
Income from operations	191,585	187,958
Interest and other expense	(10,700)	(9,302)
Income before provision for income taxes	180,885	178,656
Provision for income taxes	38,588	56,576
Net income	142,297	122,080
Other comprehensive (loss)/income	(565)	17,405
Comprehensive income	$ 141,732	$ 139,485
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.02	$ 0.86
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 0.86
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	140,032	141,484
Dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards (shares)	1,238	374
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	141,270	141,858
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 0.45

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEME5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 142,297	$ 122,080
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	24,241	22,431
Provision for doubtful accounts	6,630	3,618
Stock-based compensation	18,134	12,318
Deferred income taxes	(26)	(2,048)
Excess tax benefit on stock-based compensation	(6,224)	(9,344)
Loss on sale/disposal of assets	323	485
Changes in operating elements (net of acquisitions):
Receivables	(10,056)	(95,204)
Contract assets	(13,264)	0
Prepaid expenses and other	6,327	(6,049)
Other non-current assets	1,093	(1,016)
Accounts payable and outstanding checks	21,797	47,201
Accrued transportation expense	17,109	0
Accrued compensation	(37,867)	(37,864)
Accrued income taxes	35,184	51,949
Other accrued liabilities	(5,128)	(15,861)
Net cash provided by operating activities	200,570	92,696
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment	(11,719)	(13,537)
Purchases and development of software	(3,744)	(3,183)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(1,780)
Other	(726)	56
Net cash used for investing activities	(16,189)	(18,444)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from stock issued for employee benefit plans	24,497	15,823
Stock tendered for payment of withholding taxes	(18,091)	(18,955)
Repurchase of common stock	(47,700)	(28,999)
Cash dividends	(65,382)	(64,597)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	2,119,000	2,450,000
Payments on short-term borrowings	(2,183,000)	(2,450,000)
Net cash used for financing activities	(170,676)	(96,728)
Effect of exchange rates on cash	2,187	4,604
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	15,892	(17,872)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	333,890	247,666
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	349,782	229,794
Noncash transactions from investing and financing activities:
Accrued share repurchases held in other accrued liabilities	4,000	3,000
Accrued purchases of property and equipment	$ 449	$ 1,404

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [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 operating through a network of offices located 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. Our reportable segments are North American Surface Transportation (“NAST”), Global Forwarding, Robinson Fresh, and All Other and Corporate. The All Other and Corporate segment includes Managed Services, Other Surface Transportation outside of North America, and other miscellaneous revenues and unallocated corporate expenses. We group offices primarily by services they provide to our customers. For financial information concerning our reportable segments, refer to Note 9. The condensed consolidated financial statements, which are unaudited, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In our opinion, these financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Consistent with SEC rules and regulations, we have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. You should read the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , and in August 2015 issued ASU 2015-14, which amended the standard as to effective date. The new comprehensive revenue recognition standard supersedes 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. We adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective transition method applied to contracts that were not completed as of the date of initial application resulting in a $9.2 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. We have updated our revenue recognition critical accounting policy due to the adoption of this standard and expanded the summary of significant accounting policies included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 below. The adoption of this standard changed the timing of revenue recognition for our transportation businesses from at delivery to over the transit period as our performance obligations are completed. Due to the short transit period of many of our performance obligations, this change did not have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows. The new standard expanded our existing revenue recognition disclosures upon adoption. In addition, we have identified certain customer contracts in our sourcing business that changed from a principal to an agent relationship under the new standard. This change resulted in these contracts being recognized at the net amount we charge our customers but had no impact on income from operations. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements which includes the expanded disclosures required by ASU 2014-09. In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting . This update amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under Topic 718. We adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2018. The amendments in this update will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after January 1, 2018. The future impact of ASU 2017-09 will depend on the nature of future stock award modifications. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 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. As of December 31, 2017, we had $282.7 million of minimum future lease commitments under noncancelable lease agreements which will be subject to ASC 2016-02 once adopted. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income , which amends existing guidance for reporting comprehensive income to reflect changes resulting from the 2017 Tax Act ("Tax Act"). The amendment provides the option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act within accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings. New disclosures will be required upon adoption, including the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI, whether reclassification of stranded income tax effects is elected, and information about other income tax effect reclassifications. The amendment will become effective for us on January 1, 2019, though early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 , includes a summary of the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We have expanded these policies below to effect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 in the first quarter of 2018. CONTRACT ASSETS. Contract assets represent amounts for which we have the right to consideration for the services we have provided while a shipment is still in-transit but for which we have not yet completed our performance obligation or have not yet invoiced our customer. Upon completion of our performance obligations, which can vary in duration based upon the method of transport, and billing our customer these amounts become classified within accounts receivable and are then typically due within 30 days. ACCRUED TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE. Accrued transportation expense represents amounts we owe to vendors, primarily transportation providers, for the services they have provided while a shipment is still in-transit as of the reporting date.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE A

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS	GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS The change in carrying amount of goodwill is as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total December 31, 2017 balance $ 921,486 $ 185,873 $ 141,185 $ 27,272 $ 1,275,816 Translation (986 ) (818 ) (137 ) (25 ) (1,966 ) March 31, 2018 balance $ 920,500 $ 185,055 $ 141,048 $ 27,247 $ 1,273,850 Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment on November 30, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. We first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units is less than their respective carrying value (“Step Zero analysis”). If the Step Zero analysis indicates it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units is less than their respective carrying value, an additional impairment assessment is performed (“Step One Analysis”). Refer to Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates. Identifiable intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands): March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Finite-lived intangibles Customer relationships $ 263,093 $ (132,799 ) $ 130,294 $ 263,093 $ (122,103 ) $ 140,990 Non-competition agreements 300 (195 ) 105 300 (180 ) 120 Total finite-lived intangibles 263,393 (132,994 ) 130,399 263,393 (122,283 ) 141,110 Indefinite-lived intangibles Trademarks 10,475 — 10,475 10,475 — 10,475 Total intangibles $ 273,868 $ (132,994 ) $ 140,874 $ 273,868 $ (122,283 ) $ 151,585 Amortization expense for other intangible assets is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Amortization expense $ 9,399 $ 8,874 Definite-lived intangible assets, by reportable segment, as of March 31, 2018 , will be amortized over their remaining lives as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total Remainder of 2018 $ 5,866 $ 21,894 $ — $ — $ 27,760 2019 7,820 29,297 — — 37,117 2020 260 26,593 — — 26,853 2021 260 13,072 — — 13,332 2022 260 13,072 — — 13,332 Thereafter 391 11,614 — — 12,005 Total $ 130,399

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
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 March 31, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 . There were no transfers between levels during the period.

