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Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 19, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	KIRBY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000056047
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 4,675,308,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		59,984,000
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-07615
Entity Tax Identification Number	74-1884980
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NV
Entity Address, Address Line One	55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77007
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	435-1000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	KEX
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 24,737	$ 7,800
Accounts receivable:
Trade - less allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,372 ($10,024 in 2018)	379,174	417,644
Other	104,175	104,239
Inventories - at lower of average cost or net realizable value	351,401	507,441
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	58,092	59,365
Total current assets	917,579	1,096,489
Property and equipment:
Marine transportation equipment	4,770,213	4,477,718
Land, buildings and equipment	553,877	534,106
Property and equipment	5,324,090	5,011,824
Accumulated depreciation	(1,546,980)	(1,472,022)
Property and equipment - net	3,777,110	3,539,802
Operating lease right-of-use assets	159,641	0
Investment in affiliates	2,025	2,495
Goodwill	953,826	953,826
Other intangibles - net	210,682	224,197
Other assets	58,234	54,785
Total assets	6,079,097	5,871,594
Current liabilities:
Bank notes payable	16	19
Income taxes payable	665	2,794
Accounts payable	206,778	278,057
Accrued liabilities:
Interest	12,700	13,171
Insurance premiums and claims	108,405	109,634
Employee compensation	42,875	53,089
Taxes - other than on income	39,286	38,680
Other	33,084	32,215
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	27,324	0
Deferred revenues	42,982	80,123
Total current liabilities	514,115	607,782
Long-term debt, net - less current portion	1,369,751	1,410,169
Deferred income taxes	588,204	542,785
Operating lease liabilities - less current portion	139,457	0
Other long-term liabilities	95,978	94,557
Total long-term liabilities	2,193,390	2,047,511
Contingencies and commitments
Kirby stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.10 par value per share. Authorized 120,000,000 shares, issued 65,472,000 in 2019 and 2018	6,547	6,547
Additional paid-in capital	835,899	823,347
Accumulated other comprehensive income - net	(37,799)	(33,511)
Retained earnings	2,865,939	2,723,592
Treasury stock - at cost, 5,513,000 shares in 2019 and 5,608,000 shares in 2018	(301,963)	(306,788)
Total Kirby stockholders' equity	3,368,623	3,213,187
Noncontrolling interests	2,969	3,114
Total equity	3,371,592	3,216,301
Total liabilities and equity	$ 6,079,097	$ 5,871,594

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Trade, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 8,372	$ 10,024
Kirby stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	120,000,000	120,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	65,472,000	65,472,000
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	5,513,000	5,608,000

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 2,838,399	$ 2,970,697	$ 2,214,418
Costs and expenses:
Costs of sales and operating expenses	2,030,046	2,160,946	1,558,098
Selling, general and administrative	312,913	304,397	220,452
Taxes, other than on income	41,933	39,251	29,163
Depreciation and amortization	219,632	224,972	202,881
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	82,705	105,712
Impairment of goodwill	0	2,702	0
Lease cancellation costs	0	2,403	0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	(8,152)	(1,968)	4,487
Total costs and expenses	2,596,372	2,815,408	2,120,793
Operating income	242,027	155,289	93,625
Equity in earnings of affiliates	379	355	291
Other income	3,408	5,371	570
Interest expense	(55,994)	(46,856)	(21,472)
Earnings before taxes on income	189,820	114,159	73,014
Benefit (provision) for taxes on income	(46,801)	(35,081)	240,889
Net earnings	143,019	79,078	313,903
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(672)	(626)	(716)
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$ 142,347	$ 78,452	$ 313,187
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.38	$ 1.31	$ 5.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.37	$ 1.31	$ 5.62
Marine Transportation [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,587,082	$ 1,483,143	$ 1,324,106
Distribution and Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,251,317	$ 1,487,554	$ 890,312

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 143,019	$ 79,078	$ 313,903
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
Pension and postretirement benefits	(4,203)	7,638	18,748
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(85)	(819)	(146)
Reclassification to retained earnings of stranded tax effects from tax reform	0	(7,925)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	(4,288)	(1,106)	18,602
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes	138,731	77,972	332,505
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(672)	(626)	(716)
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby	$ 138,059	$ 77,346	$ 331,789

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 143,019	$ 79,078	$ 313,903
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	219,632	224,972	202,881
Provision (credit) for doubtful accounts	(873)	1,289	224
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	46,839	34,881	(256,263)
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	(8,152)	(1,968)	4,487
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of distributions and contributions	471	(355)	732
Impairment and other charges	35,525	85,407	105,712
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation	13,612	19,104	11,460
Amortization of leases	(490)	0	0
Amortization of major maintenance costs	23,962	20,760	21,207
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,702	1,218	986
Increase (decrease) in cash flows resulting from changes in:
Accounts receivable	43,078	12,511	(60,405)
Inventory	122,773	(144,685)	19,673
Other assets	(25,470)	(38,090)	(17,049)
Income taxes payable	(2,503)	(457)	(11,823)
Accounts payable	(57,405)	22,622	20,758
Accrued and other liabilities	(43,907)	30,712	(3,105)
Net cash provided by operating activities	511,813	346,999	353,378
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(248,164)	(301,861)	(177,222)
Acquisitions of businesses and marine equipment, net of cash acquired	(262,491)	(533,897)	(470,101)
Proceeds from disposition of assets	57,657	53,392	54,229
Other	0	(250)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(452,998)	(782,616)	(593,094)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings (payments) on bank credit facilities, net	(417,376)	(78,455)	269,859
Borrowings on long-term debt	500,000	499,295	0
Payments on long-term debt	(125,000)	0	(13,721)
Payment of debt issue costs	(2,397)	(4,276)	(1,243)
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests	(817)	(915)	(862)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	5,743	13,264	3,039
Purchase of treasury stock	0	(776)	0
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation	(2,031)	(4,822)	(2,881)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interest	0	0	(7)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(41,878)	423,315	254,184
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	16,937	(12,302)	14,468
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	7,800	20,102	5,634
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	24,737	7,800	20,102
Cash paid during the period:
Interest paid	55,766	40,772	21,663
Income taxes paid	2,926	640	27,196
Operating cash outflow from operating leases	39,376	0	0
Non-cash investing activity:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable	13,875	(16,441)	5,525
Stock issued in acquisition	0	0	366,554
Cash acquired in acquisition	0	2,313	98
Debt assumed in acquisition	0	0	13,724
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations	$ 21,195	$ 0	$ 0

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standards \| ASU 2016-09 [Member]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (8,486)	$ 0	$ 0	$ (8,486)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 5,978	432,459	(51,007)	2,342,236	$ (320,348)	3,549	2,412,867
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	59,776				(5,921)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock option exercises	$ 0	(531)	0	0	$ 3,603	0	3,072
Stock option exercises (in shares)	0				69
Issuance of shares in acquisition	$ 569	365,985	0	0	$ 0	0	366,554
Issuance of shares in acquisition (in shares)	5,696				0
Issuance of stock for equity awards, net of forfeitures	$ 0	(6,406)	0	0	$ 6,406	0	0
Issuance of stock for equity awards, net of forfeitures (in shares)	0				113
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting	$ 0	0	0	0	$ (2,881)	0	(2,881)
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting (in shares)	0				(44)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation	$ 0	11,460	0	0	$ 0	0	11,460
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes	0	0	18,602	313,187	0	716	332,505
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests	0	(6)	0	0	0	0	(6)
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	0	(862)	(862)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 6,547	802,961	(32,405)	2,646,937	$ (313,220)	3,403	3,114,223
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	65,472				(5,783)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standards \| ASC 606 [Member]	$ 0	0	0	(9,722)	$ 0	0	(9,722)
Adoption of new accounting standards \| ASU 2018-02 [Member]	0	0	0	7,925	0	0	7,925
Stock option exercises	$ 0	2,161	0	0	$ 11,151	0	13,312
Stock option exercises (in shares)	0				232
Issuance of stock for equity awards, net of forfeitures	$ 0	(879)	0	0	$ 879	0	0
Issuance of stock for equity awards, net of forfeitures (in shares)	0				15
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting	$ 0	0	0	0	$ (4,822)	0	(4,822)
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting (in shares)	0				(61)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation	$ 0	19,104	0	0	$ 0	0	19,104
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes	0	0	(1,106)	78,452	0	626	77,972
Treasury stock purchases	$ 0	0	0	0	$ (776)	0	(776)
Treasury stock purchases (in shares)	0				(11)
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests	$ 0	0	0	0	$ 0	(915)	(915)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 6,547	823,347	(33,511)	2,723,592	$ (306,788)	3,114	3,216,301
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	65,472				(5,608)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standards \| ASC 606 [Member]				(9,722)
Stock option exercises	$ 0	675	0	0	$ 5,121	0	5,796
Stock option exercises (in shares)	0				93
Issuance of stock for equity awards, net of forfeitures	$ 0	(1,735)	0	0	$ 1,735	0	0
Issuance of stock for equity awards, net of forfeitures (in shares)	0				32
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting	$ 0	0	0	0	$ (2,031)	0	(2,031)
Tax withholdings on equity award vesting (in shares)	0				(30)
Amortization of unearned share-based compensation	$ 0	13,612	0	0	$ 0	0	13,612
Total comprehensive income, net of taxes	0	0	(4,288)	142,347	0	672	138,731
Return of investment to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	0	(817)	(817)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 6,547	$ 835,899	$ (37,799)	$ 2,865,939	$ (301,963)	$ 2,969	$ 3,371,592
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	65,472				(5,513)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kirby Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”). All investments in which the Company owns 20% to 50% and exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to reflect the current presentation of financial information.

Accounting Policies

Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of all short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at date of purchase.

Accounts Receivable. In the normal course of business, the Company extends credit to its customers. The Company regularly reviews the accounts and makes adequate provisions for probable uncollectible balances. It is the Company’s opinion that the accounts have no impairment, other than that for which provisions have been made. Included in accounts receivable-trade as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $103,996,000 and $114,159,000, respectively, of accruals for revenues earned which have not been invoiced as of the end of each year.

The Company’s marine transportation and distribution and services operations are subject to hazards associated with such businesses. The Company maintains insurance coverage against these hazards with insurance companies. Included in accounts receivable-other as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $72,591,000 and $69,624,000, respectively, of receivables from insurance companies to cover claims in excess of the Company’s deductible.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily trade accounts receivables. The Company’s marine transportation customers include the major oil refining and petrochemical companies. The distribution and services customers are oilfield service companies, oil and gas operators and producers, on-highway transportation companies, marine transportation companies, commercial fishing companies, construction companies, power generation companies, and the United States government. The Company regularly reviews its accounts and estimates the amount of uncollectible receivables each period and establishes an allowance for uncollectible amounts. The amount of the allowance is based on the age of unpaid amounts, information about the current financial strength of customers, and other relevant information. Estimates of uncollectible amounts are revised each period, and changes are recorded in the period they become known.

Property, Maintenance and Repairs. Property is recorded at cost or acquisition date fair value, Improvements and betterments are capitalized as incurred. Depreciation is recorded on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets as follows: marine transportation equipment, 5-40 years; buildings, 10-40 years; other equipment, 2-10 years; and leasehold improvements, term of lease. When property items are retired, sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts with any gain or loss on the disposition included in the statement of earnings. Maintenance and repairs on vessels built for use on the inland waterways are charged to operating expense as incurred and includes the costs incurred in United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) inspections unless the shipyard extends the life or improves the operating capacity of the vessel which results in the costs being capitalized.

Drydocking on Ocean-Going Vessels. The Company’s ocean-going vessels are subject to regulatory drydocking requirements after certain periods of time to be inspected, have planned major maintenance performed and be recertified by the American Bureau of Shipping (“ABS”). These recertifications generally occur twice in a five year period. The Company defers the drydocking expenditures incurred on its ocean-going vessels due to regulatory marine inspections by the ABS and amortizes the costs of the shipyard over the period between drydockings, generally 30 or 60 months, depending on the type of major maintenance performed. Drydocking expenditures that extend the life or improve the operating capability of the vessel result in the costs being capitalized. The Company recognized amortization of major maintenance costs of $23,962,000, $20,760,000 and $21,207,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in costs of sales and operating expenses. Routine repairs and maintenance on ocean-going vessels are expensed as incurred. Interest is capitalized on the construction of new ocean-going vessels. Interest expense excludes capitalized interest of $1,003,000, $2,206,000 and $1,731,000 for the years ending December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Environmental Liabilities. The Company expenses costs related to environmental events as they are incurred or when a loss is considered probable and estimable.

Goodwill. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in transactions accounted for as a purchase is included in goodwill. The Company conducted its annual goodwill impairment tests at November 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017. For 2019 and 2017, there was no impairment of goodwill. For 2018, the Company incurred an impairment of goodwill charge of $2,702,000. The Company will continue to conduct goodwill impairment tests as of November 30 of subsequent years, or whenever events or circumstances indicate that interim impairment testing is necessary. The amount of goodwill impairment, if any, is typically measured based on projected discounted future operating cash flows using an appropriate discount rate. The gross carrying value of goodwill at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $973,995,000, and accumulated amortization at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $15,566,000. Accumulated impairment losses were $4,603,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

During the 2018 fourth quarter, the Company took a $2,702,000 charge for the impairment of the remaining goodwill recorded for Osprey Line, L.L.C., a subsidiary that transports project cargoes and cargo containers by barge on the United States inland waterway system. The impairment reflected the reduced profitability outlook of the container-on-barge operations due to the current economic environment. The fair value was determined using a combination of a discounted cash flow methodology and a market based approach utilizing a net earnings before interest expense, taxes on income, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) multiplier.

Net goodwill for the marine transportation segment was $405,575,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018. Net goodwill for the distribution and services segment was $548,251,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Other Intangibles. Other intangibles include assets for favorable contracts and customer relationships, distributorship and dealership agreements, trade names and noncompete agreements and liabilities for unfavorable leases and contracts. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the gross carrying amounts of other intangible assets were $332,656,000 and $326,984,000, respectively, and the accumulated amortization was $121,974,000 and $102,787,000, respectively, resulting in net carrying amounts of $210,682,000 and $224,197,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the gross carrying amounts of other intangible liabilities were $13,860,000 and $18,323,000 respectively, and the accumulated amortization was $7,956,000 and $8,652,000, respectively, resulting in net carrying amounts of $5,904,000 and $9,671,000, respectively. The decrease in intangible liabilities was primarily due to the adoption of Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”) on January 1, 2019 and the resulting reclassification of unfavorable leases to operating lease right-of-use assets.

The costs of intangible assets and liabilities are amortized to expense in a systematic and rational manner over their estimated useful lives.

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the amortization expense for intangibles was $15,040,000, $16,760,000 and $11,296,000, respectively. Estimated net amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets and liabilities for the next five years (2020 – 2024) is approximately $16,358,000, $17,392,000, $16,989,000, $17,527,000 and $18,092,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the weighted average amortization period for intangible assets and liabilities was approximately 13 years.

Revenue Recognition. The majority of marine transportation revenue is derived from term contracts, ranging from one to three years, some of which have renewal options, and the remainder is from spot market movements. The majority of the term contracts are for terms of one year. The Company is a provider of marine transportation services for its customers and, in almost all cases, does not assume ownership of the products it transports. A term contract is an agreement with a specific customer to transport cargo from a designated origin to a designated destination at a set rate or at a daily rate. The rate may or may not escalate during the term of the contract, however, the base rate generally remains constant and contracts often include escalation provisions to recover changes in specific costs such as fuel. A spot contract is an agreement with a customer to move cargo from a specific origin to a designated destination for a rate negotiated at the time the cargo movement takes place. Spot contract rates are at the current “market” rate, including fuel, and are subject to market volatility. The Company uses a voyage accounting method of revenue recognition for its marine transportation revenues which allocates voyage revenue based on the percent of the voyage completed during the period. The performance of the service is invoiced as the transaction occurs and payment is required depending on each specific customer’s credit.

Distribution products and services are generally sold based upon purchase orders or preferential service agreements with the customer that include fixed or determinable prices. Parts sales are recognized when control transfers to the customer, generally when title passes upon shipment to customers. Service revenue is recognized over time as the service is provided using measures of progress utilizing hours worked or costs incurred as a percentage of estimated hours or expected costs. Revenue from rental agreements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the rental period. The Company recognizes the revenues on contract manufacturing activities upon shipment and transfer of control to the customer. The transactions in the distribution and services segment are typically invoiced as parts are shipped or upon the completion of the service job. Contract manufacturing activities are generally invoiced upon shipment and the Company will often get deposits from its customers prior to starting work, or progress payments during the project depending on the credit worthiness of the customer and the size of the project. During 2017, prior to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09” or “ASC 606”), distribution and services manufacturing and assembly projects revenue was reported on the percentage of completion method of accounting using measurements of progress towards completion appropriate for the work performed.

Stock-Based Compensation. The Company has share-based compensation plans covering selected officers and other key employees as well as the Company’s Board of Directors. Stock-based grants made under the Company’s stock plans are recorded at fair value on the date of the grant and the cost for all grants made under the director plan and for grants made under the employee plan prior to February 19, 2018 is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the stock option or restricted stock. On February 19, 2018, the employee stock award plan was amended to also allow for the granting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to selected officers and other key employees. The amendment included a provision for the continued vesting of unvested stock options and RSUs for employees who meet certain years of service and age requirements at the time of their retirement. The vesting change resulted in shorter expense accrual periods on stock options and RSUs granted after February 19, 2018 to employees who are nearing retirement and meet the service and age requirements. Stock option grants are valued at the date of grant as calculated under the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The Company’s stock-based compensation plans are more fully described in Note 10, Stock Award Plans.

Taxes on Income. The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Accrued Insurance. Accrued insurance liabilities include estimates based on individual incurred claims outstanding and an estimated amount for losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) or fully developed based on past experience. Insurance premiums, IBNR losses and incurred claim losses, in excess of the Company’s deductible for 2019, 2018 and 2017 were $32,372,000, $29,306,000 and $26,195,000, respectively.