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS The components of our short-term and long-term debt and the associated interest rates were as follows (dollars in thousands): Average interest rate as of Carrying value as of March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Maturity March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Revolving credit facility 4.73 % 2.70 % December 2019 $ 651,000 $ 715,000 Senior Notes, Series A 3.97 % 3.97 % August 2023 175,000 175,000 Senior Notes, Series B 4.26 % 4.26 % August 2028 150,000 150,000 Senior Notes, Series C 4.60 % 4.60 % August 2033 175,000 175,000 Receivables securitization facility 2.62 % 2.00 % April 2019 250,000 250,000 Total debt 1,401,000 1,465,000 Less: Current maturities and short-term borrowing (651,000 ) (715,000 ) Long-term debt $ 750,000 $ 750,000 SENIOR UNSECURED REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY We have a senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Credit Agreement") with total availability of $900 million . 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 March 31, 2018 , 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 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. The Credit Agreement contains various restrictions and covenants that require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum leverage ratio of 3.00 to 1.00 . 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. NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT On August 23, 2013, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors (the “Purchasers”). On August 27, 2013, the Purchasers purchased an aggregate principal amount of $500 million of the Company's Senior Notes, Series A, Senior Notes Series B, and Senior Notes Series C, collectively (the “Notes”). Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The fair value of the Notes approximated $512.1 million at March 31, 2018 . We estimate the fair value of the Notes 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 risk. If the Notes were recorded at fair value, they would be classified as Level 2. The Note Purchase Agreement contains various restrictions and covenants that require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios, including a maximum leverage ratio of 3.00 to 1.00 , a minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.00 to 1.00 , and a maximum consolidated priority debt to consolidated total asset ratio of 15 percent . The Note Purchase Agreement provides for customary events of default. 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 percent of the principal amount being redeemed together with a “make-whole amount” (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement), and accrued and unpaid interest 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. U.S. TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION On April 26, 2017, we entered into a receivables purchase agreement and related transaction documents with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association to provide a receivables securitization facility (the “Receivables Securitization Facility”). The Receivables Securitization Facility is based on the securitization of our U.S. trade accounts receivable and provides funding of up to $250 million . The interest rate on borrowings under the Receivables Securitization Facility is based on the asset-backed commercial paper rate plus a margin or 30 day LIBOR plus a margin. There is also a commitment fee we are required to pay on any unused portion of the facility. The Receivables Securitization Facility expires on April 26, 2019 unless extended by the parties. The recorded amount of borrowings outstanding on the Receivables Securitization Facility approximates fair value because it can be redeemed on short notice and the interest rate floats, therefore, we consider these borrowings to be a Level 2 financial liability. The Receivables Securitization Facility contains various customary affirmative and negative covenants, and it also contains customary default and termination provisions which provide for acceleration of amounts owed under the Receivables Securitization Facility upon the occurrence of certain specified events. As of March 31, 2018 , we were in compliance with all of the covenants under the Credit Agreement, Note Purchase Agreement, and Receivables Securitization Facility.

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
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 return. We file unitary or separate state returns based on state filing requirements. 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 2011. Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was 21.3 percent and 31.7 percent , respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was higher than the statutory federal income tax rate due to state income taxes, net of federal benefit but was partially offset by the tax impact of share-based payment awards which resulted in a decrease in our provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 of $6.2 million and $9.3 million , respectively. We have asserted that we will indefinitely reinvest earnings of foreign subsidiaries to support expansion of our international business. If we repatriated all foreign earnings, the estimated effect on income taxes payable would be an increase of approximately $14.1 million as of March 31, 2018 . In connection with our initial analysis of the impact of the Tax Act, we recorded a discrete net tax benefit of $12.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2017. We have not yet completed our accounting for the income tax effects of certain elements of the Tax Act, but we were able to make reasonable estimates for elements in which our analysis is not complete and have therefore recorded provisional adjustments. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 we revised our analysis and recorded a net tax expense of $0.8 million related to an increase in transition taxes. Further, per Financial Accounting Standards Board guidance, we are allowed to make an accounting policy election of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) as a current-period expense when incurred or (2) factoring such amounts into our measurement of our deferred taxes. We have elected to recognize the tax on GILTI as a current-period expense in the period the tax is incurred. As of March 31, 2018 , we have $36.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties. It is possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefit could change in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities. The total liability for unrecognized tax benefits is expected to decrease by approximately $1.8 million in the next 12 months due to lapsing of statutes.

STOCK AWARD PLANS

STOCK AWARD PLANS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
STOCK AWARD PLANS	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 condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for stock-based compensation is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Stock options $ 5,002 $ 3,002 Stock awards 12,212 8,410 Company expense on ESPP discount 920 906 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 18,134 $ 12,318 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 2,966,647 shares were available for stock awards under the plan as of March 31, 2018 . 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. Stock Options - We have awarded time-based and 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 or on the employees continued employment. 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 March 31, 2018 , unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options was $53.9 million . The amount of future expense to be recognized will be based on the passage of time, the company’s earnings growth, and certain other conditions. Full Value Awards - We have awarded performance-based 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 21 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. We have also awarded time-based 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, discounted for post-vesting holding restrictions and is being expensed over the vesting period of the award. 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. As of March 31, 2018 , there was unrecognized compensation expense of $126.2 million related to previously granted full value awards. The amount of future expense to be recognized will be based on the passage of time, the company’s earnings growth, and certain other conditions. Employee Stock Purchase Plan - Our 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") 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 each quarter discounted by 15 percent . Shares vest immediately. The following is a summary of the employee stock purchase plan activity (dollar amounts in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Shares purchased by employees Aggregate cost to employees Expense recognized by the company 65,416 $ 5,211 $ 920

LITIGATION

LITIGATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
LITIGATION	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 12 contingent auto liability cases. 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 condensed 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 often unable 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.

ACQUISITIONS

ACQUISITIONS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS	ACQUISITIONS On August 31, 2017, we acquired the outstanding shares of Milgram & Company Ltd. ("Milgram") for the purpose of expanding our global presence and bringing additional capabilities and expertise to our portfolio. Total purchase consideration, net of cash acquired, was $47.3 million , which was paid in cash. We used advances under the Credit Agreement to fund part of the cash consideration. Identifiable intangible assets and estimated useful lives are as follows (dollars in thousands): Estimated Life (years) Customer relationships 7 $ 14,004 There was $28.6 million of goodwill recorded related to the acquisition of Milgram. The Milgram goodwill is a result of acquiring and retaining the Milgram existing workforce and expected synergies from integrating its business into ours. Purchase accounting is considered preliminary, subject to revision primarily related to certain income tax related balances expected be finalized in 2018. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The results of operations of Milgram have been included in our consolidated financial statements since September 1, 2017.

SEGMENT REPORTING

SEGMENT REPORTING	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
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. We identify 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 as of, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , is as follows (dollars in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Revenues $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 550,469 $ 158,093 $ — $ 3,925,327 Intersegment revenues (1) 123,545 9,364 48,346 6,299 (187,554 ) — Total revenues 2,786,556 563,118 598,815 164,392 (187,554 ) 3,925,327 Net revenues 414,769 123,037 53,870 34,249 — 625,925 Income from operations 174,078 8,221 9,307 (21 ) — 191,585 Depreciation and amortization 6,133 8,909 1,173 8,026 — 24,241 Total assets (2) 2,383,229 805,184 412,415 706,948 — 4,307,776 Average headcount 6,855 4,767 907 2,559 — 15,088 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Revenues $ 2,259,252 $ 468,788 $ 550,445 $ 136,640 $ — $ 3,415,125 Intersegment revenues (1) 101,154 8,143 33,340 6,878 (149,515 ) — Total revenues 2,360,406 476,931 583,785 143,518 (149,515 ) 3,415,125 Net revenues 372,440 106,546 56,837 32,743 — 568,566 Income from operations 155,877 16,206 14,652 1,223 — 187,958 Depreciation and amortization 5,590 8,020 1,146 7,675 — 22,431 Total assets (2) 2,126,900 699,139 409,972 539,733 — 3,775,744 Average headcount 6,844 3,926 961 2,548 — 14,279 (1) Intersegment revenues represent the sales between our segments and are eliminated to reconcile to our consolidated results. (2) All cash and cash equivalents are included in All Other and Corporate.

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUS

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS	REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS In 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , which we adopted in the first quarter of 2018. The standard outlines a five-step model whereby revenue is recognized as performance obligations within a customer contract are satisfied. The standard also requires new and expanded disclosures regarding revenue recognition. We adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the January 1, 2018 opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information for previous periods has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASU 2014-09 were as follows: Balance at December 31, 2017 Adjustments Balance at January 1, 2018 Balance Sheet Assets Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts $ 2,113,930 $ (101,718 ) $ 2,012,212 Contract assets — 147,764 147,764 Prepaid expenses and other 63,116 4,021 67,137 Liabilities Accounts payable 1,000,305 (56,493 ) 943,812 Accrued expenses - transportation expense — 94,811 94,811 Accrued expenses - compensation 105,316 1,964 107,280 Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities 58,229 (2,752 ) 55,477 Deferred tax liabilities 45,355 3,298 48,653 Equity Retained earnings 3,437,093 9,239 3,446,332 The impact of adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated statements of operations and consolidated balance sheets were as follows. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact upon our consolidated statement of cash flows. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 As reported Balances without adoption of ASU 2014-09 Effect of Change Higher / (Lower) Income Statement Revenues Transportation $ 3,637,640 $ 3,621,882 $ 15,758 Sourcing (1) 287,687 314,831 (27,144 ) Total Revenues $ 3,925,327 $ 3,936,713 $ (11,386 ) Costs and expenses Purchased transportation and related services $ 3,041,602 $ 3,028,663 $ 12,939 Purchased products sourced for resale (1) 257,800 284,944 (27,144 ) Personnel expenses 328,297 328,224 73 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 106,043 106,043 — Total Costs and Expenses 3,733,742 3,747,874 (14,132 ) Income from operations 191,585 188,839 2,746 Interest and other expense (10,700 ) (10,700 ) — Income before provision for income taxes 180,885 178,139 2,746 Provision for income taxes 38,588 37,902 686 Net income $ 142,297 $ 140,237 $ 2,060 (1) We have identified certain customer contracts in our sourcing managed procurement business that changed from a principal to an agent relationship under the new standard. This change resulted in these contracts being recognized at the net amount we charge our customers but had no impact on income from operations. As of March 31, 2018 As reported Balances without adoption of ASU 2014-09 Effect of Change Higher / (Lower) Balance Sheet Assets Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts $ 2,019,333 $ 2,133,695 $ (114,362 ) Contract assets 161,028 — 161,028 Prepaid expenses and other 60,870 56,607 4,263 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 990,065 $ 1,065,221 $ (75,156 ) Accrued expenses - transportation expense 111,920 — 111,920 Accrued expenses - compensation 69,723 67,687 2,036 Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities 54,025 57,153 (3,128 ) Deferred tax liabilities 52,883 48,925 3,958 Equity Retained earnings $ 3,523,245 $ 3,511,946 $ 11,299 We typically do not receive consideration from our customer prior to the completion of our performance obligation and as such contract liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and revenue recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2018 resulting from contract liabilities existing as of January 1, 2018 were not significant. Contract assets and accrued expenses - transportation expense fluctuate from period to period based upon shipments in-transit at period end. A summary of our gross revenues disaggregated by major service line and timing of revenue recognition is presented below for each of our reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total Major Service Lines Transportation and logistics services $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 262,782 $ 158,093 $ 3,637,640 Sourcing — — 287,687 — 287,687 Total $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 550,469 $ 158,093 $ 3,925,327 Timing of Revenue Recognition Performance obligations completed over time $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 262,782 $ 158,093 $ 3,637,640 Performance obligations completed at a point in time — — 287,687 — 287,687 Total $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 550,469 $ 158,093 $ 3,925,327 Approximately 91 percent of our gross revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are attributable to arranging for the transportation of our customer’s freight for which we transfer control and satisfy our performance obligation over the requisite transit period. A days in transit output method is used to measure the progress of our performance as of the reporting date. We determine the transit period based upon the departure date and the delivery date, which may be estimated if delivery has not occurred as of the reporting date. Determining the transit period and how much of it has been completed as of the reporting date may require management to make judgments that affect the timing of revenue recognized. We have determined that revenue recognition over the transit period provides a faithful depiction of the transfer of goods and services to our customer as our obligation is performed over the transit period. The transaction price for our performance obligation under these arrangements is generally fixed and readily determinable upon contract inception and is not contingent upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of another event. Approximately seven percent of our gross revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are attributable to buying, selling, and/or marketing of produce including fresh fruits, vegetables, and other value-added perishable items. Of these transactions, nearly all of our gross revenues are recognized at a point in time upon completion of our performance obligation, which is generally when the produce is received by our customer. The transaction price for our performance obligation under these arrangements is generally fixed and readily determinable upon contract inception and is not contingent upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of another event. Approximately two percent of our gross revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are attributable to value-added logistics services, such as customs brokerage, fee-based managed services, warehousing services, small parcel, and supply chain consulting and optimization services. Of these services, nearly all are recognized over time as we complete our performance obligation. Transaction price is determined and allocated to these performance obligations at their fixed fee or agreed upon rate multiplied by their associated measure of progress, which may be transactional volumes, labor hours, or time elapsed. Practical Expedients - Upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09, we have determined that we qualify for certain practical expedients to facilitate the adoption of the standard. We have elected to expense incremental costs of obtaining customer contracts (i.e. sales commissions) due to the short duration of our arrangements as the amortization period of such amounts is expected to be less than one year. These amounts are included within personnel expenses in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. In addition, we do not disclose the aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied as of the end of the period as our contracts have an expected length of one year or less. Finally, for certain of our performance obligations such as fee-based managed services, supply chain consulting and optimization services, and warehousing services we have recognized revenue in the amount for which we have the right to invoice our customer as we have determined this amount corresponds directly with the value provided to the customer for our performance completed to date. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates - We have updated our revenue recognition critical accounting policy to reflect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 below. REVENUE RECOGNITION. At contract inception, we assess the goods and services promised in our contracts with customers and identify our performance obligations to provide distinct goods and services to our customers. We have determined that the following distinct goods and services represent our primary performance obligations. Transportation and Logistics Services - As a third party logistics provider, our primary performance obligation under our customer contracts is to utilize our relationships with a wide variety of transportation companies to efficiently and cost-effectively transport our customer’s freight. Revenue is recognized for these performance obligations as they are satisfied over the contract term, which generally represents the transit period. The transit period can vary based upon the method of transport, generally a couple days for over-the-road, rail and air transportation, or several weeks in the case of an ocean shipment. When the customer’s freight reaches its intended destination our performance obligation is complete. Pricing for our services is generally a fixed amount and is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. We also provide certain value-added logistics services, such as customs brokerage, fee-based managed services, warehousing services, small parcel, and supply chain consulting and optimization services. These services may include one or more performance obligations which are generally satisfied over the service period as we perform our obligations. The service period may be a very short duration, in the case of customs brokerage, or it may be longer in the case of managed services and supply chain consulting and optimization services. Pricing for our services is established in the customer contract and is dependent upon the specific needs of the customer but may be agreed upon at a fixed fee per transaction, labor hour, or service period. Payment is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. Sourcing services - We contract with grocery retailers, restaurants, foodservice distributors, and produce wholesalers to provide sourcing services under the trade name Robinson Fresh. Our primary service obligation under these contracts is the buying, selling, and/or marketing of produce including fresh fruits, vegetables, and other value-added perishable items. Revenue is recognized when our performance obligations under these contracts is satisfied at a point in time, generally when the produce is received by our customer. Pricing under these contracts is generally a fixed amount and is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. In many cases, as additional performance obligations, we contract to arrange logistics and transportation of the products we buy, sell, and/or market. These performance obligations are satisfied over the contract term consistent with our other transportation and logistics services. The contract period is typically less than one year. Pricing for our services is generally a fixed amount and is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. Total revenues represent the total dollar value of revenue recognized from contracts with customers for the goods and services we provide. Substantially all of our revenue is attributable to contracts with our 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. 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 primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified good or service to our customer and we have discretion in establishing the price for the specified good or service. Additionally, in our sourcing business, in some cases we take inventory risk before the specified good has been transferred to our customer. Customs brokerage, managed services, freight forwarding, and sourcing managed procurement transactions 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.