Treasury Stock. The Company follows the average cost method of accounting for treasury stock transactions.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets and for Long-lived Assets to Be Disposed Of. The Company reviews long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles for impairment by vessel class whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable.

Recoverability on marine transportation assets is assessed based on vessel classes, not on individual assets, because identifiable cash flows for individual marine transportation assets are not available. Projecting customer contract volumes allows estimation of future cash flows by projecting pricing and utilization by vessel class but it is not practical to project which individual marine transportation asset will be utilized for any given contract. Because customers do not specify which particular vessel is used, prices are quoted based on vessel classes not individual assets. Nominations of vessels for specific jobs are determined on a day by day basis and are a function of the equipment class required and the geographic position of vessels within that class at that particular time as vessels within a class are interchangeable and provide the same service. The Company’s vessels are mobile assets and equipped to operate in geographic regions throughout the United States and the Company has in the past and expects to continue to move vessels from one region to another when it is necessary due to changing markets and it is economical to do so. Barge vessel classes are based on similar capacities, hull type, and type of product and towing vessels are based on similar hull type and horsepower. Recoverability of the vessel classes is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Accounting Standards

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740, Income Taxes. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans” which amends the annual disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing certain requirements, providing clarification on existing requirements and adding new requirements including adding an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact on its disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”) which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 in the goodwill impairment test that required an entity to perform procedures to determine the fair value of its assets and liabilities at the testing date. An entity instead will perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value and record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. ASU 2017-04 will be applied prospectively and is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests conducted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 under the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption and will not restate prior periods. The Company also elected certain practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance which allowed the Company to carryforward its historical lease classification and for the non-recognition of short-term leases. Adoption of ASU 2016-02 resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets for operating leases of $168,149,000 and lease liabilities for operating leases of $175,778,000 on the Company’s Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 1, 2019, with no material impact to the Condensed Statements of Earnings or Cash Flows. The Company did not have any financing leases as of January 1, 2019. See Note 2, Leases for additional information.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 replaced most existing revenue recognition guidance in United States generally accepted accounting principles and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either the retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective with a cumulative catch-up approach. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective approach with a cumulative adjustment that decreased the opening balance of retained earnings by $9,722,000. Prior period amounts were not adjusted and the prior period amounts continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The cumulative adjustment primarily relates to recognition of revenue on certain contract manufacturing activities, primarily construction of new pressure pumping units in the Company’s distribution and services segment. The Company previously recognized revenue on manufacturing and assembly projects on a percentage of completion method using measurements of progress towards completion appropriate for the work performed. Upon the adoption of ASU 2014-09, the Company recognizes the revenues on contract manufacturing activities upon shipment and transfer of control versus the percentage of completion method.

The following table summarizes the financial statement line items within the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements impacted by ASU 2014-09 for the year ended December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

	2018
	As Reported			Balances without Adoption of ASC 606			Effect of Change
Statements of earnings:
Distribution and services revenues	$	1,487,554		$	1,515,554		$	(28,000	)
Costs of sales and operating expenses	$	2,160,946		$	2,181,046		$	(20,100	)
Operating income	$	155,289		$	163,189		$	(7,900	)
Earnings before taxes on income	$	114,159		$	122,059		$	(7,900	)
Provision for taxes on income	$	(35,081	)	$	(37,187	)	$	2,106
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	78,452		$	84,246		$	(5,794	)

Statements of comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$	79,078		$	84,872		$	(5,794	)
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby	$	77,346		$	83,140		$	(5,794	)

Statements of cash flows:
Net earnings	$	79,078		$	84,872		$	(5,794	)
Provision for deferred income taxes	$	34,881		$	32,775		$	2,106
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in:
Accounts receivable	$	12,511		$	(71,624	)	$	84,135
Inventory	$	(144,685	)	$	(71,985	)	$	(72,700	)
Accrued and other liabilities	$	30,712		$	38,459		$	(7,747	)

Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

(2) Leases

The Company currently leases various facilities and equipment under cancelable and noncancelable operating leases. The accounting for the Company’s leases may require judgments, which include determining whether a contract contains a lease, the allocation between lease and non-lease components, and determining the incremental borrowing rates. Leases with an initial noncancelable term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and the related lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has also elected to combine lease and non-lease components on all classes of leased assets, except for leased towing vessels for which the Company estimates approximately 75% of the costs relate to service costs and other non-lease components. Variable lease costs relate primarily to real estate executory costs (i.e. taxes, insurance and maintenance).

Future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):


2020	$	33,374
2021		25,911
2022		23,098
2023		19,162
2024		15,330
Thereafter		92,991
Total lease payments		209,866
Less: imputed interest		(43,085	)
Operating lease liabilities	$	166,781

As of December 31, 2018, future total rentals on the Company’s noncancelable operating leases were $278,602,000 in the aggregate, which consisted of the following: $97,091,000 in 2019; $30,062,000 in 2020; $21,818,000 in 2021; $20,263,000 in 2022; $17,429,000 in 2023; and $91,939,000 thereafter.

The following table summarizes lease cost for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

Operating lease cost	$	39,064
Variable lease cost		2,326
Short-term lease cost		31,340
Sublease income		(420	)
Total lease cost	$	72,310

The following table summarizes other supplemental information about the Company’s operating leases as of December 31, 2019:

Weighted average discount rate			4.0	%
Weighted average remaining lease term		11 years

Revenues

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Revenues [Abstract]

Revenues

(3) Revenues

The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues by major source for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019		2018		2017
Marine transportation segment:
Inland transportation	$	1,220,878	$	1,119,820	$	923,916
Coastal transportation		366,204		363,323		400,190
	$	1,587,082	$	1,483,143	$	1,324,106

Distribution and services segment:
Oil and gas	$	659,364	$	1,010,410	$	614,128
Commercial and industrial		591,953		477,144		276,184
	$	1,251,317	$	1,487,554	$	890,312

The Company’s revenue is measured based on consideration specified in its contracts with its customers. The Company recognizes revenue as it satisfies performance obligations in its contracts which occur as the Company delivers a service over time to its customers, or transfers control over a part or product to its customer.

Contract Assets and Liabilities. Contract liabilities represent advance consideration received from customers, and are recognized as revenue over time as the related performance obligation is satisfied. The amount of revenue recognized in 2019 that was included in the December 31, 2018 contract liability balance was $76,412,000. The Company has recognized all contract liabilities within the deferred revenues financial statement caption on the balance sheet. The Company did not have any contract assets at December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

Performance Obligations. The Company applies the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-50-14(a) and does not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less.

Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Acquisitions

(4) Acquisitions

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company purchased, from various counterparties, a barge fleeting operation in Lake Charles, Louisiana and nine inland tank barges from leasing companies for an aggregate of $17,991,000 in cash. The Company had been leasing the barges prior to the purchases.

On March 14, 2019, the Company completed the acquisition of the marine transportation fleet of Cenac Marine Services, LLC (“Cenac”) for $244,500,000 in cash. Cenac’s fleet consisted of 63 inland 30,000 barrel tank barges with approximately 1,833,000 barrels of capacity, 34 inland towboats and two offshore tugboats. Cenac transported petrochemicals, refined products and black oil, including crude oil, residual fuels, feedstocks and lubricants on the lower Mississippi River, its tributaries, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for major oil companies and refiners. The average age of the inland tank barges was approximately five years and the inland towboats had an average age of approximately seven years.

The Company considers Cenac to be a natural extension of the current marine transportation segment, expanding the capabilities of the Company’s inland based marine transportation business and lowering the average age of its inland tank barge and towboat fleet.

The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at the acquisition date were as follows (in thousands):

Assets:
Prepaid expenses	$	1,138
Property and equipment		247,122
Other intangibles		340
Total assets	$	248,600

Other long-term liabilities		4,100
Net assets acquired	$	244,500

The Company acquired intangible assets with an amortization period of two years and incurred long-term intangible liabilities related to unfavorable contracts with a weighted average amortization period of approximately 1.3 years. Acquisition related costs of $442,000, consisting primarily of legal and other professional fees, were expensed as incurred to selling, general and administrative expense in 2019.

On December 28, 2018, the Company purchased three inland tank barges from a leasing company for $3,120,000 in cash. The Company had been leasing the barges prior to the purchase.

On December 14, 2018, the Company purchased 27 inland tank barges with a barrel capacity of 306,000 barrels from CGBM 100, LLC for $28,500,000 in cash. The 27 tank barges transport petrochemicals and refined products on the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The average age of the barges was eight years.

On November 30, 2018, the Company purchased an inland towboat from a leasing company for $3,050,000 in cash. The Company had been leasing the towboat prior to the purchase.

On May 10, 2018, the Company completed the purchase of Targa Resources Corp.’s (“Targa”) inland tank barge business from a subsidiary of Targa for $69,250,000 in cash. Targa’s inland tank barge fleet consisted of 16 pressure barges with a total capacity of 258,000 barrels, many of which were under multi-year contracts that the Company assumed from Targa. The 16 tank barges transport petrochemicals on the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded $16,116,000 of goodwill and $11,000,000 of intangibles with an average amortization period of 15 years. The Company expects all of the goodwill to be deductible for tax purposes.

On March 15, 2018, the Company purchased two inland pressure tank barges from a competitor for $10,400,000 in cash. The average age of the two tank barges was five years.

On February 14, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Higman Marine, Inc. (“Higman”) for $421,922,000 in cash. Higman’s fleet consisted of 163 inland tank barges with 4.8 million barrels of capacity, and 75 inland towboats, transporting petrochemicals, black oil, including crude oil and natural gas condensate, and refined petroleum products on the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The average age of the inland tank barges was approximately seven years and the inland towboats had an average age of approximately eight years. Financing of the acquisition was through the issuance of the 2028 Notes (as defined in Note 8, Long-Term Debt) issued on February 12, 2018 in preparation for closing of the acquisition.

The Company considers Higman to be a natural extension of the current marine transportation segment, expanding the capabilities of the Company’s inland based marine transportation business and lowering the average age of its inland tank barge and towboat fleet.

The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at the acquisition date were as follows (in thousands):

Assets:
Cash	$	2,313
Accounts receivable		27,527
Prepaid expenses		5,323
Property and equipment		497,951
Goodwill		4,657
Other assets		30
Total assets	$	537,801
Liabilities:
Accounts payable		17,012
Accrued liabilities		14,127
Deferred income taxes		40,524
Other long-term liabilities		44,216
Total liabilities	$	115,879
Net assets acquired	$	421,922

As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded $4,657,000 of goodwill of which the majority will be deductible for tax purposes. The Company also incurred $11,100,000 of intangible liabilities related to unfavorable contracts with a weighted average amortization period of approximately 4.9 years. Acquisition related costs of $3,464,000, consisting primarily of legal, audit and other professional fees plus other expenses, were expensed as incurred to selling, general and administrative expense in 2018.

On October 20, 2017, San Jac Marine, LLC (“San Jac”), a subsidiary of the Company, purchased certain assets of Sneed Shipbuilding, Inc. for $14,852,000 in cash including its Channelview, Texas shipyard. San Jac is a builder of marine vessels for both inland and offshore applications and a provider of repair and maintenance services. The Company intends to build towboats at the shipyard and use the facilities for routine maintenance.

On September 13, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Stewart & Stevenson LLC (“S&S”), a global manufacturer and distributor of products and services for the oil and gas, marine, construction, power generation, transportation, mining and agricultural industries. The acquired business, which the Company operates through a newly formed subsidiary renamed Stewart & Stevenson LLC after the closing of the acquisition, was founded in 1902 and serves domestic and global markets with equipment, rental solutions, parts and service through a strategic network of sales and service centers in domestic and international locations.

The total value of the transaction was $758,213,000 consisting of cash consideration of $377,935,000, the assumption of $13,724,000 of debt and $366,554,000 through the issuance of 5,696,259 shares of Company common stock valued at $64.35 per share, the Company’s closing share price on September 13, 2017. The debt assumed consisted of $12,135,000 of term debt and $1,589,000 of short-term secured loans related to the Company’s South American operations. The term debt was paid off without penalty in the 2017 fourth quarter.

S&S is a distributor in certain geographic areas for Allison Transmission, MTU, Detroit Diesel, EMD Power Products (“EMD”), Deutz and several other manufacturers. S&S’ principal customers are oilfield service companies, oil and gas operators and producers, and companies in the marine, mining, power generation, on-highway and other commercial and industrial applications.

On July 10, 2017, the Company completed the purchase of certain inland marine assets from an undisclosed competitor for $68,000,000 in cash. The assets purchased consisted of nine specialty pressure tank barges, four 30,000 barrel tank barges and three 1320 horsepower inland towboats. The average age of the 13 inland tank barges was five years. The 13 tank barges transport petrochemicals and refined petroleum products on the Mississippi River System and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded $67,970,000 of property and $30,000 of intangibles with a weighted average amortization period of two years.

During July 2017, the Company purchased four inland tank barges for $1,450,000 as well as a barge fleeting and marine fueling operation business in Freeport, Texas for $3,900,000. The Company had been leasing the barges prior to the purchase.

The following unaudited pro forma results present consolidated information as if the S&S acquisition had been completed as of January 1, 2017. The pro forma results do not include any of the other acquisitions completed in 2017 through 2019 described above as the effect of these acquisitions would not be materially different from the Company’s actual results.

The pro forma results include the amortization associated with the acquired intangible assets, interest expense associated with the debt used to fund a portion of the acquisition, the impact of the additional shares issued in connection with the S&S acquisition, and the impact of certain fair value adjustments such as depreciation adjustments related to adjustments to property and equipment. The pro forma results do not include any cost savings or potential synergies related to the acquisition nor any integration costs. The pro forma results should not be considered indicative of the results of operations or financial position of the combined companies had the acquisitions had been consummated as of January 1, 2017 and are not necessarily indicative of results of future operations of the Company.

The following table sets forth the Company’s pro forma revenues and net earnings attributable to Kirby for the year ended December 31, 2017 (unaudited and in thousands):

Revenues		$	2,556,131
Net earnings attributable to Kirby		$	303,097

Impairment of Long-lived Assets	12 Months Ended
Impairment of Long-lived Assets	Dec. 31, 2019
Impairment of Long-lived Assets [Abstract]
Impairment of Long-lived Assets	(5) Impairment of Long-lived Assets During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company recorded a $82,705,000 non-cash pre-tax impairment charge. The after-tax effect of the charge was $65,337,000 or $1.09 per share. The USCG adopted regulations on ballast water management systems (“BWMS”) establishing a standard for the allowable concentration of living organisms in certain vessel ballast water discharged in waters of the United States under the National Invasive Species Act. The regulations include requirements for the installation of engineering equipment to treat ballast water by establishing an approval process for BWMS. The USCG has approved manufacturers’ systems that met the regulatory discharge standard equivalent to the International Maritime Organization’s D-2 standard. The phase-in schedule for those existing vessels requiring a system to install BWMS equipment is dependent on vessel build date, ballast water capacity, and drydock schedule. Compliance with the ballast water treatment regulations requires the installation of equipment on some of the Company’s vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged. The installation of BWMS equipment will require significant capital expenditures at the next scheduled drydocking to complete the installation of the approved system on those existing vessels that require a system to comply with the BWMS regulations. Due to the advanced age of four of the Company’s older articulated tank barge and tugboat units (“ATBs”) and the high cost of installation of BWMS, the Company will retire the ATBs at their next scheduled shipyard dates which range between 2020 and 2023 instead of installing the expensive BWMS equipment required to operate the vessels past their next required shipyard dates. A pre-tax impairment charge of $78,835,000 was incurred in the fourth quarter of 2018 to reduce the ATBs to a fair value of $13,247,000 due to reduced estimated cash flows resulting from reduced lives on these four older ATBs. The reduced estimated useful lives are due to the assessment of the impact of the new regulations by USCG that require the installation of BWMS. The fair value of the four ATBs of $13,247,000 is presented in marine transportation equipment at December 31, 2018. The impairment charge also included a pre-tax charge of $3,870,000 as the Company reduced the carrying value of its improvements in a leased barge to its scrap value of $220,000. As part of a lease termination, the Company agreed to terminate the lease, purchase the barge and then scrap the barge which resulted in the Company committing to put the barge up for sale in December 2018. The barge was scrapped in January 2019. The fair market value of the barge was $220,000 at December 31, 2018, and was presented in prepaid expenses and other current assets. In addition, the Company incurred $2,403,000 in lease cancellation costs in December 2018 related to the leased barge. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a $105,712,000 non-cash pre-tax impairment charge. The after-tax effect of the charge was $66,975,000 or $1.20 per share. The impairment charge was to reduce certain vessels to a fair value of $12,550,000 as the Company decided to put certain older out-of-service vessels up for sale in its marine transportation segment in response to lower equipment utilization, pricing pressure and expensive BWMS installations required in the next few years on some of the coastal tank barges. Retiring some of the older coastal marine vessels reduces the fleet’s age profile and improves the efficiency of the fleet. The fair market value of the vessels was $12,550,000 at December 31, 2017, and was presented in prepaid expenses and other current assets.

Inventories

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Inventories [Abstract]

Inventories

(6) Inventories

The following table presents the details of inventories as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

	2019		2018
Finished goods	$	291,214	$	406,364
Work in process		60,187		101,077
	$	351,401	$	507,441

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	(7) Fair Value Measurements The accounting guidance for using fair value to measure certain assets and liabilities establishes a three tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little, if any, market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair value of the Company’s debt instruments is described in Note 8, Long-Term Debt.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Long-Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Long-Term Debt [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

(8) Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt at December 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of the following (in thousands):

Long-term debt, including current portion:	2019			2018
$850,000,000 revolving credit facility due March 27, 2024	$	—		$	417,373
$500,000,000 term loan due March 27, 2024		375,000			—
$150,000,000 senior notes Series A due February 27, 2020		150,000			150,000
$350,000,000 senior notes Series B due February 27, 2023		350,000			350,000
$500,000,000 senior notes due March 1, 2028		500,000			500,000
$10,000,000 credit line due June 30, 2021		—			—
Bank notes payable		16			19
		1,375,016			1,417,392
Unamortized debt issuance costs (a)		(4,655	)		(6,550	)
Unamortized debt discount		(594	)		(654	)
	$	1,369,767		$	1,410,188

(a) Unamortized debt issuance costs excludes $2,650,000 attributable to the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) included in other assets at December 31, 2019.