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER CO

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Accumulated other comprehensive loss is included in Stockholders' investment on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The recorded balance, at March 31, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , was $19.0 million and $18.5 million , respectively. Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised solely of foreign currency translation adjustments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 .

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On April 9, 2018, we issued $600 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes ("Senior Notes") through a public offering, at an issue price of 99.40 percent and received $592.5 million of proceeds. The Senior Notes bear an annual interest rate of 4.20 percent payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15, until maturity on April 15, 2028. We incurred $5.5 million in expenses related to the issuance of the Senior Notes (including a $3.9 million underwriting fee), which have been deferred and are being recognized into interest expense over the life of the Senior Notes. Taking into effect the amortization of the original issue discount and all underwriting and issuance expenses, the Senior Notes have an effective yield to maturity of approximately 4.39 percent per annum. The proceeds from the Senior Notes were utilized to pay down the balance on our Credit Agreement. We may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time prior to their maturity at the applicable redemption prices described in the Senior Notes. Upon the occurrence of a “change of control triggering event” as defined in the Senior Notes (generally, a change of control of us accompanied by a reduction in the credit rating for the Senior Notes), we will generally be required to make an offer to repurchase the Senior Notes from holders at 101 percent of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. The Indenture contains covenants imposing certain limitations on the ability of us to incur liens, enter into sales and leaseback transactions, or consolidate, merge or transfer substantial all of its assets and those if our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. It also provides for customary events of default (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), which include among other things nonpayment, breach of covenants in the Indenture and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Senior Notes, the Trustee or holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount outstanding of the Senior Notes may declare the principal and the accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the outstanding Senior Notes to be due and payable. These covenants and events of default are subject to a number of important qualifications, limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture. The indentures do not contain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity to which we must adhere.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [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 operating through a network of offices located 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. Our reportable segments are North American Surface Transportation (“NAST”), Global Forwarding, Robinson Fresh, and All Other and Corporate. The All Other and Corporate segment includes Managed Services, Other Surface Transportation outside of North America, and other miscellaneous revenues and unallocated corporate expenses. We group offices primarily by services they provide to our customers. For financial information concerning our reportable segments, refer to Note 9. The condensed consolidated financial statements, which are unaudited, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In our opinion, these financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Consistent with SEC rules and regulations, we have condensed or omitted certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. You should read the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards	RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , and in August 2015 issued ASU 2015-14, which amended the standard as to effective date. The new comprehensive revenue recognition standard supersedes 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. We adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective transition method applied to contracts that were not completed as of the date of initial application resulting in a $9.2 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. We have updated our revenue recognition critical accounting policy due to the adoption of this standard and expanded the summary of significant accounting policies included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 below. The adoption of this standard changed the timing of revenue recognition for our transportation businesses from at delivery to over the transit period as our performance obligations are completed. Due to the short transit period of many of our performance obligations, this change did not have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows. The new standard expanded our existing revenue recognition disclosures upon adoption. In addition, we have identified certain customer contracts in our sourcing business that changed from a principal to an agent relationship under the new standard. This change resulted in these contracts being recognized at the net amount we charge our customers but had no impact on income from operations. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements which includes the expanded disclosures required by ASU 2014-09. In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting . This update amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under Topic 718. We adopted this new standard effective January 1, 2018. The amendments in this update will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after January 1, 2018. The future impact of ASU 2017-09 will depend on the nature of future stock award modifications. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 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. As of December 31, 2017, we had $282.7 million of minimum future lease commitments under noncancelable lease agreements which will be subject to ASC 2016-02 once adopted. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income , which amends existing guidance for reporting comprehensive income to reflect changes resulting from the 2017 Tax Act ("Tax Act"). The amendment provides the option to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act within accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) to retained earnings. New disclosures will be required upon adoption, including the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI, whether reclassification of stranded income tax effects is elected, and information about other income tax effect reclassifications. The amendment will become effective for us on January 1, 2019, though early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Contract Assets	CONTRACT ASSETS. Contract assets represent amounts for which we have the right to consideration for the services we have provided while a shipment is still in-transit but for which we have not yet completed our performance obligation or have not yet invoiced our customer. Upon completion of our performance obligations, which can vary in duration based upon the method of transport, and billing our customer these amounts become classified within accounts receivable and are then typically due within 30 days. REVENUE RECOGNITION. At contract inception, we assess the goods and services promised in our contracts with customers and identify our performance obligations to provide distinct goods and services to our customers. We have determined