The aggregate payments due on the long-term debt in each of the next five years were as follows (in thousands):

2020	$	150,016
2021		—
2022		—
2023		381,250
2024		343,750
Thereafter		500,000
	$	1,375,016

On March 27, 2019, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a group of commercial banks, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent bank, that extended the term of the Company’s existing $850,000,000 revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) to March 27, 2024 and added a five-year term loan (“Term Loan”) facility in an amount of $500,000,000. The Credit Agreement provides for a variable interest rate based on the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) or a base rate calculated with reference to the agent bank’s prime rate, among other factors (the “Alternate Base Rate”). The interest rate varies with the Company’s credit rating and is currently 112.5 basis points over LIBOR or 12.5 basis points over the Alternate Base Rate. The Term Loan is repayable in quarterly installments originally scheduled to commence June 30, 2020, in increasing percentages of the original principal amount of the loan, with the remaining unpaid balance payable of 65% of the initial amount due on March 27, 2024. During 2019, the Company repaid $125,000,000 under the Term Loan prior to the scheduled installments. As a result, no repayments are required until September 30, 2023. The Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants including an interest coverage ratio and a debt-to-capitalization ratio. In addition to financial covenants, the Credit Agreement contains covenants that, subject to exceptions, restrict debt incurrence, mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, dividends and investments, liquidations and dissolutions, capital leases, transactions with affiliates and changes in lines of business. The Credit Agreement specifies certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the outstanding loans may be accelerated, including the failure to pay principal or interest, violation of covenants and default on other indebtedness, among other events. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions. As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all Credit Agreement covenants and had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and $375,000,000 outstanding under the Term Loan. The interest rate under the Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan was 2.9% at December 31, 2019. The Revolving Credit Facility includes a $25,000,000 commitment which may be used for standby letters of credit. Outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility were $5,258,000 as of December 31, 2019.

On February 12, 2018, the Company issued $500,000,000 of 4.2% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Interest payments of $10,500,000 are due semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year. The Company received cash proceeds of $495,019,000, net of the original issue discount of $705,000 and debt issuance costs of $4,276,000. The 2028 Notes are unsecured and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’s other unsecured senior indebtedness. The 2028 Notes contain certain covenants on the part of the Company, including covenants relating to liens, sale-leasebacks, asset sales and mergers, among others. The 2028 Notes also specify certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the notes may be accelerated, including failure to pay principal and interest, violation of covenants or default on other indebtedness, among others. The Company used the proceeds from the issuance of the 2028 Notes to fund the acquisition of Higman. The remaining net proceeds of the sale of the 2028 Notes were used for the repayment of indebtedness under the Company’s bank credit facilities. As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all the 2028 Notes covenants and had $500,000,000 outstanding under the 2028 Notes.

The Company has $500,000,000 of unsecured senior notes (“Senior Notes Series A” and “Senior Notes Series B”) with a group of institutional investors, consisting of $150,000,000 of 2.72% Senior Notes Series A due February 27, 2020 and $350,000,000 of 3.29% Senior Notes Series B due February 27, 2023. No principal payments are required until maturity. The Senior Notes Series A and Series B contain certain covenants on the part of the Company, including an interest coverage covenant, a debt-to-capitalization covenant and covenants relating to liens, asset sales and mergers, among others. The Senior Notes Series A and Series B also specify certain events of default, upon the occurrence of which the maturity of the notes may be accelerated, including failure to pay principal and interest, violation of covenants or default on other indebtedness, among others. As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all Senior Notes Series A and Series B covenants and had $150,000,000 of Senior Notes Series A outstanding and $350,000,000 of Senior Notes Series B outstanding. The Senior Notes Series A are excluded from short term liabilities because the Company has the ability and the intent to repay the amount due using borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Company has a $10,000,000 line of credit (“Credit Line”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) for short-term liquidity needs and letters of credit, with a maturity date of June 30, 2021. The Credit Line allows the Company to borrow at an interest rate agreed to by Bank of America and the Company at the time each borrowing is made or continued. The Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Line as of December 31, 2019. Outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Line were $1,171,000 as of December 31, 2019.

On September 13, 2017, as a result of the S&S acquisition, the Company assumed $12,135,000 of term debt which was paid off without penalty in the 2017 fourth quarter.

The Company also had $16,000 of short-term secured loans outstanding, as of December 31, 2019, related to its South American operations.

The estimated fair value of total debt outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1,421,325,000 and $1,411,628,000, respectively, which differs from the carrying amount of $1,369,767,000 and $1,410,188,000, respectively, included in the consolidated financial statements. The fair value of debt outstanding was determined using a Level 2 fair value measurement.

Taxes on Income

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Taxes on Income [Abstract]

Taxes on Income

(9) Taxes on Income

Earnings before taxes on income and details of the provision for taxes on income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income:
United States	$	190,839		$	117,800		$	74,267
Foreign		(1,019	)		(3,641	)		(1,253	)
	$	189,820		$	114,159		$	73,014

Provision (benefit) for taxes on income:
U.S. Federal:
Current	$	(312	)	$	—		$	11,143
Deferred		45,133			27,102			(258,703	)
	$	44,821		$	27,102		$	(247,560	)
U.S. State:
Current	$	76		$	(243	)	$	3,861
Deferred		1,706			7,619			2,280
	$	1,782		$	7,376		$	6,141
Foreign:
Current	$	198		$	443		$	370
Deferred		—			160			160
	$	198		$	603		$	530
Consolidated:
Current	$	(38	)	$	200		$	15,374
Deferred		46,839			34,881			(256,263	)
	$	46,801		$	35,081		$	(240,889	)

The Company’s provision for taxes on income varied from the statutory federal income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 due to the following:

	2019			2018			2017
United States income tax statutory rate		21.0	%		21.0	%		35.0	%
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit		0.7			6.5			0.9
Change due to U.S. tax reform		—			—			(369.0	)
Other – net		3.0			3.2			3.2
		24.7	%		30.7	%		(329.9	)%

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities:
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,758		$	2,105
Inventory		13,401			5,017
Insurance accruals		4,397			4,119
Deferred compensation		1,109			1,291
Unrealized loss on defined benefit plans		10,253			9,891
Operating loss carryforwards		143,181			81,867
Pension benefits		6,825			6,559
Other		7,392			22,421
		188,316			133,270
Valuation allowances		(20,525	)		(25,568	)
		167,791			107,702
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property		(620,891	)		(526,873	)
Deferred state taxes		(63,640	)		(74,638	)
Goodwill and other intangibles		(54,844	)		(34,235	)
Other		(16,620	)		(14,741	)
		(755,995	)		(650,487	)
	$	(588,204	)	$	(542,785	)

During 2019, the Company generated a net operating loss mainly caused by taking the full cost deduction of purchased fixed assets. The deferred tax assets of $117,134,000 has been recorded at December 31, 2019 and can be utilized by future taxable income indefinitely.

The Company had state operating loss deferred tax assets of $17,282,000 in 2019 and $19,039,000 in 2018. The valuation allowance for state deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $11,760,000 and $17,027,000, respectively, related to the Company’s state net operating loss carryforwards based on the Company’s determination that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Expiration of these state net operating loss carryforwards vary by state through 2037 and none will expire in fiscal 2020.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had a Canadian net operating loss carryforward of $8,765,000 which expires in 2038. A full valuation allowance has been provided for this asset.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company is currently open to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2016 through 2018 tax years. With few exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries’ state income tax returns are open to audit under the statute of limitations for the 2013 through 2018 tax years.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company has provided a liability of $1,172,000 for unrecognized tax benefits related to various income tax issues which includes interest and penalties. The amount that would impact the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized, is $960,000, with the difference between the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits and the amount that would impact the effective tax rate being primarily related to the federal tax benefit of state income tax items. It is not reasonably possible to determine if the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change prior to December 31, 2020 due to the uncertainty of possible examination results.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, is as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,443		$	1,787		$	2,019
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		51			254			403
Additions for tax positions of prior years		58			70			273
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(669	)		(668	)		(908	)
Balance at end of year	$	883		$	1,443		$	1,787

The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of its provision for federal and state income taxes. The Company recognized net benefit of $71,000 and $209,000 in interest and penalties for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and net expense of $120,000 in interest and penalties for the years ended December 31, 2017. The Company had $289,000, $466,000 and $675,000 of accrued liabilities for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Stock Award Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Stock Award Plans [Abstract]

Stock Award Plans

(10) Stock Award Plans

The Company has share-based compensation plans which are described below. The compensation cost that has been charged against earnings for the Company’s stock award plans and the income tax benefit recognized in the statement of earnings for stock awards for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019		2018		2017
Compensation cost	$	13,612	$	19,104	$	11,460
Income tax benefit	$	3,368	$	5,903	$	4,333

The Company has an employee stock award plan for selected officers and other key employees which provides for the issuance of stock options, restricted stock awards and performance awards. On February 19, 2018, the employee stock award plan was amended to also allow for the granting of RSUs to selected officers and other key employees. Restricted stock and RSUs generally vest ratably over five years, however, the amendment included a provision for the continued vesting of unvested stock options and RSUs for employees who meet certain years of service and age requirements at the time of their retirement. The vesting change resulted in shorter expense accrual periods on stock options and RSUs granted after February 19, 2018 to employees who are nearing retirement and meet the service and age requirements.

The exercise price for each option equals the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Substantially all stock options outstanding under the plan have terms of seven years and vest ratably over three years. No performance awards payable in stock have been awarded under the plan. At December 31, 2019, 1,356,969 shares were available for future grants under the employee plan and no outstanding stock options under the employee plan were issued with stock appreciation rights.

The following is a summary of the stock option activity under the employee plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Outstanding Non- Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2018		464,702		$	69.85
Granted		114,429		$	74.57
Exercised		(74,825	)	$	64.83
Canceled or expired		(18,247	)	$	72.17
Outstanding at December 31, 2019		486,059		$	71.65

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options under the employee plan at December 31, 2019:

		Options Outstanding							Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices		Number Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregated Intrinsic Value	Number Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregated Intrinsic Value
$	51.23		69,254		2.8	$	51.23			69,254	$	51.23
$	64.65 – $68.50		97,716		4.4	$	67.31			44,171	$	68.43
$	70.65 – $75.50		275,103		4.8	$	74.69			93,985	$	74.94
$	84.90 – $101.46		43,986		1.8	$	94.38			37,281	$	96.08
$	51.23 – $101.46		486,059		4.2	$	71.65	$8,936,000		244,691	$	70.28	$4,955,000

The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity under the employee plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Unvested Restricted Stock Award Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018		214,216		$	64.73
Vested		(62,748	)	$	68.28
Forfeited		(16,799	)	$	63.10
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2019		134,669		$	63.28

No restricted stock awards were granted under the employee plan during 2019 or 2018. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted under the employee plan for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $68.50.

The following is a summary of RSU activity under the employee plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Unvested RSUs			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018		141,055		$	75.59
Granted		146,650		$	74.46
Vested		(25,484	)	$	75.60
Forfeited		(7,054	)	$	74.93
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2019		255,167		$	74.96

The weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $74.46 and $75.59, respectively. No RSUs were granted during 2017.

The Company has a stock award plan for nonemployee directors of the Company which provides for the issuance of stock options and restricted stock. The director plan provides for automatic grants of restricted stock to nonemployee directors after each annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, the director plan allows for the issuance of stock options or restricted stock in lieu of cash for all or part of the annual director fee at the option of the director. The exercise prices for all options granted under the plan are equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The terms of the options are ten years. The restricted stock issued after each annual meeting of stockholders vests six months after the date of grant. Options granted and restricted stock issued in lieu of cash director fees vest in equal quarterly increments during the year to which they relate. At December 31, 2019, 461,133 shares were available for future grants under the director plan. The director stock award plan is intended as an incentive to attract and retain qualified independent directors.

The following is a summary of the stock option activity under the director plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Outstanding Non- Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2018		131,104		$	70.14
Granted		2,652		$	84.90
Exercised		(18,000	)	$	49.51
Outstanding at December 31, 2019		115,756		$	73.68

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options under the director plan at December 31, 2019:

		Options Outstanding							Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices		Number Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value	Number Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$	41.24 – $56.45		25,276		0.8	$	49.23			25,276	$	49.23
$	61.89 – $62.48		22,000		2.6	$	62.21			22,000	$	62.21
$	70.65 – $99.52		68,480		4.4	$	86.39			67,817	$	86.41
$	41.24 – $99.52		115,756		3.3	$	73.68	$2,134,000		115,093	$	73.62	$2,131,000

The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity under the director plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Unvested Restricted Stock Award Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018		264		$	85.30
Granted		22,273		$	84.81
Vested		(20,798	)	$	84.91
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2019		1,739		$	83.68

The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted under the director plan for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 were $84.81, $85.70, and $70.65, respectively.

The total intrinsic value of all stock options exercised under all of the Company’s plans was $1,655,000, $6,709,000 and $1,671,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from stock option exercises was $410,000, $2,073,000 and $632,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The total fair value of all the restricted stock vestings under all of the Company’s plans was $5,917,000, $12,936,000 and $8,485,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from restricted stock vestings was $1,464,000, $3,997,000 and $3,208,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The total fair value of all the RSU vestings under the Company’s employee plan was $1,727,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from RSU vestings was $427,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. There were no RSU vestings for the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2017.

As of December 31, 2019, there was $2,313,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options, $4,226,000 related to restricted stock and $10,093,000 related to nonvested RSUs. The stock options are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.3 years, restricted stock over approximately 1.4 years and RSUs over approximately 3.5 years.

The weighted average per share fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $22.77, $23.53 and $20.72, respectively. The fair value of the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $2,666,000, $2,787,000 and $2,617,000, respectively. The Company currently uses treasury stock shares for restricted stock grants, RSU vestings and stock option exercises. The fair value of each stock option was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The key input variables used in valuing the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

	2019			2018			2017
Dividend yield	None			None			None
Average risk-free interest rate		2.5	%		2.7	%		2.0	%
Stock price volatility		28	%		27	%		27	%
Estimated option term	5.3 years			5.5 years			5.8 years

Retirement Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Retirement Plans [Abstract]

Retirement Plans

(11) Retirement Plans

The Company sponsors a defined benefit plan for its inland vessel personnel and shore based tankermen. The plan benefits are based on an employee’s years of service and compensation. The plan assets consist primarily of equity and fixed income securities.

On April 12, 2017, the Company amended its pension plan to cease all benefit accruals for periods after May 31, 2017 for certain participants. Participants grandfathered and not impacted were those, as of the close of business on May 31, 2017, who either (a) had completed 15 years of pension service or (b) had attained age 50 and completed 10 years of pension service. Participants non-grandfathered are eligible to receive discretionary 401(k) plan contributions. The Company did not incur any one-time charges related to this amendment but the pension plan’s projected benefit obligation decreased by $33,433,000.

On February 14, 2018, with the acquisition of Higman, the Company assumed Higman’s pension plan for its inland vessel personnel and office staff. On March 27, 2018, the Company amended the Higman pension plan to close it to all new entrants and cease all benefit accruals for periods after May 15, 2018 for all participants. The Company did not incur any one-time charges related to this amendment but the Higman pension plan’s projected benefit obligation decreased by $3,081,000. The Company made contributions to the Higman pension plan of $1,615,000 in 2019 for the 2018 plan year, $1,449,000 in 2019 for the 2019 plan year, $6,717,000 in 2018 for the 2016 and 2017 plan years and $1,385,000 in 2018 for the 2018 year.

The fair value of plan assets of the Company’s pension plans was $358,197,000 and $303,151,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018 respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, these assets were allocated among asset categories as follows:

Asset Category	2019			2018			Current Minimum, Target and Maximum Allocation Policy
U.S. equity securities		53	%		52	%		30% — 50%— 70	%
International equity securities		19			17			0% — 20%— 30	%
Debt securities		26			28			15% — 30%— 55	%
Cash and cash equivalents		2			3			0% — 0%— 5	%
		100	%		100	%

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, $25,871,000 and $22,497,000 respectively, was held in cash and equity securities classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy and $125,000 and $804,000, respectively, was held in real estate investments classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. All other plan assets are invested in common collective trusts and valued using the net asset value per share practical expedient and therefore not valued within the valuation hierarchy.

The Company’s investment strategy focuses on total return on invested assets (capital appreciation plus dividend and interest income). The primary objective in the investment management of assets is to achieve long-term growth of principal while avoiding excessive risk. Risk is managed through diversification of investments within and among asset classes, as well as by choosing securities that have an established trading and underlying operating history.

The Company makes various assumptions when determining defined benefit plan costs including, but not limited to, the current discount rate and the expected long-term return on plan assets. Discount rates are determined annually and are based on a yield curve that consists of a hypothetical portfolio of high quality corporate bonds with maturities matching the projected benefit cash flows. The Company assumed that plan assets would generate a long-term rate of return of 7.0% in 2019 and 2018. The Company developed its expected long-term rate of return assumption by evaluating input from investment consultants comparing historical returns for various asset classes with its actual and targeted plan investments. The Company believes that its long-term asset allocation, on average, will approximate the targeted allocation.

The Company’s pension plan funding strategy is to make annual contributions in amounts equal to or greater than amounts necessary to meet minimum government funding requirements. The plan’s benefit obligations are based on a variety of demographic and economic assumptions, and the pension plan assets’ returns are subject to various risks, including market and interest rate risk, making an accurate prediction of the pension plan contribution difficult. The Company’s pension plan funding was 86% of the pension plans’ accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2019, including the Higman pension plan.

The Company sponsors an unfunded defined benefit health care plan that provides limited postretirement medical benefits to employees who met minimum age and service requirements, and to eligible dependents. The plan limits cost increases in the Company’s contribution to 4% per year. The plan is contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually. The plan eliminated coverage for future retirees as of December 31, 2011. The Company also has an unfunded defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) that was assumed in an acquisition in 1999. That plan ceased to accrue additional benefits effective January 1, 2000.

The following table presents the change in benefit obligation and plan assets for the Company’s defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan (in thousands):

													Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits												Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	381,483		$	354,994		$	1,246		$	1,412		$	743		$	679
Service cost		7,364			7,622			—			—			—			—
Interest cost		16,493			15,499			52			49			31			24
Actuarial loss (gain)		49,478			(44,935	)		72			(70	)		(22	)		143
Gross benefits paid		(11,957	)		(11,749	)		(145	)		(145	)		(90	)		(103	)
Curtailments		—			(3,081	)		—			—			—			—
Acquisition		—			63,133			—			—			—			—
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	442,861		$	381,483		$	1,225		$	1,246		$	662		$	743

Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	417,981		$	356,797		$	1,225		$	1,246		$	662		$	743

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligation at end of year
Discount rate (a)		3.5	%		4.4	%	3.5	%	4.4	%	3.5	%	4.4	%
Rate of compensation increase	Service-based table			Service-based table			—		—		—		—
Health care cost trend rate
Initial rate		—			—		—		—		6.75	%	7.0	%
Ultimate rate		—			—		—		—		5.0	%	5.0	%
Years to ultimate		—			—		—		—		2025		2025

Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation
Increase	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	68		$	75
Decrease		—		—		—		—		(59	)		(65	)

Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	303,151		$	294,995		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		63,939			(18,214	)		—			—			—			—
Employer contribution		3,064			8,102			145			145			90			103
Gross benefits paid		(11,957	)		(11,749	)		(145	)		(145	)		(90	)		(103	)
Acquisition		—			30,017			—			—			—			—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	358,197		$	303,151		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

(a) The discount rate for the Higman pension plan in 2018 was changed from 4.13% as of February 14, 2018 and 4.02% as of March 31, 2018 to 4.40% as of December 31, 2018.

The following table presents the funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for the Company’s defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan at December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

													Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits												Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Funded status at end of year
Fair value of plan assets	$	358,197		$	303,151		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Benefit obligations		(442,861	)		(381,483	)		(1,225	)		(1,246	)		(662	)		(743	)
Funded status and amount recognized at end of year	$	(84,664	)	$	(78,332	)	$	(1,225	)	$	(1,246	)	$	(662	)	$	(743	)

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets
Noncurrent asset	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Current liability		—			—			(159	)		(158	)		(60	)		(65	)
Long-term liability		(84,664	)		(78,332	)		(1,066	)		(1,087	)		(602	)		(678	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	52,160	$	47,101	$	460	$	415	$	(3,795	)	$	(4,313	)
Prior service cost (credit)		—		—		—		—		—			—
Accumulated other compensation income	$	52,160	$	47,101	$	460	$	415	$	(3,795	)	$	(4,313	)

The projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan				SERP
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	442,861	$	381,483	$	1,225	$	1,246
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		358,197		303,151		—		—

The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan				SERP
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	442,861	$	381,483	$	1,225	$	1,246
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year		417,981		356,797		1,225		1,246
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		358,197		303,151		—		—

The following tables present the expected cash flows for the Company’s defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan at December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

									Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits								Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan				SERP				Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019		2018		2019		2018		2019		2018
Expected employer contributions
First year	$	2,407	$	2,395	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

									Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits								Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan				SERP				Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019		2018		2019		2018		2019		2018
Expected benefit payments (gross)
Year one	$	12,063	$	12,209	$	162	$	162	$	61	$	66
Year two		13,123		13,108		158		159		62		68
Year three		14,300		13,959		133		155		51		69
Year four		15,572		14,959		107		130		51		57
Year five		16,857		16,052		103		104		49		56
Next five years		100,587		96,547		426		447		220		261

The components of net periodic benefit cost and other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income for the Company’s defined benefit plans for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):


	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan									SERP
	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	7,364		$	7,622		$	10,677		$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost		16,493			15,499			13,729			52			49			58
Expected return on plan assets		(20,956	)		(22,406	)		(18,195	)		—			—			—
Amortization:
Actuarial loss		1,438			2,890			4,400			28			23			28
Prior service credit		—			—			—			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost		4,339			3,605			10,611			80			72			86

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Current year actuarial loss (gain)		6,497			(7,396	)		7,562			73			(70	)		42
Recognition of actuarial loss		(1,438	)		(2,890	)		(37,833	)		(28	)		(23	)		(28	)
Recognition of prior service credit		—			—			—			—			—			—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		5,059			(10,286	)		(30,271	)		45			(93	)		14

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	9,398		$	(6,681	)	$	(19,660	)	$	125		$	(21	)	$	100
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate (a)		4.4	%		3.7	%		4.2/4.0	%		4.4	%		3.7	%		4.2	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets		7.0	%		7.0	%		7.0	%		—			—			—
Rate of compensation increase	Service- based table			Service- based table			Service- based table				—			—			—

(a)

The 2018 discount rate for benefit cost for the Higman pension plan was changed from 4.13% as of February 14, 2018 and 4.02% as of March 31, 2018 to 4.40% as of December 31, 2018. In 2017, benefit cost for the pension plan was determined using a discount rate of 4.2% for the period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending April 11, 2017 and 4.0% for the period beginning April 12, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017.

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan		SERP
Actuarial loss	$	929	$	35
Prior service credit		—		—
	$	929	$	35

The components of net periodic benefit cost and other changes in benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income for the Company’s postretirement benefit plan for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019			2018			2017
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost		31			24			27
Amortization:
Actuarial gain		(540	)		(596	)		(668	)
Prior service cost		—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost		(509	)		(572	)		(641	)

Other changes in benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Current year actuarial loss (gain)		(22	)		144			52
Recognition of actuarial gain		540			596			668
Recognition of prior service cost		—			—			—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		518			740			720

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	9		$	168		$	79

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate		4.4	%		3.7	%		4.2	%
Health care cost trend rate:
Initial rate		7.0	%		7.0	%		7.0	%
Ultimate rate		5.0	%		5.0	%		5.0	%
Years to ultimate		2025			2022			2021

Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on aggregate service and interest cost
Increase	$	3		$	3		$	3
Decrease		(3	)		(2	)		(3	)

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Postretirement Welfare Plan
Actuarial gain	$	(522	)
Prior service cost		—
	$	(522	)

The Company also contributes to a multiemployer pension plan pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement which covers certain vessel crew members of its coastal operations and expires on April 30, 2022. The Company began participation in the Seafarers Pension Trust (“SPT”) with the Penn Maritime, Inc. acquisition on December 14, 2012.

Contributions to the SPT are made currently based on a per day worked basis and charged to expense as incurred and included in costs of sales and operating expenses in the consolidated statement of earnings. During 2019 and 2018, the Company made contributions of $665,000 and $671,000, respectively, to the SPT. The Company’s contributions to the SPT exceeded 5% of total contributions to the SPT in 2018. Total contributions for 2019 are not yet available. The Company did not pay any material surcharges in 2019 or 2018.

The federal identification number of the SPT is 13-6100329 and the Certified Zone Status is Green at December 31, 2018. The Company’s future minimum contribution requirements under the SPT are unavailable because actuarial reports for the 2019 plan year are not yet complete and such contributions are subject to negotiations between the employers and the unions. The SPT was not in endangered or critical status for the 2018 plan year, the latest period for which a report is available, as the funded status was in excess of 100%. Based on an actuarial valuation performed as of December 31, 2018, there would be no withdrawal liability if the Company chose to withdraw from the SPT although the Company currently has no intention of terminating its participation in the SPT.

The Company also contributes to a multiemployer pension plan pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement which covers certain employees of its distribution and services segment in New Jersey and expires on October 8, 2023. The Company began participation in the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers (“CPF”) with the S&S acquisition on September 13, 2017.

Contributions to the CPF are made currently based on a fixed hourly rate for each hour worked or paid basis (in some cases contributions are made as a percentage of gross pay) and charged to expense as incurred and included in costs of sales and operating expenses in the consolidated statement of earnings. During 2019 and 2018, the Company made contributions of $693,000 and $736,000, respectively, to the CPF. Total contributions for the 2019 plan year are not yet available. The Company did not pay any material surcharges in 2019 or 2018.

The federal identification number of the CPF is 36-6052390 and the Certified Zone Status is Green at January 31, 2019. The Company’s future minimum contribution requirements under the CPF are unavailable because actuarial reports for the 2019 plan year, which ended January 31, 2020, are not yet complete and such contributions are subject to negotiations between the employers and the unions. The CPF was not in endangered or critical status for the 2018 plan year, the latest period for which a report is available, as the funded status was 95%. Based on an actuarial valuation performed as of January 31, 2019, there would be no withdrawal liability if the Company chose to withdraw from the CPF although the Company currently has no intention of terminating its participation in the CPF.

In addition to the defined benefit plans, the Company sponsors various defined contribution plans for substantially all employees. The aggregate contributions to the plans were $25,409,000, $22,392,000 and $17,247,000 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Other Comprehensive Income

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Other Comprehensive Income

(12) Other Comprehensive Income

The Company’s changes in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019									2018									2017
	Gross Amount			Income Tax (Provision) Benefit			Net Amount			Gross Amount			Income Tax (Provision) Benefit			Net Amount			Gross Amount			Income Tax (Provision) Benefit			Net Amount
Pension and postretirement benefits (a):
Amortization of net actuarial loss	$	926		$	(236	)	$	690		$	2,317		$	(585	)	$	1,732		$	3,760		$	(1,417	)	$	2,343
Actuarial gains (losses)		(6,548	)		1,655			(4,893	)		7,322			(1,416	)		5,906			25,776			(9,371	)		16,405
Adoption of ASU 2018-02 – reclassification to retained earnings		—			—			—			—			(7,925	)		(7,925	)		—			—			—
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(85	)		—			(85	)		(819	)		—			(819	)		(146	)		—			(146	)
Total	$	(5,707	)	$	1,419		$	(4,288	)	$	8,820		$	(9,926	)	$	(1,106	)	$	29,390		$	(10,788	)	$	18,602

(a) Actuarial gains (losses) are amortized into other income (expense). (See Note 11 – Retirement Plans)

Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

(13) Earnings Per Share

The following table presents the components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	2019			2018			2017
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	142,347		$	78,452		$	313,187
Undistributed earnings allocated to restricted shares		(369	)		(324	)		(2,213	)
Income available to Kirby common stockholders — basic		141,978			78,128			310,974
Undistributed earnings allocated to restricted shares		369			324			2,213
Undistributed earnings reallocated to restricted shares		(369	)		(323	)		(2,211	)
Income available to Kirby common stockholders — diluted	$	141,978		$	78,129		$	310,976

Shares outstanding:
Weighted average common stock issued and outstanding		59,905			59,804			55,702
Weighted average unvested restricted stock		(155	)		(247	)		(394	)
Weighted average common stock outstanding — basic		59,750			59,557			55,308
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units		159			132			53
Weighted average common stock outstanding — diluted		59,909			59,689			55,361
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic	$	2.38		$	1.31		$	5.62

Diluted	$	2.37		$	1.31		$	5.62

Certain outstanding options to purchase approximately 187,000, 384,000 and 472,000 shares of common stock were excluded in the computation of diluted earnings per share as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as such stock options would have been antidilutive. No RSUs were antidilutive at December 31, 2019.

Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

(14) Quarterly Results (Unaudited)

The unaudited quarterly results for the year ended December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2019			June 30, 2019			September 30, 2019			December 31, 2019
Revenues	$	744,621		$	771,042		$	666,809		$	655,927
Costs and expenses		674,672			698,317			588,534			643,001
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets		2,157			3,118			(374	)		3,251
Operating income		72,106			75,843			77,901			16,177
Other income (expense)		(568	)		2,381			864			1,110
Interest expense		(13,201	)		(15,515	)		(14,310	)		(12,968	)
Earnings before taxes on income		58,337			62,709			64,455			4,319
Provision for taxes on income		(13,880	)		(15,269	)		(16,305	)		(1,347	)
Net earnings		44,457			47,440			48,150			2,972
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(161	)		(153	)		(163	)		(195	)
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	44,296		$	47,287		$	47,987		$	2,777

Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.74		$	0.79		$	0.80		$	0.05
Diluted	$	0.74		$	0.79		$	0.80		$	0.05

The unaudited quarterly results for the year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018			June 30, 2018			September 30, 2018			December 31, 2018
Revenues	$	741,688		$	802,671		$	704,845		$	721,493
Costs and expenses		692,866			747,260			636,906			740,344
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets		1,898			442			18			(390	)
Operating income (loss)		50,720			55,853			67,957			(19,241	)
Other income		1,591			1,541			1,454			1,140
Interest expense		(9,780	)		(12,540	)		(12,345	)		(12,191	)
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income		42,531			44,854			57,066			(30,292	)
Benefit (provision) for taxes on income		(9,865	)		(16,061	)		(15,116	)		5,961
Net earnings (loss)		32,666			28,793			41,950			(24,331	)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(195	)		(191	)		(134	)		(106	)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Kirby	$	32,471		$	28,602		$	41,816		$	(24,437	)

Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.54		$	0.48		$	0.70		$	(0.41	)
Diluted	$	0.54		$	0.48		$	0.70		$	(0.41	)

Quarterly basic and diluted earnings per share may not total to the full year per share amounts, as the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each quarter fluctuates as a result of the assumed exercise of stock options.