that the following distinct goods and services represent our primary performance obligations. Transportation and Logistics Services - As a third party logistics provider, our primary performance obligation under our customer contracts is to utilize our relationships with a wide variety of transportation companies to efficiently and cost-effectively transport our customer’s freight. Revenue is recognized for these performance obligations as they are satisfied over the contract term, which generally represents the transit period. The transit period can vary based upon the method of transport, generally a couple days for over-the-road, rail and air transportation, or several weeks in the case of an ocean shipment. When the customer’s freight reaches its intended destination our performance obligation is complete. Pricing for our services is generally a fixed amount and is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. We also provide certain value-added logistics services, such as customs brokerage, fee-based managed services, warehousing services, small parcel, and supply chain consulting and optimization services. These services may include one or more performance obligations which are generally satisfied over the service period as we perform our obligations. The service period may be a very short duration, in the case of customs brokerage, or it may be longer in the case of managed services and supply chain consulting and optimization services. Pricing for our services is established in the customer contract and is dependent upon the specific needs of the customer but may be agreed upon at a fixed fee per transaction, labor hour, or service period. Payment is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. Sourcing services - We contract with grocery retailers, restaurants, foodservice distributors, and produce wholesalers to provide sourcing services under the trade name Robinson Fresh. Our primary service obligation under these contracts is the buying, selling, and/or marketing of produce including fresh fruits, vegetables, and other value-added perishable items. Revenue is recognized when our performance obligations under these contracts is satisfied at a point in time, generally when the produce is received by our customer. Pricing under these contracts is generally a fixed amount and is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. In many cases, as additional performance obligations, we contract to arrange logistics and transportation of the products we buy, sell, and/or market. These performance obligations are satisfied over the contract term consistent with our other transportation and logistics services. The contract period is typically less than one year. Pricing for our services is generally a fixed amount and is typically due within 30 days upon completion of our performance obligation. Total revenues represent the total dollar value of revenue recognized from contracts with customers for the goods and services we provide. Substantially all of our revenue is attributable to contracts with our 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. 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 primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified good or service to our customer and we have discretion in establishing the price for the specified good or service. Additionally, in our sourcing business, in some cases we take inventory risk before the specified good has been transferred to our customer. Customs brokerage, managed services, freight forwarding, and sourcing managed procurement transactions 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.
Accrued Transportation Expense	ACCRUED TRANSPORTATION EXPENSE. Accrued transportation expense represents amounts we owe to vendors, primarily transportation providers, for the services they have provided while a shipment is still in-transit as of the reporting date.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment on November 30, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. We first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units is less than their respective carrying value (“Step Zero analysis”). If the Step Zero analysis indicates it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units is less than their respective carrying value, an additional impairment assessment is performed (“Step One Analysis”). Refer to Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.
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.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE19

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Goodwill	The change in carrying amount of goodwill is as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total December 31, 2017 balance $ 921,486 $ 185,873 $ 141,185 $ 27,272 $ 1,275,816 Translation (986 ) (818 ) (137 ) (25 ) (1,966 ) March 31, 2018 balance $ 920,500 $ 185,055 $ 141,048 $ 27,247 $ 1,273,850
Schedule of Intangible Assets	Identifiable intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands): March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Cost Accumulated Amortization Net Finite-lived intangibles Customer relationships $ 263,093 $ (132,799 ) $ 130,294 $ 263,093 $ (122,103 ) $ 140,990 Non-competition agreements 300 (195 ) 105 300 (180 ) 120 Total finite-lived intangibles 263,393 (132,994 ) 130,399 263,393 (122,283 ) 141,110 Indefinite-lived intangibles Trademarks 10,475 — 10,475 10,475 — 10,475 Total intangibles $ 273,868 $ (132,994 ) $ 140,874 $ 273,868 $ (122,283 ) $ 151,585
Schedule of Amortization Expense	Amortization expense for other intangible assets is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Amortization expense $ 9,399 $ 8,874
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	Definite-lived intangible assets, by reportable segment, as of March 31, 2018 , will be amortized over their remaining lives as follows (in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total Remainder of 2018 $ 5,866 $ 21,894 $ — $ — $ 27,760 2019 7,820 29,297 — — 37,117 2020 260 26,593 — — 26,853 2021 260 13,072 — — 13,332 2022 260 13,072 — — 13,332 Thereafter 391 11,614 — — 12,005 Total $ 130,399

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Tables)

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of Short-term and Long-term Debt	The components of our short-term and long-term debt and the associated interest rates were as follows (dollars in thousands): Average interest rate as of Carrying value as of March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Maturity March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Revolving credit facility 4.73 % 2.70 % December 2019 $ 651,000 $ 715,000 Senior Notes, Series A 3.97 % 3.97 % August 2023 175,000 175,000 Senior Notes, Series B 4.26 % 4.26 % August 2028 150,000 150,000 Senior Notes, Series C 4.60 % 4.60 % August 2033 175,000 175,000 Receivables securitization facility 2.62 % 2.00 % April 2019 250,000 250,000 Total debt 1,401,000 1,465,000 Less: Current maturities and short-term borrowing (651,000 ) (715,000 ) Long-term debt $ 750,000 $ 750,000

STOCK AWARD PLANS (Tables)

STOCK AWARD PLANS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
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 condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for stock-based compensation is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Stock options $ 5,002 $ 3,002 Stock awards 12,212 8,410 Company expense on ESPP discount 920 906 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 18,134 $ 12,318
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): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Shares purchased by employees Aggregate cost to employees Expense recognized by the company 65,416 $ 5,211 $ 920

ACQUISITIONS (Tables)

ACQUISITIONS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
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 $ 14,004