Contingencies and Commitments	12 Months Ended
Contingencies and Commitments	Dec. 31, 2019
Contingencies and Commitments [Abstract]
Contingencies and Commitments	(15) Contingencies and Commitments In 2009, the Company was named by the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) as a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) in addition to a group of approximately 250 named PRPs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1981 (“CERCLA”) with respect to a Superfund site, the Portland Harbor Superfund site (“Portland Harbor”) in Portland, Oregon. The site was declared a Superfund site in December 2000 as a result of historical heavily industrialized use due to manufacturing, shipbuilding, petroleum storage and distribution, metals salvaging, and electrical power generation activities which led to contamination of Portland Harbor, an urban and industrial reach of the lower Willamette River located immediately downstream of downtown Portland. The Company’s involvement arises from four spills at the site after it was declared a Superfund site, as a result of predecessor entities’ actions in the area. To date, there is no information suggesting the extent of the costs or damages to be claimed from the 250 notified PRPs. Based on the nature of the involvement at the Portland Harbor site, the Company believes its potential contribution is de minimis; however, to date neither the EPA nor the named PRPs have performed an allocation of potential liability in connection with the site nor have they provided costs and expenses in connection with the site. On February 20, 2015, the Company was served as a defendant in a Complaint originally filed on August 14, 2014, in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas - Houston Division, USOR Site PRP Group vs. A&M Contractors, USES, Inc. et al. This is a civil action pursuant to the provisions of CERCLA and the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act for recovery of past and future response costs incurred and to be incurred by the USOR Site PRP Group for response activities at the U.S. Oil Recovery Superfund Site. The property was a former sewage treatment plant owned by defendant City of Pasadena, Texas from approximately 1945 until it was acquired by U.S. Oil Recovery in January 2009. Throughout its operating life, the U.S. Oil Recovery facility portion of the USOR Site received and performed wastewater pretreatment of municipal and Industrial Class I and Class II wastewater, characteristically hazardous waste, used oil and oily sludges, and municipal solid waste. Associated operations were conducted at the MCC Recycling facility portion of the USOR Site after it was acquired by U.S. Oil Recovery from the City of Pasadena in January 2009. The EPA and the PRP Group entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order for Remedial Investigation Study (“Study”) in May 2015. The Study has not been completed by EPA to date. The Company joined as a member of the PRP Group companies at its pro-rata allocated share. On October 13, 2016, the Company, as a successor to Hollywood Marine, Inc. (“Hollywood Marine”), was issued a General Notice under CERCLA by the EPA in which it was named as a PRP for liabilities associated with the SBA Shipyard Site located near Jennings, Louisiana (the “Site”). The Site was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List of sites under CERCLA in September 2016. SBA used the facility for construction, repair, retrofitting, sandblasting, and cleaning and painting of barges beginning in 1965. Three barge slips and a dry dock are located off the Mermentau River. The slips were used to dock barges during cleaning or repair. In 2001, a group of PRPs that had been former customers of the SBA Shipyard facility formed an organization called the SSIC Remediation, LLC (hereinafter, “the PRP Group Companies”) to address removal actions at the Site. In 2002, EPA approved an Interim Measures/Removal Action of Hazardous/Principal Threat Wastes at SBA Shipyards, Inc. (pursuant to RCRA Section 3008(h)) that was proposed by SBA Shipyard and the PRP Group Companies. Interim removal activities were conducted from March 2001 through January 2005 under an EPA 2002 Order and Agreement. In September 2012, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality requested EPA address the Site under CERCLA authority. The Company, as a successor to Hollywood Marine, joined the PRP Group Companies. The PRP Group Companies have submitted a draft Study work plan to EPA for their review and comment. Higman was named as a PRP in connection with its activities at the Site. Higman is not a participant in the PRP Group Companies. With respect to the above sites, the Company has recorded reserves, if applicable, for its estimated potential liability for its portion of the EPA’s past costs claim based on information developed to date including various factors such as the Company’s liability in proportion to other PRPs and the extent to which such costs are recoverable from third parties. On May 10, 2019, two tank barges and a towboat, the M/V Voyager, owned and operated by Kirby Inland Marine, LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, were struck by the LPG tanker, the Genesis River, in the Houston Ship Channel. The bow of the Genesis River penetrated the Kirby 30015T and capsized the MMI 3014. The collision penetrated the hull of the Kirby 30015T causing its cargo, reformate, to be discharged into the water. The USCG and the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) designated the owner and pilot of the Genesis River as well as the subsidiary of the Company as parties of interest in their investigation into the cause of the incident. On June 19, 2019, the Company filed a limitation action in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas - Galveston Division seeking limitation of liability and asserting the Genesis River and her owner/manager are at fault for damages including removal costs and claims under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and maritime law. Multiple claimants have filed claims in the limitation seeking damages under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The Company has various insurance policies covering liabilities including pollution, marine and general liability and believes that it has satisfactory insurance coverage for the potential liabilities arising from the incident. The Company believes it has accrued adequate reserves for the incident and does not expect the incident to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition. On October 13, 2016, the tug Nathan E. Stewart and barge DBL 55, an ATB owned and operated by Kirby Offshore Marine, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, ran aground at the entrance to Seaforth Channel on Atholone Island, British Columbia. The grounding resulted in a breach of a portion of the Nathan E. Stewart’s fuel tanks causing a discharge of diesel fuel into the water. The USCG and the NTSB designated the Company as a party of interest in their investigation as to the cause of the incident. The Canadian authorities including Transport Canada and the Canadian Transportation Safety Board investigated the cause of the incident. On October 10, 2018, the Heiltsuk First Nation filed a civil action in the British Columbia Supreme Court against a subsidiary of the Company, the master and pilot of the tug, the vessels and the Canadian government seeking unquantified damages as a result of the incident. On May 1, 2019, the Company filed a limitation action in the Federal Court of Canada seeking limitation of liability relating to the incident as provided under admiralty law. The Heiltsuk First Nation’s civil claim has been consolidated into the Federal Court limitation action as of July 26, 2019 and it is expected that the Federal Court of Canada will decide all claims against the Company. The Company is unable to estimate the potential exposure in the civil proceeding. On July 16, 2019, the Company and the Canadian government settled the charges against the subsidiary of the Company. The subsidiary of the Company agreed to pay the Canadian government a fine of approximately $2,900,000 Canadian dollars ($2,200,000 U.S. dollars) for violations of the Canadian Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Pilotage Act and the Shipping Act of 2001. The Company has various insurance policies covering liabilities including pollution, property, marine and general liability and believes that it has satisfactory insurance coverage for the cost of cleanup and salvage operations as well as other potential liabilities arising from the incident. The Company believes it has accrued adequate reserves for the incident and does not expect the incident to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition. On March 22, 2014, two tank barges and a towboat, the M/V Miss Susan, owned by Kirby Inland Marine, were involved in a collision with the M/S Summer Wind on the Houston Ship Channel near Texas City, Texas. The lead tank barge was damaged in the collision resulting in a discharge of intermediate fuel oil from one of its cargo tanks. While all legal action to date involving the Company has been resolved, the Company is participating in the natural resource damage assessment and restoration process with federal and state government natural resource trustees. The Company believes it has adequate insurance coverage for pollution, marine and other potential liabilities arising from the incident. The Company believes it has accrued adequate reserves for the incident and does not expect the incident to have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition. In addition, the Company is involved in various legal and other proceedings which are incidental to the conduct of its business, none of which in the opinion of management will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Management believes that it has recorded adequate reserves and believes that it has adequate insurance coverage or has meritorious defenses for these other claims and contingencies. Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. However, in the opinion of management, the amounts would be immaterial. The customer base of the marine transportation segment includes major industrial petrochemical and chemical manufacturers, refining companies and agricultural chemical manufacturers operating in the United States. During 2019, approximately 65% of marine transportation’s inland revenues were from movements of such products under term contracts, typically ranging from one year to three years, some with renewal options. During 2019, approximately 80% of the marine transportation’s coastal revenues were under term contracts. While the manufacturing and refining companies have generally been customers of the Company for numerous years (some as long as 40 years) and management anticipates a continuing relationship, there is no assurance that any individual contract will be renewed. No single customer of the marine transportation segment accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s revenues in 2019, 2018 and 2017. Major customers of the distribution and services segment include oilfield service companies, oil and gas operators and producers, inland and offshore barge operators, offshore fishing companies, on-highway transportation companies, construction companies, the United States government, and power generation, nuclear and industrial companies. The results of the distribution and services segment are largely tied to the industries it serves and, therefore, can be influenced by the cycles of such industries. No single customer of the distribution and services segment accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s revenues in 2019, 2018 and 2017. United Holdings LLC (“United”) has maintained continuous exclusive distribution rights for MTU and Allison Transmission products since 1946. United is one of MTU’s top five distributors of MTU off-highway engines in North America with exclusive distribution rights in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In addition, as a distributor of Allison Transmission products, United has distribution rights in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Finally, United is also the distributor for parts service and warranty on Daimler Truck North America (“DTNA”) engines and related equipment in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. S&S is also one of MTU’s top five distributors for off-highway engines with exclusive distribution rights in multiple states. S&S also has authorized exclusive distribution rights for Allison Transmission, Detroit Diesel, Deutz, DTNA, EMD, Rolls Royce Power and Volvo Penta diesel engines in multiple key growth states, primarily through the Central, South and Eastern parts of the United States and strategically located near major oil and gas fields, marine waterways and on-highway transportation routes. In addition, S&S has long-term relationships with numerous smaller suppliers including Donaldson, Freightliner, Generac and John Deere. Kirby Engine Systems LLC, through Marine Systems, Inc. and Engine Systems, Inc. (“Engine Systems”), operates as an authorized EMD distributor throughout the United States. Engine Systems is also the authorized EMD distributor for nuclear power applications worldwide. The relationship with EMD has been maintained for over 50 years. The segment also operates factory-authorized full service marine distributorship/dealerships for Cummins, Detroit Diesel and John Deere high-speed diesel engines and Falk, Lufkin and Twin Disc marine gears, as well as an authorized marine dealer for Caterpillar diesel engine in multiple states. Weather can be a major factor in the day-to-day operations of the marine transportation segment. Adverse weather conditions, such as high or low water, tropical storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, fog and ice, can impair the operating efficiencies of the marine fleet. Shipments of products can be delayed or postponed by weather conditions, which are totally beyond the control of the Company. Adverse water conditions are also factors which impair the efficiency of the fleet and can result in delays, diversions and limitations on night passages, and dictate horsepower requirements and size of tows. Additionally, much of the inland waterway system is controlled by a series of locks and dams designed to provide flood control, maintain pool levels of water in certain areas of the country and facilitate navigation on the inland river system. Maintenance and operation of the navigable inland waterway infrastructure is a government function handled by the Army Corps of Engineers with costs shared by industry. Significant changes in governmental policies or appropriations with respect to maintenance and operation of the infrastructure could adversely affect the Company. The Company’s marine transportation segment is subject to regulation by the USCG, federal laws, state laws and certain international conventions, as well as numerous environmental regulations. The Company believes that additional safety, environmental and occupational health regulations may be imposed on the marine industry. There can be no assurance that any such new regulations or requirements, or any discharge of pollutants by the Company, will not have an adverse effect on the Company. The Company’s marine transportation segment competes principally in markets subject to the Jones Act, a federal cabotage law that restricts domestic marine transportation in the United States to vessels built and registered in the United States, and manned, owned and operated by United States citizens. The Jones Act cabotage provisions occasionally come under attack by interests seeking to facilitate foreign flag competition in trades reserved for domestic companies and vessels under the Jones Act. The Company believes that continued efforts will be made to modify or eliminate the cabotage provisions of the Jones Act. If such efforts are successful, certain elements could have an adverse effect on the Company. However, the Company believes that it is unlikely that the current cabotage provisions of the Jones Act would be eliminated or significantly modified in a way that has a material adverse impact on the Company in the foreseeable future. The Company has issued guaranties or obtained standby letters of credit and performance bonds supporting performance by the Company and its subsidiaries of contractual or contingent legal obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business. The aggregate notional value of these instruments is $22,804,000 at December 31, 2019, including $11,240,000 in letters of credit and $11,564,000 in performance bonds. All of these instruments have an expiration date within two years. The Company does not believe demand for payment under these instruments is likely and expects no material cash outlays to occur in connection with these instruments.

Segment Data

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Segment Data [Abstract]

Segment Data

(16) Segment Data

The Company’s operations are aggregated into two reportable business segments as follows:

Marine Transportation — Provide marine transportation principally by United States flag vessels of liquid cargoes throughout the United States inland waterway system, along all three United States coasts, in Alaska and Hawaii and, to a lesser extent, in United States coastal transportation of dry-bulk cargoes. The principal products transported include petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals.

Distribution and Services — Provides after-market services and parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears and related equipment used in oilfield service, marine, power generation, on-highway, and other industrial applications. The Company also rents equipment including generators, industrial compressors, railcar movers, and high capacity lift trucks for use in a variety of industrial markets, and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping units, for land-based oilfield service customers.

The Company’s two reportable business segments are managed separately based on fundamental differences in their operations. The Company’s accounting policies for the business segments are the same as those described in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on the contributions to operating income of the respective segments, and before income taxes, interest, gains or losses on disposition of assets, other nonoperating income, noncontrolling interests, accounting changes, and nonrecurring items. Intersegment revenues, based on market-based pricing, of the distribution and services segment from the marine transportation segment of $27,441,000, $29,363,000 and $20,717,000 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as well as the related intersegment profit of $2,744,000, $2,936,000 and $2,072,000 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, have been eliminated from the tables below.

The following table sets forth by reportable segment the revenues, profit or loss, total assets, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditures attributable to the principal activities of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
Revenues:
Marine transportation	$	1,587,082		$	1,483,143		$	1,324,106
Distribution and services		1,251,317			1,487,554			890,312
	$	2,838,399		$	2,970,697		$	2,214,418
Segment profit (loss):
Marine transportation	$	215,842		$	147,416		$	135,547
Distribution and services		67,201			129,305			86,479
Other		(93,223	)		(162,562	)		(149,012	)
	$	189,820		$	114,159		$	73,014
Total assets:
Marine transportation	$	4,536,368		$	4,145,294		$	3,485,099
Distribution and services		1,422,394			1,653,636			1,567,085
Other		120,335			72,664			75,243
	$	6,079,097		$	5,871,594		$	5,127,427
Depreciation and amortization:
Marine transportation	$	179,742		$	182,307		$	178,898
Distribution and services		35,998			39,349			20,387
Other		3,892			3,316			3,596
	$	219,632		$	224,972		$	202,881
Capital expenditures:
Marine transportation	$	217,364		$	284,953		$	165,421
Distribution and services		18,284			10,742			5,086
Other		12,516			6,166			6,715
	$	248,164		$	301,861		$	177,222

The following table presents the details of “Other” segment profit (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
General corporate expenses	$	(13,643	)	$	(35,590	)	$	(18,202	)
Interest expense		(55,994	)		(46,856	)		(21,472	)
Inventory write-down		(35,525	)		—			—
Impairment of long-lived assets		—			(82,705	)		(105,712	)
Impairment of goodwill		—			(2,702	)		—
Lease cancellation costs		—			(2,403	)		—
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets		8,152			1,968			(4,487	)
Other income (expense)		3,787			5,726			861
	$	(93,223	)	$	(162,562	)	$	(149,012	)

The following table presents the details of “Other” total assets as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019		2018		2017
General corporate assets	$	118,310	$	70,169	$	73,353
Investment in affiliates		2,025		2,495		1,890
	$	120,335	$	72,664	$	75,243

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions	Dec. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	(17) Related Party Transactions The Company is a 50% owner of The Hollywood Camp, L.L.C. (“The Hollywood Camp”), a company that owns and operates a hunting and fishing facility used by the Company primarily for customer entertainment. The Hollywood Camp allocates lease and lodging expenses to its members based on their usage of the facilities. The Company paid The Hollywood Camp $5,110,000 in 2019, $4,523,000 in 2018 and $3,634,000 in 2017 for its share of facility expenses. The Company is a 50% owner of Bolivar Terminal Co., Inc. (“Bolivar”), a company that provides barge fleeting services (temporary barge storage facilities) in the Houston, Texas area. The Company paid Bolivar $459,000 in 2019, $461,000 in 2018 and $581,000 in 2017 for barge fleeting services. Such services were in the ordinary course of business of the Company. David W. Grzebinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a member of the board of directors for ABS, a not-for-profit that provides global classification services to the marine, offshore and gas industries. The Company paid ABS $1,774,000 in 2019, $1,162,000 in 2018, and $1,081,000 in 2017 to perform audits and surveys of the Company’s vessels in the ordinary course of business of the Company. In January 2019, Amy D. Husted, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, became a member of the board of directors of Signal Mutual Indemnity Association Ltd (“Signal”), a group self-insurance not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor as a longshore worker’s compensation insurance provider. The Company has been a member of Signal since it was established in 1986. The Company paid Signal $1,391,000 in 2019 in the ordinary course of business of the Company. The husband of Ms. Husted is a partner in the law firm of Clark Hill Strasburger. The Company paid the law firm $1,278,000 in 2019, $2,019,000 in 2018 and $830,000 in 2017 for legal services in connection with matters in the ordinary course of business of the Company.

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Dec. 31, 2019
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	(18) Subsequent Events On January 29, 2020, the Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire the inland tank barge fleet of Savage Inland Marine, LLC (“Savage”) for approximately $278,000,000 in cash, subject to certain closing adjustments. Savage’s tank barge fleet consists of 90 inland tank barges with approximately 2.5 million barrels of capacity and 46 inland towboats. Savage primarily moves petrochemicals, refined products, and crude oil on the Mississippi River, its tributaries, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Savage also operates a significant ship bunkering business as well as barge fleeting services along the Gulf Coast. The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur late in the first quarter of 2020 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The purchase will be financed through additional borrowings. On January 3, 2020, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Convoy Servicing Company and Agility Fleet Services, LLC (collectively “Convoy”) for approximately $40,000,000 in cash, before post-closing adjustments. Convoy is an authorized dealer for Thermo King refrigeration systems for trucks, railroad cars and other land transportation markets for North and East Texas as well as in Colorado.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of all short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at date of purchase.

Accounts Receivable

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Property, Maintenance and Repairs

Drydocking on Ocean-Going Vessels

Environmental Liabilities

Environmental Liabilities. The Company expenses costs related to environmental events as they are incurred or when a loss is considered probable and estimable.

Goodwill

Other Intangibles

The costs of intangible assets and liabilities are amortized to expense in a systematic and rational manner over their estimated useful lives.

Revenue Recognition

Stock-Based Compensation

Taxes on Income

Accrued Insurance

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock. The Company follows the average cost method of accounting for treasury stock transactions.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of

Accounting Standards

	2018
	As Reported			Balances without Adoption of ASC 606			Effect of Change
Statements of earnings:
Distribution and services revenues	$	1,487,554		$	1,515,554		$	(28,000	)
Costs of sales and operating expenses	$	2,160,946		$	2,181,046		$	(20,100	)
Operating income	$	155,289		$	163,189		$	(7,900	)
Earnings before taxes on income	$	114,159		$	122,059		$	(7,900	)
Provision for taxes on income	$	(35,081	)	$	(37,187	)	$	2,106
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	78,452		$	84,246		$	(5,794	)

Statements of comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$	79,078		$	84,872		$	(5,794	)
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby	$	77,346		$	83,140		$	(5,794	)

Statements of cash flows:
Net earnings	$	79,078		$	84,872		$	(5,794	)
Provision for deferred income taxes	$	34,881		$	32,775		$	2,106
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in:
Accounts receivable	$	12,511		$	(71,624	)	$	84,135
Inventory	$	(144,685	)	$	(71,985	)	$	(72,700	)
Accrued and other liabilities	$	30,712		$	38,459		$	(7,747	)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements Impacted by ASU 2014-09

	2018
	As Reported			Balances without Adoption of ASC 606			Effect of Change
Statements of earnings:
Distribution and services revenues	$	1,487,554		$	1,515,554		$	(28,000	)
Costs of sales and operating expenses	$	2,160,946		$	2,181,046		$	(20,100	)
Operating income	$	155,289		$	163,189		$	(7,900	)
Earnings before taxes on income	$	114,159		$	122,059		$	(7,900	)
Provision for taxes on income	$	(35,081	)	$	(37,187	)	$	2,106
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	78,452		$	84,246		$	(5,794	)

Statements of comprehensive income:
Net earnings	$	79,078		$	84,872		$	(5,794	)
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby	$	77,346		$	83,140		$	(5,794	)

Statements of cash flows:
Net earnings	$	79,078		$	84,872		$	(5,794	)
Provision for deferred income taxes	$	34,881		$	32,775		$	2,106
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in:
Accounts receivable	$	12,511		$	(71,624	)	$	84,135
Inventory	$	(144,685	)	$	(71,985	)	$	(72,700	)
Accrued and other liabilities	$	30,712		$	38,459		$	(7,747	)

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Leases [Abstract]

Future Minimum Lease Payments under Operating Leases

Future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):


2020	$	33,374
2021		25,911
2022		23,098
2023		19,162
2024		15,330
Thereafter		92,991
Total lease payments		209,866
Less: imputed interest		(43,085	)
Operating lease liabilities	$	166,781

Lease Cost

The following table summarizes lease cost for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

Operating lease cost	$	39,064
Variable lease cost		2,326
Short-term lease cost		31,340
Sublease income		(420	)
Total lease cost	$	72,310

Operating Leases, Weighted Average Discount Rate and Remaining Lease Term

The following table summarizes other supplemental information about the Company’s operating leases as of December 31, 2019:

Weighted average discount rate			4.0	%
Weighted average remaining lease term		11 years

Revenues (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Revenues [Abstract]

Revenues by Major Source

The following table sets forth the Company’s revenues by major source for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019		2018		2017
Marine transportation segment:
Inland transportation	$	1,220,878	$	1,119,820	$	923,916
Coastal transportation		366,204		363,323		400,190
	$	1,587,082	$	1,483,143	$	1,324,106

Distribution and services segment:
Oil and gas	$	659,364	$	1,010,410	$	614,128
Commercial and industrial		591,953		477,144		276,184
	$	1,251,317	$	1,487,554	$	890,312

Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Pro Forma Revenues and Net Earnings

The following table sets forth the Company’s pro forma revenues and net earnings attributable to Kirby for the year ended December 31, 2017 (unaudited and in thousands):

Revenues		$	2,556,131
Net earnings attributable to Kirby		$	303,097

Cenac Marine Services, LLC [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed

The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at the acquisition date were as follows (in thousands):

Assets:
Prepaid expenses	$	1,138
Property and equipment		247,122
Other intangibles		340
Total assets	$	248,600

Other long-term liabilities		4,100
Net assets acquired	$	244,500

Higman [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed

The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed recorded at the acquisition date were as follows (in thousands):

Assets:
Cash	$	2,313
Accounts receivable		27,527
Prepaid expenses		5,323
Property and equipment		497,951
Goodwill		4,657
Other assets		30
Total assets	$	537,801
Liabilities:
Accounts payable		17,012
Accrued liabilities		14,127
Deferred income taxes		40,524
Other long-term liabilities		44,216
Total liabilities	$	115,879
Net assets acquired	$	421,922

Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Inventories [Abstract]

Details of Inventories

The following table presents the details of inventories as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

	2019		2018
Finished goods	$	291,214	$	406,364
Work in process		60,187		101,077
	$	351,401	$	507,441

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Long-Term Debt [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt at December 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of the following (in thousands):

Long-term debt, including current portion:	2019			2018
$850,000,000 revolving credit facility due March 27, 2024	$	—		$	417,373
$500,000,000 term loan due March 27, 2024		375,000			—
$150,000,000 senior notes Series A due February 27, 2020		150,000			150,000
$350,000,000 senior notes Series B due February 27, 2023		350,000			350,000
$500,000,000 senior notes due March 1, 2028		500,000			500,000
$10,000,000 credit line due June 30, 2021		—			—
Bank notes payable		16			19
		1,375,016			1,417,392
Unamortized debt issuance costs (a)		(4,655	)		(6,550	)
Unamortized debt discount		(594	)		(654	)
	$	1,369,767		$	1,410,188

(a) Unamortized debt issuance costs excludes $2,650,000 attributable to the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) included in other assets at December 31, 2019.