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Summary of Segment Information	Segment information as of, and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , is as follows (dollars in thousands): NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Revenues $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 550,469 $ 158,093 $ — $ 3,925,327 Intersegment revenues (1) 123,545 9,364 48,346 6,299 (187,554 ) — Total revenues 2,786,556 563,118 598,815 164,392 (187,554 ) 3,925,327 Net revenues 414,769 123,037 53,870 34,249 — 625,925 Income from operations 174,078 8,221 9,307 (21 ) — 191,585 Depreciation and amortization 6,133 8,909 1,173 8,026 — 24,241 Total assets (2) 2,383,229 805,184 412,415 706,948 — 4,307,776 Average headcount 6,855 4,767 907 2,559 — 15,088 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Revenues $ 2,259,252 $ 468,788 $ 550,445 $ 136,640 $ — $ 3,415,125 Intersegment revenues (1) 101,154 8,143 33,340 6,878 (149,515 ) — Total revenues 2,360,406 476,931 583,785 143,518 (149,515 ) 3,415,125 Net revenues 372,440 106,546 56,837 32,743 — 568,566 Income from operations 155,877 16,206 14,652 1,223 — 187,958 Depreciation and amortization 5,590 8,020 1,146 7,675 — 22,431 Total assets (2) 2,126,900 699,139 409,972 539,733 — 3,775,744 Average headcount 6,844 3,926 961 2,548 — 14,279 (1) Intersegment revenues represent the sales between our segments and are eliminated to reconcile to our consolidated results. (2) All cash and cash equivalents are included in All Other and Corporate.

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH C24

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles	The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of ASU 2014-09 were as follows: Balance at December 31, 2017 Adjustments Balance at January 1, 2018 Balance Sheet Assets Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts $ 2,113,930 $ (101,718 ) $ 2,012,212 Contract assets — 147,764 147,764 Prepaid expenses and other 63,116 4,021 67,137 Liabilities Accounts payable 1,000,305 (56,493 ) 943,812 Accrued expenses - transportation expense — 94,811 94,811 Accrued expenses - compensation 105,316 1,964 107,280 Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities 58,229 (2,752 ) 55,477 Deferred tax liabilities 45,355 3,298 48,653 Equity Retained earnings 3,437,093 9,239 3,446,332 The impact of adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated statements of operations and consolidated balance sheets were as follows. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material impact upon our consolidated statement of cash flows. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 As reported Balances without adoption of ASU 2014-09 Effect of Change Higher / (Lower) Income Statement Revenues Transportation $ 3,637,640 $ 3,621,882 $ 15,758 Sourcing (1) 287,687 314,831 (27,144 ) Total Revenues $ 3,925,327 $ 3,936,713 $ (11,386 ) Costs and expenses Purchased transportation and related services $ 3,041,602 $ 3,028,663 $ 12,939 Purchased products sourced for resale (1) 257,800 284,944 (27,144 ) Personnel expenses 328,297 328,224 73 Other selling, general, and administrative expenses 106,043 106,043 — Total Costs and Expenses 3,733,742 3,747,874 (14,132 ) Income from operations 191,585 188,839 2,746 Interest and other expense (10,700 ) (10,700 ) — Income before provision for income taxes 180,885 178,139 2,746 Provision for income taxes 38,588 37,902 686 Net income $ 142,297 $ 140,237 $ 2,060 (1) We have identified certain customer contracts in our sourcing managed procurement business that changed from a principal to an agent relationship under the new standard. This change resulted in these contracts being recognized at the net amount we charge our customers but had no impact on income from operations. As of March 31, 2018 As reported Balances without adoption of ASU 2014-09 Effect of Change Higher / (Lower) Balance Sheet Assets Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts $ 2,019,333 $ 2,133,695 $ (114,362 ) Contract assets 161,028 — 161,028 Prepaid expenses and other 60,870 56,607 4,263 Liabilities Accounts payable $ 990,065 $ 1,065,221 $ (75,156 ) Accrued expenses - transportation expense 111,920 — 111,920 Accrued expenses - compensation 69,723 67,687 2,036 Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities 54,025 57,153 (3,128 ) Deferred tax liabilities 52,883 48,925 3,958 Equity Retained earnings $ 3,523,245 $ 3,511,946 $ 11,299
Summary of Gross Revenue Disaggregated by Major Service Line and Timing of Revenue Recognition	A summary of our gross revenues disaggregated by major service line and timing of revenue recognition is presented below for each of our reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 NAST Global Forwarding Robinson Fresh All Other and Corporate Total Major Service Lines Transportation and logistics services $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 262,782 $ 158,093 $ 3,637,640 Sourcing — — 287,687 — 287,687 Total $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 550,469 $ 158,093 $ 3,925,327 Timing of Revenue Recognition Performance obligations completed over time $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 262,782 $ 158,093 $ 3,637,640 Performance obligations completed at a point in time — — 287,687 — 287,687 Total $ 2,663,011 $ 553,754 $ 550,469 $ 158,093 $ 3,925,327

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative adjustment to retained earnings	$ 3,523,245		$ 3,446,332	$ 3,437,093
Minimum future lease commitments				$ 282,700
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, share-based compensation, excess tax benefit amount	6,200	$ 9,300
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative adjustment to retained earnings	$ 11,299		$ 9,200

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE26

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Change in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 1,275,816
Translation	(1,966)
Balance, end of period	1,273,850
NAST
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	921,486
Translation	(986)
Balance, end of period	920,500
Global Forwarding
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	185,873
Translation	(818)
Balance, end of period	185,055
Robinson Fresh
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	141,185
Translation	(137)
Balance, end of period	141,048
All Other and Corporate
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	27,272
Translation	(25)
Balance, end of period	$ 27,247

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE27

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles	$ 263,393	$ 263,393
Accumulated amortization	(132,994)	(122,283)
Net	130,399	141,110
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Total intangibles, Cost	273,868	273,868
Total intangibles, Net	140,874	151,585
Trademarks
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Indefinite-lived intangibles	10,475	10,475
Customer relationships
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles	263,093	263,093
Accumulated amortization	(132,799)	(122,103)
Net	130,294	140,990
Non-competition agreements
Finite-lived intangibles
Finite-lived intangibles	300	300
Accumulated amortization	(195)	(180)
Net	$ 105	$ 120

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE28

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Estimated Amortization Expense on Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 9,399	$ 8,874
Estimated amortization expense
Remainder of 2018	27,760
2,019	37,117
2,020	26,853
2,021	13,332
2,022	13,332
Thereafter	12,005
Net	130,399		$ 141,110
NAST
Estimated amortization expense
Remainder of 2018	5,866
2,019	7,820
2,020	260
2,021	260
2,022	260
Thereafter	391
Global Forwarding
Estimated amortization expense
Remainder of 2018	21,894
2,019	29,297
2,020	26,593
2,021	13,072
2,022	13,072
Thereafter	11,614
Robinson Fresh
Estimated amortization expense
Remainder of 2018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
2,022	0
Thereafter	0
All Other and Corporate
Estimated amortization expense
Remainder of 2018	0
2,019	0
2,020	0
2,021	0
2,022	0
Thereafter	$ 0

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Details

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Liability at fair value	$ 0	$ 0

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Compon

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Components of Short-term and Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 1,401,000	$ 1,465,000
Less: Current maturities and short-term borrowing	(651,000)	(715,000)
Long-term debt	$ 750,000	$ 750,000
Line of Credit | Revolving credit facility | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2019 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of	4.73%	2.70%
Total debt	$ 651,000	$ 715,000
Senior Notes | Series A Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of	3.97%	3.97%
Total debt	$ 175,000	$ 175,000
Senior Notes | Series B Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of	4.26%	4.26%
Total debt	$ 150,000	$ 150,000
Senior Notes | Series C Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of	4.60%	4.60%
Total debt	$ 175,000	$ 175,000
Secured Debt | Receivables securitization facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of	2.62%	2.00%
Total debt	$ 250,000	$ 250,000

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additi

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS - Additional Information (Details)	Aug. 23, 2013USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Apr. 26, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, fair value		$ 512,100,000
Receivables securitization facility | The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association | Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				$ 250,000,000
Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2019 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 900,000,000
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage ratio, maximum		3
Unsecured Debt | Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility 2019 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 2019 Term Loan | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate		1.13%
Senior Notes | Note Purchase Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage ratio, maximum	3
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 500,000,000
Debt instrument, covenant, interest expense ratio, maximum	2
Debt instrument, covenant, priority debt, percentage	15.00%
Debt instrument, redemption price, percentage	100.00%
Senior Notes | Series A Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of		3.97%	3.97%
Senior Notes | Series B Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of		4.26%	4.26%
Senior Notes | Series C Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate as of		4.60%	4.60%

INCOME TAXES (Details)

INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Effective income tax	21.30%	31.70%
Estimated effect on income taxes payable from foreign earnings repatriated	$ 14.1
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, provisional income tax benefit			$ 12.1
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, transition tax, income tax expense	0.8
Unrecognized tax benefits and related interest and penalties, all of which would affect our effective tax rate if recognized	36.5
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits due to lapse of statute of limitations	1.8
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate reconciliation, share-based compensation, excess tax benefit amount	$ 6.2	$ 9.3

STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of

STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Total Compensation Expense Recognized in Statements of Operations for Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 18,134	$ 12,318
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	5,002	3,002
Stock awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	12,212	8,410
Company expense on ESPP discount
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 920	$ 906

STOCK AWARD PLANS - Additional

STOCK AWARD PLANS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	May 12, 2016
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Maximum employee contribution to purchase company stock	$ 10,000
Discount rate used to determine the purchase price	15.00%
Stock Option
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Maximum shares that can be granted under stock plan (shares)		13,041,803
Shares available for stock awards (shares)	2,966,647
Stock award, vesting period	5 years
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 53,900,000
Restricted Stock Awards
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Stock award, vesting period	5 years
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 126,200,000
Restricted Stock Awards | Minimum
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount on outstanding grants	15.00%
Restricted Stock Awards | Maximum
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount on outstanding grants	21.00%

STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary o35

STOCK AWARD PLANS - Summary of Employee Stock Purchase Plan Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares purchased by employees (shares)	65,416
Aggregate cost to employees	$ 5,211
Expense recognized by the company	18,134	$ 12,318
Company expense on ESPP discount
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expense recognized by the company	$ 920	$ 906

LITIGATION (Details)

LITIGATION (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018case
Contingent Auto Liability Claim
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingency auto liability cases (case)	12

ACQUISITIONS - Additional Infor

ACQUISITIONS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total purchase consideration. net of cash acquired		$ 0	$ 1,780
Goodwill		$ 1,273,850		$ 1,275,816
Milgram & Company Ltd.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total purchase consideration. net of cash acquired	$ 47,300
Goodwill	$ 28,600

ACQUISITIONS - Schedule of Fini

ACQUISITIONS - Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class (Details) - Customer relationships - Milgram & Company Ltd. $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2017USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Life (years)	7 years
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 14,004

SEGMENT REPORTING - Additional

SEGMENT REPORTING - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments (segment)	3

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)employee	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)employee	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 3,925,327	$ 3,415,125
Net revenues	625,925	568,566
Income from operations	191,585	187,958
Depreciation and amortization	24,241	22,431
Total assets	$ 4,307,776	$ 3,775,744	$ 4,235,834
Average headcount (employee) | employee	15,088	14,279
NAST
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 2,786,556	$ 2,360,406
Net revenues	414,769	372,440
Income from operations	174,078	155,877
Depreciation and amortization	6,133	5,590
Total assets	$ 2,383,229	$ 2,126,900
Average headcount (employee) | employee	6,855	6,844
Global Forwarding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 563,118	$ 476,931
Net revenues	123,037	106,546
Income from operations	8,221	16,206
Depreciation and amortization	8,909	8,020
Total assets	$ 805,184	$ 699,139
Average headcount (employee) | employee	4,767	3,926
Robinson Fresh
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 598,815	$ 583,785
Net revenues	53,870	56,837
Income from operations	9,307	14,652
Depreciation and amortization	1,173	1,146
Total assets	$ 412,415	$ 409,972
Average headcount (employee) | employee	907	961
All Other and Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 164,392	$ 143,518
Net revenues	34,249	32,743
Income from operations	(21)	1,223
Depreciation and amortization	8,026	7,675
Total assets	$ 706,948	$ 539,733
Average headcount (employee) | employee	2,559	2,548
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 3,925,327	$ 3,415,125
Operating Segments | NAST
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,663,011	2,259,252
Operating Segments | Global Forwarding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	553,754	468,788
Operating Segments | Robinson Fresh
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	550,469	550,445
Operating Segments | All Other and Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	158,093	136,640
Intersegment revenues(1)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(187,554)	(149,515)
Intersegment revenues(1) | NAST
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	123,545	101,154
Intersegment revenues(1) | Global Forwarding
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	9,364	8,143
Intersegment revenues(1) | Robinson Fresh
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	48,346	33,340
Intersegment revenues(1) | All Other and Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 6,299	$ 6,878