Aggregate Payments due on the Long-Term Debt

The aggregate payments due on the long-term debt in each of the next five years were as follows (in thousands):

2020	$	150,016
2021		—
2022		—
2023		381,250
2024		343,750
Thereafter		500,000
	$	1,375,016

Taxes on Income (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Taxes on Income [Abstract]

Earnings Before Taxes

Earnings before taxes on income and details of the provision for taxes on income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income:
United States	$	190,839		$	117,800		$	74,267
Foreign		(1,019	)		(3,641	)		(1,253	)
	$	189,820		$	114,159		$	73,014

Provision (benefit) for taxes on income:
U.S. Federal:
Current	$	(312	)	$	—		$	11,143
Deferred		45,133			27,102			(258,703	)
	$	44,821		$	27,102		$	(247,560	)
U.S. State:
Current	$	76		$	(243	)	$	3,861
Deferred		1,706			7,619			2,280
	$	1,782		$	7,376		$	6,141
Foreign:
Current	$	198		$	443		$	370
Deferred		—			160			160
	$	198		$	603		$	530
Consolidated:
Current	$	(38	)	$	200		$	15,374
Deferred		46,839			34,881			(256,263	)
	$	46,801		$	35,081		$	(240,889	)

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

The Company’s provision for taxes on income varied from the statutory federal income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 due to the following:

	2019			2018			2017
United States income tax statutory rate		21.0	%		21.0	%		35.0	%
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit		0.7			6.5			0.9
Change due to U.S. tax reform		—			—			(369.0	)
Other – net		3.0			3.2			3.2
		24.7	%		30.7	%		(329.9	)%

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018
Non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities:
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,758		$	2,105
Inventory		13,401			5,017
Insurance accruals		4,397			4,119
Deferred compensation		1,109			1,291
Unrealized loss on defined benefit plans		10,253			9,891
Operating loss carryforwards		143,181			81,867
Pension benefits		6,825			6,559
Other		7,392			22,421
		188,316			133,270
Valuation allowances		(20,525	)		(25,568	)
		167,791			107,702
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property		(620,891	)		(526,873	)
Deferred state taxes		(63,640	)		(74,638	)
Goodwill and other intangibles		(54,844	)		(34,235	)
Other		(16,620	)		(14,741	)
		(755,995	)		(650,487	)
	$	(588,204	)	$	(542,785	)

Reconciliation of Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, is as follows (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,443		$	1,787		$	2,019
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		51			254			403
Additions for tax positions of prior years		58			70			273
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(669	)		(668	)		(908	)
Balance at end of year	$	883		$	1,443		$	1,787

Stock Award Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Compensation Cost Breakdown in Statement of Earnings

	2019		2018		2017
Compensation cost	$	13,612	$	19,104	$	11,460
Income tax benefit	$	3,368	$	5,903	$	4,333

Stock Option Valuation Assumptions

The key input variables used in valuing the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

	2019			2018			2017
Dividend yield	None			None			None
Average risk-free interest rate		2.5	%		2.7	%		2.0	%
Stock price volatility		28	%		27	%		27	%
Estimated option term	5.3 years			5.5 years			5.8 years

Employee Plan [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Stock Option Activity

The following is a summary of the stock option activity under the employee plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Outstanding Non- Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2018		464,702		$	69.85
Granted		114,429		$	74.57
Exercised		(74,825	)	$	64.83
Canceled or expired		(18,247	)	$	72.17
Outstanding at December 31, 2019		486,059		$	71.65

Outstanding and Exercisable Stock Options

		Options Outstanding							Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices		Number Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregated Intrinsic Value	Number Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregated Intrinsic Value
$	51.23		69,254		2.8	$	51.23			69,254	$	51.23
$	64.65 – $68.50		97,716		4.4	$	67.31			44,171	$	68.43
$	70.65 – $75.50		275,103		4.8	$	74.69			93,985	$	74.94
$	84.90 – $101.46		43,986		1.8	$	94.38			37,281	$	96.08
$	51.23 – $101.46		486,059		4.2	$	71.65	$8,936,000		244,691	$	70.28	$4,955,000

Restricted Stock Award Activity

The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity under the employee plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Unvested Restricted Stock Award Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018		214,216		$	64.73
Vested		(62,748	)	$	68.28
Forfeited		(16,799	)	$	63.10
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2019		134,669		$	63.28

RSU Activity

The following is a summary of RSU activity under the employee plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Unvested RSUs			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018		141,055		$	75.59
Granted		146,650		$	74.46
Vested		(25,484	)	$	75.60
Forfeited		(7,054	)	$	74.93
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2019		255,167		$	74.96

Director Plan [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Stock Option Activity

	Outstanding Non- Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2018		131,104		$	70.14
Granted		2,652		$	84.90
Exercised		(18,000	)	$	49.51
Outstanding at December 31, 2019		115,756		$	73.68

Outstanding and Exercisable Stock Options

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable stock options under the director plan at December 31, 2019:

		Options Outstanding							Options Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices		Number Outstanding		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value	Number Exercisable		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
$	41.24 – $56.45		25,276		0.8	$	49.23			25,276	$	49.23
$	61.89 – $62.48		22,000		2.6	$	62.21			22,000	$	62.21
$	70.65 – $99.52		68,480		4.4	$	86.39			67,817	$	86.41
$	41.24 – $99.52		115,756		3.3	$	73.68	$2,134,000		115,093	$	73.62	$2,131,000

Restricted Stock Award Activity

The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity under the director plan described above for the year ended December 31, 2019:

	Unvested Restricted Stock Award Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2018		264		$	85.30
Granted		22,273		$	84.81
Vested		(20,798	)	$	84.91
Nonvested balance at December 31, 2019		1,739		$	83.68

Retirement Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Asset Allocation

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, these assets were allocated among asset categories as follows:

Asset Category	2019			2018			Current Minimum, Target and Maximum Allocation Policy
U.S. equity securities		53	%		52	%		30% — 50%— 70	%
International equity securities		19			17			0% — 20%— 30	%
Debt securities		26			28			15% — 30%— 55	%
Cash and cash equivalents		2			3			0% — 0%— 5	%
		100	%		100	%

Change in Benefit Obligation

The following table presents the change in benefit obligation and plan assets for the Company’s defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plan (in thousands):

													Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits												Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	381,483		$	354,994		$	1,246		$	1,412		$	743		$	679
Service cost		7,364			7,622			—			—			—			—
Interest cost		16,493			15,499			52			49			31			24
Actuarial loss (gain)		49,478			(44,935	)		72			(70	)		(22	)		143
Gross benefits paid		(11,957	)		(11,749	)		(145	)		(145	)		(90	)		(103	)
Curtailments		—			(3,081	)		—			—			—			—
Acquisition		—			63,133			—			—			—			—
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	442,861		$	381,483		$	1,225		$	1,246		$	662		$	743

Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	417,981		$	356,797		$	1,225		$	1,246		$	662		$	743

Weighted-Average Assumption Used to Determine Benefit Obligation and Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligation at end of year
Discount rate (a)		3.5	%		4.4	%	3.5	%	4.4	%	3.5	%	4.4	%
Rate of compensation increase	Service-based table			Service-based table			—		—		—		—
Health care cost trend rate
Initial rate		—			—		—		—		6.75	%	7.0	%
Ultimate rate		—			—		—		—		5.0	%	5.0	%
Years to ultimate		—			—		—		—		2025		2025

(a) The discount rate for the Higman pension plan in 2018 was changed from 4.13% as of February 14, 2018 and 4.02% as of March 31, 2018 to 4.40% as of December 31, 2018.

Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rate

Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation
Increase	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	68		$	75
Decrease		—		—		—		—		(59	)		(65	)

Change in Plan Assets

Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	303,151		$	294,995		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		63,939			(18,214	)		—			—			—			—
Employer contribution		3,064			8,102			145			145			90			103
Gross benefits paid		(11,957	)		(11,749	)		(145	)		(145	)		(90	)		(103	)
Acquisition		—			30,017			—			—			—			—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	358,197		$	303,151		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

Funded Status at End of Year

													Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits												Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan						SERP						Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019			2018			2019			2018			2019			2018
Funded status at end of year
Fair value of plan assets	$	358,197		$	303,151		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Benefit obligations		(442,861	)		(381,483	)		(1,225	)		(1,246	)		(662	)		(743	)
Funded status and amount recognized at end of year	$	(84,664	)	$	(78,332	)	$	(1,225	)	$	(1,246	)	$	(662	)	$	(743	)

Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets
Noncurrent asset	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Current liability		—			—			(159	)		(158	)		(60	)		(65	)
Long-term liability		(84,664	)		(78,332	)		(1,066	)		(1,087	)		(602	)		(678	)

Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$	52,160	$	47,101	$	460	$	415	$	(3,795	)	$	(4,313	)
Prior service cost (credit)		—		—		—		—		—			—
Accumulated other compensation income	$	52,160	$	47,101	$	460	$	415	$	(3,795	)	$	(4,313	)

Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets

	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan				SERP
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	442,861	$	381,483	$	1,225	$	1,246
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		358,197		303,151		—		—

Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets

	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan				SERP
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	442,861	$	381,483	$	1,225	$	1,246
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year		417,981		356,797		1,225		1,246
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		358,197		303,151		—		—

Employer Contribution

									Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits								Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan				SERP				Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019		2018		2019		2018		2019		2018
Expected employer contributions
First year	$	2,407	$	2,395	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

Expected Benefit Payments

									Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits								Postretirement Welfare Plan
	Pension Plan				SERP				Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019		2018		2019		2018		2019		2018
Expected benefit payments (gross)
Year one	$	12,063	$	12,209	$	162	$	162	$	61	$	66
Year two		13,123		13,108		158		159		62		68
Year three		14,300		13,959		133		155		51		69
Year four		15,572		14,959		107		130		51		57
Year five		16,857		16,052		103		104		49		56
Next five years		100,587		96,547		426		447		220		261

Pension Benefits [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Net Periodic Benefit Cost


	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan									SERP
	2019			2018			2017			2019			2018			2017
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	7,364		$	7,622		$	10,677		$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost		16,493			15,499			13,729			52			49			58
Expected return on plan assets		(20,956	)		(22,406	)		(18,195	)		—			—			—
Amortization:
Actuarial loss		1,438			2,890			4,400			28			23			28
Prior service credit		—			—			—			—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost		4,339			3,605			10,611			80			72			86

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Current year actuarial loss (gain)		6,497			(7,396	)		7,562			73			(70	)		42
Recognition of actuarial loss		(1,438	)		(2,890	)		(37,833	)		(28	)		(23	)		(28	)
Recognition of prior service credit		—			—			—			—			—			—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		5,059			(10,286	)		(30,271	)		45			(93	)		14

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	9,398		$	(6,681	)	$	(19,660	)	$	125		$	(21	)	$	100
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate (a)		4.4	%		3.7	%		4.2/4.0	%		4.4	%		3.7	%		4.2	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets		7.0	%		7.0	%		7.0	%		—			—			—
Rate of compensation increase	Service- based table			Service- based table			Service- based table				—			—			—

(a)

Estimated Amounts that will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

	Pension Benefits
	Pension Plan		SERP
Actuarial loss	$	929	$	35
Prior service credit		—		—
	$	929	$	35

Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Postretirement Welfare Plan
	2019			2018			2017
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—
Interest cost		31			24			27
Amortization:
Actuarial gain		(540	)		(596	)		(668	)
Prior service cost		—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost		(509	)		(572	)		(641	)

Other changes in benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income
Current year actuarial loss (gain)		(22	)		144			52
Recognition of actuarial gain		540			596			668
Recognition of prior service cost		—			—			—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		518			740			720

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	9		$	168		$	79

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate		4.4	%		3.7	%		4.2	%
Health care cost trend rate:
Initial rate		7.0	%		7.0	%		7.0	%
Ultimate rate		5.0	%		5.0	%		5.0	%
Years to ultimate		2025			2022			2021

Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on aggregate service and interest cost
Increase	$	3		$	3		$	3
Decrease		(3	)		(2	)		(3	)

Estimated Amounts that will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost in 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

	Other Postretirement Benefits
	Postretirement Welfare Plan
Actuarial gain	$	(522	)
Prior service cost		—
	$	(522	)

Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Changes in Other Comprehensive Income

The Company’s changes in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

	2019									2018									2017
	Gross Amount			Income Tax (Provision) Benefit			Net Amount			Gross Amount			Income Tax (Provision) Benefit			Net Amount			Gross Amount			Income Tax (Provision) Benefit			Net Amount
Pension and postretirement benefits (a):
Amortization of net actuarial loss	$	926		$	(236	)	$	690		$	2,317		$	(585	)	$	1,732		$	3,760		$	(1,417	)	$	2,343
Actuarial gains (losses)		(6,548	)		1,655			(4,893	)		7,322			(1,416	)		5,906			25,776			(9,371	)		16,405
Adoption of ASU 2018-02 – reclassification to retained earnings		—			—			—			—			(7,925	)		(7,925	)		—			—			—
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(85	)		—			(85	)		(819	)		—			(819	)		(146	)		—			(146	)
Total	$	(5,707	)	$	1,419		$	(4,288	)	$	8,820		$	(9,926	)	$	(1,106	)	$	29,390		$	(10,788	)	$	18,602

(a) Actuarial gains (losses) are amortized into other income (expense). (See Note 11 – Retirement Plans)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

The following table presents the components of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	2019			2018			2017
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	142,347		$	78,452		$	313,187
Undistributed earnings allocated to restricted shares		(369	)		(324	)		(2,213	)
Income available to Kirby common stockholders — basic		141,978			78,128			310,974
Undistributed earnings allocated to restricted shares		369			324			2,213
Undistributed earnings reallocated to restricted shares		(369	)		(323	)		(2,211	)
Income available to Kirby common stockholders — diluted	$	141,978		$	78,129		$	310,976

Shares outstanding:
Weighted average common stock issued and outstanding		59,905			59,804			55,702
Weighted average unvested restricted stock		(155	)		(247	)		(394	)
Weighted average common stock outstanding — basic		59,750			59,557			55,308
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units		159			132			53
Weighted average common stock outstanding — diluted		59,909			59,689			55,361
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic	$	2.38		$	1.31		$	5.62

Diluted	$	2.37		$	1.31		$	5.62

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Quarterly Results (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Quarterly Results

The unaudited quarterly results for the year ended December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2019			June 30, 2019			September 30, 2019			December 31, 2019
Revenues	$	744,621		$	771,042		$	666,809		$	655,927
Costs and expenses		674,672			698,317			588,534			643,001
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets		2,157			3,118			(374	)		3,251
Operating income		72,106			75,843			77,901			16,177
Other income (expense)		(568	)		2,381			864			1,110
Interest expense		(13,201	)		(15,515	)		(14,310	)		(12,968	)
Earnings before taxes on income		58,337			62,709			64,455			4,319
Provision for taxes on income		(13,880	)		(15,269	)		(16,305	)		(1,347	)
Net earnings		44,457			47,440			48,150			2,972
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(161	)		(153	)		(163	)		(195	)
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	44,296		$	47,287		$	47,987		$	2,777

Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.74		$	0.79		$	0.80		$	0.05
Diluted	$	0.74		$	0.79		$	0.80		$	0.05

The unaudited quarterly results for the year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018			June 30, 2018			September 30, 2018			December 31, 2018
Revenues	$	741,688		$	802,671		$	704,845		$	721,493
Costs and expenses		692,866			747,260			636,906			740,344
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets		1,898			442			18			(390	)
Operating income (loss)		50,720			55,853			67,957			(19,241	)
Other income		1,591			1,541			1,454			1,140
Interest expense		(9,780	)		(12,540	)		(12,345	)		(12,191	)
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income		42,531			44,854			57,066			(30,292	)
Benefit (provision) for taxes on income		(9,865	)		(16,061	)		(15,116	)		5,961
Net earnings (loss)		32,666			28,793			41,950			(24,331	)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(195	)		(191	)		(134	)		(106	)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Kirby	$	32,471		$	28,602		$	41,816		$	(24,437	)

Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.54		$	0.48		$	0.70		$	(0.41	)
Diluted	$	0.54		$	0.48		$	0.70		$	(0.41	)

Segment Data (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Segment Data [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