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH C41

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS - Cumulative Effect of Changes to Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,019,333	$ 2,012,212	$ 2,113,930
Contract assets	161,028	147,764	0
Prepaid expenses and other	60,870	67,137	63,116
Liabilities
Accounts payable	990,065	943,812	1,000,305
Accrued expenses - transportation expense	111,920	94,811	0
Accrued expenses - compensation	69,723	107,280	105,316
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities	54,025	55,477	58,229
Deferred tax liabilities	52,883	48,653
Equity
Retained earnings	3,523,245	3,446,332	3,437,093
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	(114,362)	(101,718)
Contract assets	161,028	147,764
Prepaid expenses and other	4,263	4,021
Liabilities
Accounts payable	(75,156)	(56,493)
Accrued expenses - transportation expense	111,920	94,811
Accrued expenses - compensation	2,036	1,964
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities	(3,128)	(2,752)
Deferred tax liabilities	3,958	3,298
Equity
Retained earnings	11,299	$ 9,200
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts			2,113,930
Contract assets			0
Prepaid expenses and other			63,116
Liabilities
Accounts payable			1,000,305
Accrued expenses - transportation expense			0
Accrued expenses - compensation			105,316
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities			58,229
Deferred tax liabilities			45,355
Equity
Retained earnings			$ 3,437,093
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,133,695
Contract assets	0
Prepaid expenses and other	56,607
Liabilities
Accounts payable	1,065,221
Accrued expenses - transportation expense	0
Accrued expenses - compensation	67,687
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities	57,153
Deferred tax liabilities	48,925
Equity
Retained earnings	$ 3,511,946

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH C42

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS - Impact on Consolidated Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenues
Transportation	$ 3,637,640	$ 3,102,043
Sourcing	287,687	313,082
Total revenues	3,925,327	3,415,125
Costs and expenses
Purchased transportation and related services	3,041,602	2,563,885
Purchased products sourced for resale	257,800	282,674
Personnel expenses	328,297	290,504
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses	106,043	90,104
Total costs and expenses	3,733,742	3,227,167
Income from operations	191,585	187,958
Interest and other expense	(10,700)	(9,302)
Income before provision for income taxes	180,885	178,656
Provision for income taxes	38,588	56,576
Net income	142,297	$ 122,080
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenues
Transportation	3,621,882
Sourcing	314,831
Total revenues	3,936,713
Costs and expenses
Purchased transportation and related services	3,028,663
Purchased products sourced for resale	284,944
Personnel expenses	328,224
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses	106,043
Total costs and expenses	3,747,874
Income from operations	188,839
Interest and other expense	(10,700)
Income before provision for income taxes	178,139
Provision for income taxes	37,902
Net income	140,237
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenues
Transportation	15,758
Sourcing	(27,144)
Total revenues	(11,386)
Costs and expenses
Purchased transportation and related services	12,939
Purchased products sourced for resale	(27,144)
Personnel expenses	73
Other selling, general, and administrative expenses	0
Total costs and expenses	(14,132)
Income from operations	2,746
Interest and other expense	0
Income before provision for income taxes	2,746
Provision for income taxes	686
Net income	$ 2,060

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH C43

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS - Impact on Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,019,333	$ 2,012,212	$ 2,113,930
Contract assets	161,028	147,764	0
Prepaid expenses and other	60,870	67,137	63,116
Liabilities
Accounts payable	990,065	943,812	1,000,305
Transportation expense	111,920	94,811	0
Compensation	69,723	107,280	105,316
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities	54,025	55,477	58,229
Deferred tax liabilities	52,883	48,653
Equity
Retained earnings	3,523,245	3,446,332	3,437,093
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts			2,113,930
Contract assets			0
Prepaid expenses and other			63,116
Liabilities
Accounts payable			1,000,305
Transportation expense			0
Compensation			105,316
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities			58,229
Deferred tax liabilities			45,355
Equity
Retained earnings			$ 3,437,093
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,133,695
Contract assets	0
Prepaid expenses and other	56,607
Liabilities
Accounts payable	1,065,221
Transportation expense	0
Compensation	67,687
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities	57,153
Deferred tax liabilities	48,925
Equity
Retained earnings	3,511,946
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Assets
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	(114,362)	(101,718)
Contract assets	161,028	147,764
Prepaid expenses and other	4,263	4,021
Liabilities
Accounts payable	(75,156)	(56,493)
Transportation expense	111,920	94,811
Compensation	2,036	1,964
Accrued expenses - other accrued liabilities	(3,128)	(2,752)
Deferred tax liabilities	3,958	3,298
Equity
Retained earnings	$ 11,299	$ 9,200

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH C44

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS - Summary of Gross Revenues Disaggregated by Major Service Line and Timing of Revenue (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	$ 3,925,327
NAST
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	2,663,011
Global Forwarding
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	553,754
Robinson Fresh
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	550,469
All Other and Corporate
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	158,093
Transportation and logistics services
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	3,637,640
Transportation and logistics services | Performance obligations completed over time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	3,637,640
Transportation and logistics services | NAST
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	2,663,011
Transportation and logistics services | NAST | Performance obligations completed over time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	2,663,011
Transportation and logistics services | Global Forwarding
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	553,754
Transportation and logistics services | Global Forwarding | Performance obligations completed over time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	553,754
Transportation and logistics services | Robinson Fresh
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	262,782
Transportation and logistics services | Robinson Fresh | Performance obligations completed over time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	262,782
Transportation and logistics services | All Other and Corporate
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	158,093
Transportation and logistics services | All Other and Corporate | Performance obligations completed over time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	158,093
Sourcing
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	287,687
Sourcing | Performance obligations completed at a point in time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	287,687
Sourcing | NAST
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	0
Sourcing | NAST | Performance obligations completed at a point in time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	0
Sourcing | Global Forwarding
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	0
Sourcing | Global Forwarding | Performance obligations completed at a point in time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	0
Sourcing | Robinson Fresh
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	287,687
Sourcing | Robinson Fresh | Performance obligations completed at a point in time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	287,687
Sourcing | All Other and Corporate
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	0
Sourcing | All Other and Corporate | Performance obligations completed at a point in time
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total gross revenue	$ 0

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH C45

REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS - Additional Information (Details) - Product Concentration Risk - Sales Revenue, Net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Transportation and logistics services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of gross revenue attributable to services	91.00%
Buying, Selling, and Marketing of Produce Items
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of gross revenue attributable to services	7.00%
Value-added Logistics Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of gross revenue attributable to services	2.00%

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER 46

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (19,025)	$ (18,460)

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details)

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) - Senior Notes Due 2028 - Unsecured Debt - Subsequent Event	Apr. 09, 2018USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 600,000,000
Percentage of debt issuance price	99.402%
Proceeds from issuance of debt	$ 592,500,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.20%
Expenses from issuance of debt	$ 5,500,000
Debt issuance costs, related to underwriting	$ 3,900,000
Effective yield to maturity	4.385%
Debt instrument, redemption price, percentage	101.00%
Percent of principal amount outstanding held by trustee or holders	25.00%