	2019			2018			2017
Revenues:
Marine transportation	$	1,587,082		$	1,483,143		$	1,324,106
Distribution and services		1,251,317			1,487,554			890,312
	$	2,838,399		$	2,970,697		$	2,214,418
Segment profit (loss):
Marine transportation	$	215,842		$	147,416		$	135,547
Distribution and services		67,201			129,305			86,479
Other		(93,223	)		(162,562	)		(149,012	)
	$	189,820		$	114,159		$	73,014
Total assets:
Marine transportation	$	4,536,368		$	4,145,294		$	3,485,099
Distribution and services		1,422,394			1,653,636			1,567,085
Other		120,335			72,664			75,243
	$	6,079,097		$	5,871,594		$	5,127,427
Depreciation and amortization:
Marine transportation	$	179,742		$	182,307		$	178,898
Distribution and services		35,998			39,349			20,387
Other		3,892			3,316			3,596
	$	219,632		$	224,972		$	202,881
Capital expenditures:
Marine transportation	$	217,364		$	284,953		$	165,421
Distribution and services		18,284			10,742			5,086
Other		12,516			6,166			6,715
	$	248,164		$	301,861		$	177,222

Other Segment Reporting Information

The following table presents the details of “Other” segment profit (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019			2018			2017
General corporate expenses	$	(13,643	)	$	(35,590	)	$	(18,202	)
Interest expense		(55,994	)		(46,856	)		(21,472	)
Inventory write-down		(35,525	)		—			—
Impairment of long-lived assets		—			(82,705	)		(105,712	)
Impairment of goodwill		—			(2,702	)		—
Lease cancellation costs		—			(2,403	)		—
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets		8,152			1,968			(4,487	)
Other income (expense)		3,787			5,726			861
	$	(93,223	)	$	(162,562	)	$	(149,012	)

The following table presents the details of “Other” total assets as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

	2019		2018		2017
General corporate assets	$	118,310	$	70,169	$	73,353
Investment in affiliates		2,025		2,495		1,890
	$	120,335	$	72,664	$	75,243

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounts Receivable [Abstract]
Accruals for revenues earned included in accounts receivable	$ 103,996,000	$ 114,159,000
Receivables from insurance companies to cover claims in excess included in accounts receivable	$ 72,591,000	69,624,000
Drydocking on Ocean-Going Vessels [Abstract]
Period in which recertification of ocean going vessels occur twice	5 years
Recognized amortization of major maintenance costs	$ 23,962,000	20,760,000	$ 21,207,000
Capitalized interest excluded from interest expense	$ 1,003,000	$ 2,206,000	$ 1,731,000
Minimum [Member]
Drydocking on Ocean-Going Vessels [Abstract]
Period of amortization of shipyard costs	30 months
Maximum [Member]
Drydocking on Ocean-Going Vessels [Abstract]
Period of amortization of shipyard costs	60 months
Marine Transportation Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Maintenance and Repairs [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of the individual assets	5 years
Marine Transportation Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Maintenance and Repairs [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of the individual assets	40 years
Buildings [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Maintenance and Repairs [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of the individual assets	10 years
Buildings [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Maintenance and Repairs [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of the individual assets	40 years
Other Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Maintenance and Repairs [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of the individual assets	2 years
Other Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Maintenance and Repairs [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of the individual assets	10 years

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Abstract]
Impairment of goodwill	$ 0	$ 2,702,000	$ 0
Gross carrying value of goodwill	973,995,000	973,995,000
Accumulated amortization	15,566,000	15,566,000
Accumulated impairment losses	4,603,000	4,603,000
Net goodwill	953,826,000	953,826,000
Other Intangibles [Abstract]
Intangible assets gross carrying amounts	332,656,000	326,984,000
Intangible assets accumulated amortization	121,974,000	102,787,000
Intangible assets net carrying amount	210,682,000	224,197,000
Intangible liabilities gross carrying value	13,860,000	18,323,000
Intangible liabilities accumulated amortization	7,956,000	8,652,000
Intangible liabilities net carrying amount	5,904,000	9,671,000
Amortization of intangible assets	15,040,000	16,760,000	$ 11,296,000
Intangible Assets and liabilities, Estimated Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	16,358,000
2021	17,392,000
2022	16,989,000
2023	17,527,000
2024	$ 18,092,000
Weighted average amortization period for intangible assets and liabilities	13 years
Marine Transportation Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Abstract]
Net goodwill	$ 405,575,000	405,575,000
Distribution and Services Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Abstract]
Net goodwill	$ 548,251,000	$ 548,251,000

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Revenue Recognition through Accrued Insurance (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accrued Insurance [Abstract]
Accrued insurance liabilities	$ 32,372,000	$ 29,306,000	$ 26,195,000
Marine Transportation Segment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Range of term contracts	1 year
Marine Transportation Segment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Range of term contracts	3 years

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Accounting Standards (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$ 159,641,000				$ 0				$ 159,641,000	$ 0
Liabilities for operating leases	209,866,000								209,866,000
Statements of earnings [Abstract]
Revenues									2,838,399,000	2,970,697,000	$ 2,214,418,000
Costs of sales and operating expenses									2,030,046,000	2,160,946,000	1,558,098,000
Operating income	16,177,000	$ 77,901,000	$ 75,843,000	$ 72,106,000	(19,241,000)	$ 67,957,000	$ 55,853,000	$ 50,720,000	242,027,000	155,289,000	93,625,000
Earnings before taxes on income	4,319,000	64,455,000	62,709,000	58,337,000	(30,292,000)	57,066,000	44,854,000	42,531,000	189,820,000	114,159,000	73,014,000
Provision for taxes on income	(1,347,000)	(16,305,000)	(15,269,000)	(13,880,000)	5,961,000	(15,116,000)	(16,061,000)	(9,865,000)	(46,801,000)	(35,081,000)	240,889,000
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	2,777,000	47,987,000	47,287,000	44,296,000	(24,437,000)	41,816,000	28,602,000	32,471,000	142,347,000	78,452,000	313,187,000
Statements of comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net earnings	2,972,000	48,150,000	47,440,000	44,457,000	(24,331,000)	41,950,000	28,793,000	32,666,000	143,019,000	79,078,000	313,903,000
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby									138,059,000	77,346,000	331,789,000
Statements of cash flows [Abstract]
Net earnings	2,972,000	$ 48,150,000	$ 47,440,000	$ 44,457,000	(24,331,000)	$ 41,950,000	$ 28,793,000	$ 32,666,000	143,019,000	79,078,000	313,903,000
Provision for deferred income taxes									46,839,000	34,881,000	(256,263,000)
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in: [Abstract]
Accounts receivable									43,078,000	12,511,000	(60,405,000)
Inventory									122,773,000	(144,685,000)	19,673,000
Accrued and other liabilities									(43,907,000)	30,712,000	(3,105,000)
Distribution and Services [Member]
Statements of earnings [Abstract]
Revenues									1,251,317,000	1,487,554,000	890,312,000
ASU 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Operating lease right-of-use assets	168,149,000								168,149,000
Liabilities for operating leases	$ 175,778,000								$ 175,778,000
ASC 606 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Cumulative effect on retained earnings											(9,722,000)
ASC 606 [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Cumulative effect on retained earnings					$ (9,722,000)					(9,722,000)	$ (9,722,000)
ASC 606 [Member] \| Balances without Adoption of ASC 606 [Member]
Statements of earnings [Abstract]
Costs of sales and operating expenses										2,181,046,000
Operating income										163,189,000
Earnings before taxes on income										122,059,000
Provision for taxes on income										(37,187,000)
Net earnings attributable to Kirby										84,246,000
Statements of comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net earnings										84,872,000
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby										83,140,000
Statements of cash flows [Abstract]
Net earnings										84,872,000
Provision for deferred income taxes										32,775,000
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in: [Abstract]
Accounts receivable										(71,624,000)
Inventory										(71,985,000)
Accrued and other liabilities										38,459,000
ASC 606 [Member] \| Balances without Adoption of ASC 606 [Member] \| Distribution and Services [Member]
Statements of earnings [Abstract]
Revenues										1,515,554,000
ASC 606 [Member] \| Effect of Change [Member]
Statements of earnings [Abstract]
Costs of sales and operating expenses										(20,100,000)
Operating income										(7,900,000)
Earnings before taxes on income										(7,900,000)
Provision for taxes on income										2,106,000
Net earnings attributable to Kirby										(5,794,000)
Statements of comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net earnings										(5,794,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to Kirby										(5,794,000)
Statements of cash flows [Abstract]
Net earnings										(5,794,000)
Provision for deferred income taxes										2,106,000
Decrease in cash flows resulting from changes in: [Abstract]
Accounts receivable										84,135,000
Inventory										(72,700,000)
Accrued and other liabilities										(7,747,000)
ASC 606 [Member] \| Effect of Change [Member] \| Distribution and Services [Member]
Statements of earnings [Abstract]
Revenues										$ (28,000,000)

Leases, Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Operating Leases (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Leases [Abstract]
Percentage of costs relate to service costs for leased towing vessels	75.00%
Future Minimum Lease Payments Under Operating Leases [Abstract]
2020	$ 33,374,000
2021	25,911,000
2022	23,098,000
2023	19,162,000
2024	15,330,000
Thereafter	92,991,000
Total lease payments	209,866,000
Less: imputed interest	(43,085,000)
Operating lease liabilities	166,781,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2019	97,091,000
2020	30,062,000
2021	21,818,000
2022	20,263,000
2023	17,429,000
Thereafter	91,939,000
Future minimum lease payments under operating leases	$ 278,602,000

Leases, Lease Cost (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Leases, Lease Cost (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Lease, Cost [Abstract]
Operating lease cost	$ 39,064
Variable lease cost	2,326
Short-term lease cost	31,340
Sublease income	(420)
Total lease cost	$ 72,310

Leases, Other Supplemental Information (Details)	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Supplemental Information about Operating Leases [Abstract]
Weighted average discount rate	4.00%
Weighted average remaining lease term	11 years

Revenues (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Revenues (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	$ 2,838,399,000	$ 2,970,697,000	$ 2,214,418,000
Revenue recognized	76,412,000
Marine Transportation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	1,587,082,000	1,483,143,000	1,324,106,000
Marine Transportation [Member] \| Inland Transportation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	1,220,878,000	1,119,820,000	923,916,000
Marine Transportation [Member] \| Coastal Transportation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	366,204,000	363,323,000	400,190,000
Distribution and Services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	1,251,317,000	1,487,554,000	890,312,000
Distribution and Services [Member] \| Oil and Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	659,364,000	1,010,410,000	614,128,000
Distribution and Services [Member] \| Commercial and Industrial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]
Revenues by major source	$ 591,953,000	$ 477,144,000	$ 276,184,000

Revenues, Remaining Performance Obligation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue, Performance Obligation [Abstract]
Contract assets	$ 0	$ 0
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2020-01-01
Revenue, Performance Obligation [Abstract]
Expected timing of satisfaction, period	1 year

Acquisitions, 2019 (Details)					12 Months Ended
Acquisitions, 2019 (Details)	Mar. 14, 2019 USD ($) bbl TankBarge Towboat	Dec. 28, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 14, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge bbl	Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) Towboat	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price					$ 248,164,000	$ 301,861,000	$ 177,222,000
Inland Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge		3	27		9
Purchase price		$ 3,120,000	$ 28,500,000		$ 17,991,000
Tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl			306,000
Average age of property			8 years		5 years
Inland Towboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat				1
Purchase price				$ 3,050,000
Cenac Marine Services, LLC [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Prepaid expenses	$ 1,138,000
Property and equipment	247,122,000
Other intangibles	340,000
Total assets	248,600,000
Other long-term liabilities	4,100,000
Net assets acquired	$ 244,500,000
Weighted average amortization period of intangibles					2 years
Weighted average amortization period of unfavorable contracts					1 year 3 months 18 days
Acquisition related costs					$ 442,000
Cenac Marine Services, LLC [Member] \| Inland Barrel Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge	63
Tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl	30,000
Aggregate tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl	1,833,000
Cenac Marine Services, LLC [Member] \| Inland Towboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat	34
Average age of property					7 years
Cenac Marine Services, LLC [Member] \| Offshore Tugboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat	2

Acquisitions, 2018 (Details)							12 Months Ended
Acquisitions, 2018 (Details)	Dec. 28, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 14, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge bbl	Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) Towboat	May 10, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge bbl	Mar. 15, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge	Feb. 14, 2018 USD ($) bbl TankBarge Towboat	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price							$ 248,164,000	$ 301,861,000	$ 177,222,000
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill							953,826,000	$ 953,826,000
Inland Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price	$ 3,120,000	$ 28,500,000					$ 17,991,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge	3	27					9
Tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl		306,000
Average age of property		8 years					5 years
Inland Towboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price			$ 3,050,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat			1
Inland Pressure Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price					$ 10,400,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge					2
Average age of property					5 years
Targa [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Cash paid for acquisition				$ 69,250,000
Goodwill acquired				16,116,000
Intangible assets acquired				$ 11,000,000
Weighted average amortization period of intangibles				15 years
Targa [Member] \| Inland Pressure Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge				16
Tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl				258,000
Average age of property				15 years
Higman [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Cash paid for acquisition						$ 421,922,000
Goodwill acquired						4,657,000
Intangible assets acquired						$ 11,100,000
Weighted average amortization period of intangibles						4 years 10 months 24 days
Acquisition related costs						$ 3,464,000
Assets [Abstract]
Cash						2,313,000
Accounts receivable						27,527,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets						5,323,000
Property and equipment						497,951,000
Goodwill						4,657,000
Other assets						30,000
Total assets						537,801,000
Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts payable						17,012,000
Accrued liabilities						14,127,000
Deferred revenues						40,524,000
Other long-term liabilities						44,216,000
Total liabilities						115,879,000
Net assets acquired						$ 421,922,000
Higman [Member] \| Inland Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge						163
Aggregate tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl						4,800,000
Average age of property						7 years
Higman [Member] \| Inland Towboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat						75
Average age of property						8 years

Acquisitions, 2017 (Details)								1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Acquisitions, 2017 (Details)	Dec. 28, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 14, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge bbl	Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) Towboat	Mar. 15, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge	Oct. 20, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 13, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jul. 10, 2017 USD ($) TankBarge Towboat bbl hp	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price									$ 248,164,000	$ 301,861,000	$ 177,222,000
Inland Pressure Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price				$ 10,400,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge				2
Average age of property				5 years
Inland Towboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price			$ 3,050,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat			1
Inland Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price	$ 3,120,000	$ 28,500,000							$ 17,991,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge	3	27							9
Tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl		306,000
Average age of property		8 years							5 years
Sneed Shipbuilding, Inc [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Cash paid for acquisition					$ 14,852,000
Stewart & Stevenson LLC [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Cash paid for acquisition						$ 377,935,000
Purchase price before post-closing adjustment and transaction fees						758,213,000
Assumption of debt						13,724,000
Stock consideration through issuance of Company common stock						$ 366,554,000
Issuance of shares (in shares) \| shares						5,696,259
Price per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares						$ 64.35
Term debt assumed						$ 12,135,000
Short-term secured loans						$ 1,589,000
Undisclosed Competitor [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price							$ 68,000,000
Property acquired							67,970,000
Intangible assets acquired							$ 30,000
Weighted average amortization period of intangibles							2 years
Undisclosed Competitor [Member] \| Inland Pressure Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge							9
Undisclosed Competitor [Member] \| Barrel Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge							4
Tank barge barrel capacity (in barrels) \| bbl							30,000
Undisclosed Competitor [Member] \| Inland Towboats [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| Towboat							3
Horsepower of inland towboats \| hp							1,320
Undisclosed Competitor [Member] \| Inland Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge							13
Average age of property							5 years
Barge Fleeting and Marine Fueling Operation Business [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Cash paid for acquisition								$ 3,900,000
Barge Fleeting and Marine Fueling Operation Business [Member] \| Inland Tank Barges [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Purchase price								$ 1,450,000
Number of maritime vessels acquired \| TankBarge								4

Acquisitions, Pro Forma (Details) - Stewart & Stevenson LLC [Member] $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Pro Forma [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 2,556,131
Net earnings attributable to parent	$ 303,097

Impairment of Long-lived Assets (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) TankBarge	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Long-lived Assets Impairment [Abstract]
Non-cash pre-tax impairment charge	$ 82,705	$ 105,712	$ 0	$ 82,705	$ 105,712
Impairment charge after tax effect	$ 65,337	$ 66,975
Impairment charge after tax effect on earning per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 1.09	$ 1.20
Lease cancellation costs			$ 0	2,403	0
Vessels [Member]
Long-lived Assets Impairment [Abstract]
Non-cash pre-tax impairment charge	$ 78,835
Fair market value of assets	13,247	$ 12,550		13,247	$ 12,550
Tank Barge [Member]
Long-lived Assets Impairment [Abstract]
Non-cash pre-tax impairment charge				$ 3,870
Number of vessels to be disposed of \| TankBarge				4
Fair market value of assets	220			$ 220
Scrap value of vessel	$ 220			220
Lease cancellation costs				$ 2,403

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Details of inventories [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 291,214	$ 406,364
Work in process	60,187	101,077
Inventory, Net, Total	$ 351,401	$ 507,441

Long-Term Debt, Schedule of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 1,375,016,000

$ 1,417,392,000

Unamortized debt issuance costs

^[1]

(4,655,000)

(6,550,000)

Unamortized debt discount

(594,000)

(654,000)

Total

1,369,767,000

1,410,188,000

Bank Notes Payable [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

16,000

19,000

Revolving Credit Facility Due March 27, 2024 [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 0

417,373,000

Credit facility, expiration date

Mar. 27, 2024

Long term debt, face amount

$ 850,000,000

Term Loan Due March 27, 2024

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 375,000,000

Debt maturity date

Mar. 27, 2024

Long term debt, face amount

$ 500,000,000

Senior Notes Series A Due February 27, 2020 [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 150,000,000

150,000,000

Debt maturity date

Feb. 27, 2020

Long term debt, face amount

$ 150,000,000

Senior Notes Series B Due February 27, 2023 [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 350,000,000

350,000,000

Debt maturity date

Feb. 27, 2023

Long term debt, face amount

$ 350,000,000

Senior Notes Due March 1, 2028 [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 500,000,000

500,000,000

Debt maturity date

Mar. 01, 2028

Long term debt, face amount

$ 500,000,000

Credit Line Due June 30, 2021 [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

$ 0

Credit facility, expiration date

Jun. 30, 2021

Long term debt, face amount

$ 10,000,000

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Long-term debt [Abstract]

Unamortized debt issuance costs

$ 2,650,000

Credit facility, expiration date

Mar. 27, 2024

[1]	Unamortized debt issuance costs excludes $2,650,000 attributable to the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) included in other assets at December 31, 2019.

Long-Term Debt, Schedule of Aggregate Payments Due on The Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
2020	$ 150,016,000
2021	0
2022	0
2023	381,250,000
2024	343,750,000
Thereafter	500,000,000
Long-term Debt	1,375,016,000	$ 1,417,392,000
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Payments on long-term debt	125,000,000	$ 0	$ 13,721,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 850,000,000
Credit facility, expiration date	Mar. 27, 2024
Commitment amount	$ 25,000,000
Credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.125%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Alternate Base Rate [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.125%
Letter of Credit [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 5,258,000
Term Loan [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 500,000,000
Term of loan	5 years
Debt instrument, frequency of periodic payment	quarterly
Percentage of unpaid balance payable on initial amount	65.00%
Payments on long-term debt	$ 125,000,000
Credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 375,000,000

Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 13, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Senior Notes outstanding		$ 1,375,016,000	$ 1,417,392,000
Total debt outstanding, Fair value		1,421,325,000	1,411,628,000
Long-term debt		1,369,767,000	1,410,188,000
Senior Notes Due March 1, 2028 [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long term debt, face amount		500,000,000
Periodic payment, interest		10,500,000
Cash proceeds received		495,019,000
Original issue discount		705,000
Debt issuance costs		4,276,000
Senior Notes outstanding		$ 500,000,000	500,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		4.20%
Maturity Date		Mar. 01, 2028
Senior Notes Series A Due February 27, 2020 [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long term debt, face amount		$ 150,000,000
Senior Notes outstanding		$ 150,000,000	150,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		2.72%
Maturity Date		Feb. 27, 2020
Senior Notes Series B Due February 27, 2023 [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long term debt, face amount		$ 350,000,000
Senior Notes outstanding		$ 350,000,000	$ 350,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.29%
Maturity Date		Feb. 27, 2023
Term Loan Due September 15, 2032 [Member] \| Stewart & Stevenson LLC [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Term debt assumed, paid off	$ 12,135,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 850,000,000
Credit facility, expiration date		Mar. 27, 2024
Credit facility, amount outstanding		$ 0
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		2.90%
Letter of Credit [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Credit facility, amount outstanding		$ 5,258,000
Senior Notes [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long term debt, face amount		500,000,000
Line Of Credit [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 10,000,000
Credit facility, expiration date		Jun. 30, 2021
Credit facility, amount outstanding		$ 1,171,000
Secured Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Short-term debt		$ 16,000,000

Taxes on Income, Earnings Before Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income	$ 4,319	$ 64,455	$ 62,709	$ 58,337	$ (30,292)	$ 57,066	$ 44,854	$ 42,531	$ 189,820	$ 114,159	$ 73,014
U.S. Federal [Abstract]
Current									(312)	0	11,143
Deferred									45,133	27,102	(258,703)
Total U.S. Federal									44,821	27,102	(247,560)
U.S. State [Abstract]
Current									76	(243)	3,861
Deferred									1,706	7,619	2,280
Total U.S. State									1,782	7,376	6,141
Foreign [Abstract]
Current									198	443	370
Deferred									0	160	160
Total Foreign									198	603	530
Consolidated [Abstract]
Current									(38)	200	15,374
Deferred									46,839	34,881	(256,263)
Total Provision (benefit) for taxes on income	$ 1,347	$ 16,305	$ 15,269	$ 13,880	$ (5,961)	$ 15,116	$ 16,061	$ 9,865	46,801	35,081	(240,889)
United States [Member]
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income									190,839	117,800	74,267
Foreign [Member]
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) before taxes on income									$ (1,019)	$ (3,641)	$ (1,253)

Taxes on Income, Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Company's provision for taxes on income varied from the statutory federal income tax rate [Abstract]
United States income tax statutory rate	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
State and local taxes, net of federal benefit	0.70%	6.50%	0.90%
Change due to U.S. tax reform	0.00%	0.00%	(369.00%)
Other - net	3.00%	3.20%	3.20%
Effective income tax rate	24.70%	30.70%	(329.90%)

Taxes on Income, Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 1,758,000	$ 2,105,000
Inventory	13,401,000	5,017,000
Insurance accruals	4,397,000	4,119,000
Deferred compensation	1,109,000	1,291,000
Unrealized loss on defined benefit plans	10,253,000	9,891,000
Operating loss carryforwards	143,181,000	81,867,000
Pension benefits	6,825,000	6,559,000
Other	7,392,000	22,421,000
Deferred tax assets, gross	188,316,000	133,270,000
Valuation allowances	(20,525,000)	(25,568,000)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	167,791,000	107,702,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Property	(620,891,000)	(526,873,000)
Deferred state taxes	(63,640,000)	(74,638,000)
Goodwill and other intangibles	(54,844,000)	(34,235,000)
Other	(16,620,000)	(14,741,000)
Deferred tax liabilities	(755,995,000)	(650,487,000)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(588,204,000)	(542,785,000)
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract]
Deferred tax assets	117,134,000
State operating loss deferred tax assets	17,282,000	19,039,000
Operating loss carryforwards, net of valuation allowance	$ 11,760,000	$ 17,027,000
Expiration dates, operating loss carryforwards	Dec. 31, 2037
Unrecognized tax benefits including interest and penalties	$ 1,172,000
Amount that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized	960,000
Canada [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract]
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 8,765,000
Expiration dates, operating loss carryforwards	Dec. 31, 2038
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Open Tax Year [Abstract]
Years open to audit under the statute of limitations	2013
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Open Tax Year [Abstract]
Years open to audit under the statute of limitations	2018
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Open Tax Year [Abstract]
Years open to audit under the statute of limitations	2016
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Open Tax Year [Abstract]
Years open to audit under the statute of limitations	2018

Taxes on Income, Reconciliation of Liability for Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 1,443,000	$ 1,787,000	$ 2,019,000
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	51,000	254,000	403,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years	58,000	70,000	273,000
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(669,000)	(668,000)	(908,000)
Balance at end of year	883,000	1,443,000	1,787,000
Income tax penalties and interest recognized	(71,000)	(209,000)	120,000
Accrued liabilities for payment of interest and penalties	$ 289,000	$ 466,000	$ 675,000

Stock Award Plans, Compensation Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Stock Award Plans [Abstract]
Compensation cost	$ 13,612	$ 19,104	$ 11,460
Income tax benefit	$ 3,368	$ 5,903	$ 4,333

Stock Award Plans, Employee Plan Stock Option Activity (Details) - Employee Stock Award Plan [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares
Stock Award Plan Information [Abstract]
Shares available for future grants (in shares)	1,356,969
Stock Options [Member]
Stock Award Plan Information [Abstract]
Term of grant	7 years
Vesting period	3 years
Outstanding Non-Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at Period Start (in shares)	464,702
Granted (in shares)	114,429
Exercised (in shares)	(74,825)
Canceled or expired (in shares)	(18,247)
Outstanding at Period End (in shares)	486,059
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Outstanding at Period Start (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 69.85
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	74.57
Exercised (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	64.83
Canceled or expired (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	72.17
Outstanding at Period End (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 71.65
Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]
Outstanding Non-Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at Period End (in shares)	0
RSUs [Member]
Stock Award Plan Information [Abstract]
Vesting period	5 years

Stock Award Plans, Employee Plan Outstanding and Exercisable Options (Details) - Employee Stock Award Plan [Member] - Stock Options [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares
First Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 51.23
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	69,254
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 51.23
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	69,254
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 51.23
Second Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	64.65
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 68.50
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	97,716
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 67.31
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	44,171
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 68.43
Third Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	70.65
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 75.50
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	275,103
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 74.69
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	93,985
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 74.94
Fourth Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	84.90
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 101.46
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	43,986
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 9 months 18 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 94.38
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	37,281
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 96.08
Full Exercise Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	51.23
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 101.46
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	486,059
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 71.65
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding \| $	$ 8,936,000
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	244,691
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 70.28
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable \| $	$ 4,955,000

Stock Award Plans, Employee Plan Restricted Stock Award Activity (Details) - Employee Stock Award Plan [Member] - Restricted Stock [Member] - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Unvested RSU Shares [Roll Forward]
Nonvested balance beginning of period (in shares)	214,216
Vested (in shares)	(62,748)
Forfeited (in shares)	(16,799)
Nonvested balance end of period (in shares)	134,669	214,216
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share [Abstract]
Nonvested balance beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 64.73
Vested (in dollars per share)	68.28
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	63.10
Nonvested balance end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 63.28	$ 64.73
Granted (in shares)	0	0
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted (in dollars per share)			$ 68.50

Stock Award Plans, Employee Plan RSU Activity (Details) - RSUs [Member] - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Unvested RSU Shares [Roll Forward]
Vested (in shares)		0	0
Employee Stock Award Plan [Member]
Unvested RSU Shares [Roll Forward]
Nonvested balance beginning of period (in shares)	141,055
Granted (in shares)	146,650		0
Vested (in shares)	(25,484)
Forfeited (in shares)	(7,054)
Nonvested balance end of period (in shares)	255,167	141,055
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share [Abstract]
Nonvested balance beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 75.59
Granted (in dollars per share)	74.46	$ 75.59
Vested (in dollars per share)	75.60
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	74.93
Nonvested balance end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 74.96	$ 75.59

Stock Award Plans, Director Plan Stock Option Activity (Details) - Director Plan [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares
Stock Award Plan Information [Abstract]
Shares available for future grants (in shares)	461,133
Stock Options [Member]
Stock Award Plan Information [Abstract]
Term of grant	10 years
Outstanding Non-Qualified or Nonincentive Stock Awards [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at Period Start (in shares)	131,104
Granted (in shares)	2,652
Exercised (in shares)	(18,000)
Outstanding at Period End (in shares)	115,756
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Outstanding at Period Start (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 70.14
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	84.90
Exercised (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	49.51
Outstanding at Period End (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 73.68
Restricted Stock [Member]
Stock Award Plan Information [Abstract]
Vesting period	6 months

Stock Award Plans, Director Plan Outstanding and Exercisable Options (Details) - Director Plan [Member] - Stock Options [Member]	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares
First Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	$ 41.24
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 56.45
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	25,276
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 months 18 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 49.23
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	25,276
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 49.23
Second Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	61.89
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 62.48
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	22,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 7 months 6 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 62.21
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	22,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 62.21
Third Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	70.65
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 99.52
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	68,480
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 4 months 24 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 86.39
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	67,817
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 86.41
Full Exercise Price Range [Member]
Outstanding and Exercisable Stock options [Abstract]
Range of Exercise Prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)	41.24
Range of Exercise Prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)	$ 99.52
Options Outstanding [Abstract]
Number Outstanding (in shares) \| shares	115,756
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	3 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 73.68
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding \| $	$ 2,134,000
Options Exercisable [Abstract]
Number Exercisable (in shares) \| shares	115,093
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 73.62
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable \| $	$ 2,131,000

Stock Award Plans, Director Plan Restricted Stock Award Activity (Details) - Director Plan [Member] - Restricted Stock [Member] - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Unvested RSU Shares [Roll Forward]
Nonvested balance beginning of period (in shares)	264
Granted (in shares)	22,273
Vested (in shares)	(20,798)
Nonvested balance end of period (in shares)	1,739	264
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share [Abstract]
Nonvested balance beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 85.30
Granted (in dollars per share)	84.81	$ 85.70	$ 70.65
Vested (in dollars per share)	84.91
Nonvested balance end of period (in dollars per share)	$ 83.68	$ 85.30

Stock Award Plans, All Plans Options and Restricted Stock Award Activity (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$ 1,655,000	$ 6,709,000	$ 1,671,000
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	410,000	2,073,000	632,000
Intrinsic value of restricted stock vesting	5,917,000	12,936,000	8,485,000
Tax benefit from restricted stock vesting	$ 1,464,000	$ 3,997,000	$ 3,208,000
Fair value of stock options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 22.77	$ 23.53	$ 20.72
Fair value of stock options granted	$ 2,666,000	$ 2,787,000	$ 2,617,000
Employee Stock Award Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Intrinsic value of restricted stock vesting	1,727,000
Tax benefit from restricted stock vesting	427,000
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	$ 2,313,000
Weighted average period of recognition in years	1 year 3 months 18 days
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average risk-free interest rate	2.50%	2.70%	2.00%
Stock price volatility	28.00%	27.00%	27.00%
Estimated option term	5 years 3 months 18 days	5 years 6 months	5 years 9 months 18 days
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	$ 4,226,000
Weighted average period of recognition in years	1 year 4 months 24 days
Restricted Stock [Member] \| Employee Stock Award Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Vesting (in shares)	62,748
RSUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Vesting (in shares)		0	0
Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards	$ 10,093,000
Weighted average period of recognition in years	3 years 6 months
RSUs [Member] \| Employee Stock Award Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Plans Combined Disclosure [Abstract]
Vesting (in shares)	25,484

Retirement Plans, Information About Plan Assets and Asset Allocation (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Real Estate Investment [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 125,000	$ 804,000
Cash and Equity Securities [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	25,871,000	22,497,000
Higman [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Decrease in pension plan projected benefit obligation	(3,081,000)
Plan 2018 [Member] \| Higman [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Pension contributions	1,615,000	1,385,000
Plan 2019 [Member] \| Higman [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Pension contributions	$ 1,449,000
Plan 2016 and 2017 [Member] \| Higman [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Pension contributions		6,717,000
Pension Plan [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Service period of participants not impacted by pension plan amendment	15 years
Age of plan participants not impacted by pension plan amendment	50 years
Service period of participants who are age fifty not impacted by pension plan amendment	10 years
Decrease in pension plan projected benefit obligation	$ (33,433,000)
Pension contributions	3,064,000	8,102,000
Fair value of plan assets	$ 358,197,000	$ 303,151,000	$ 294,995,000
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Contribution percentage to defined contribution plan	86.00%
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Asset allocations	100.00%	100.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| U.S. Equity Securities [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Asset allocations	53.00%	52.00%
Target allocations	50.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| U.S. Equity Securities [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	30.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| U.S. Equity Securities [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	70.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| International Equity Securities [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Asset allocations	19.00%	17.00%
Target allocations	20.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| International Equity Securities [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	0.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| International Equity Securities [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	30.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| Debt Securities [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Asset allocations	26.00%	28.00%
Target allocations	30.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| Debt Securities [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	15.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| Debt Securities [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	55.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Asset allocations	2.00%	3.00%
Target allocations	0.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	0.00%
Pension Plan [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Asset Allocation Among Asset Categories [Abstract]
Target allocations	5.00%
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Information about Plan Assets [Abstract]
Pension contributions	$ 90,000	$ 103,000
Fair value of plan assets	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Pension plan defined benefit plan cost increase limit percentage	4.00%

Retirement Plans, Schedule of Change in Benefit Obligation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Pension Plan [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 381,483	$ 354,994
Service cost	7,364	7,622	$ 10,677
Interest cost	16,493	15,499	13,729
Actuarial loss (gain)	49,478	(44,935)
Gross benefits paid	(11,957)	(11,749)
Curtailments	0	(3,081)
Acquisition	0	63,133
Benefit obligation at end of year	442,861	381,483	354,994
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	417,981	356,797
SERP [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	1,246	1,412
Service cost	0	0	0
Interest cost	52	49	58
Actuarial loss (gain)	72	(70)
Gross benefits paid	(145)	(145)
Curtailments	0	0
Acquisition	0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	1,225	1,246	1,412
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	1,225	1,246
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	743	679
Service cost	0	0	0
Interest cost	31	24	27
Actuarial loss (gain)	(22)	143
Gross benefits paid	(90)	(103)
Curtailments	0	0
Acquisition	0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	662	743	$ 679
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$ 662	$ 743

Retirement Plans, Weighted-Average Assumption Used to Determine Benefit Obligation (Details)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Dec. 31, 2018

Mar. 31, 2018

Feb. 14, 2018

Pension Plan [Member]

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligation at end of year [Abstract]

Discount rate

^[1]

3.50%

4.40%

Health care cost trend rate [Abstract]

Initial rate

0.00%

Ultimate rate

0.00%

Pension Plan [Member] | Higman [Member]

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligation at end of year [Abstract]

Discount rate

4.40%

4.02%

4.13%

SERP [Member]

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligation at end of year [Abstract]

Discount rate

^[1]

3.50%

4.40%

Rate of compensation increase

0.00%

Health care cost trend rate [Abstract]

Initial rate

0.00%

Ultimate rate

0.00%

Retirement Plans, Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rate (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan [Member]
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation[Abstract]
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation, Increase	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation, Decrease	0	0
SERP [Member]
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation[Abstract]
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation, Increase	0	0
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation, Decrease	0	0
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation[Abstract]
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation, Increase	68	75
Effect of one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rate on postretirement obligation, Decrease	$ (59)	$ (65)

Retirement Plans, Summary of Funded Status at End of Year (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Pension Plan [Member]
Funded status at end of year [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 358,197,000	$ 303,151,000	$ 294,995,000
Benefit obligations	(442,861,000)	(381,483,000)	(354,994,000)
Funded status and amount recognized at end of year	(84,664,000)	(78,332,000)
SERP [Member]
Funded status at end of year [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	0
Benefit obligations	(1,225,000)	(1,246,000)	(1,412,000)
Funded status and amount recognized at end of year	(1,225,000)	(1,246,000)
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Funded status at end of year [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	0
Benefit obligations	(662,000)	(743,000)	$ (679,000)
Funded status and amount recognized at end of year	$ (662,000)	$ (743,000)

Retirement Plans, Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan [Member]
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets [Abstract]
Noncurrent asset	$ 0	$ 0
Current liability	0	0
Long-term liability	(84,664)	(78,332)
SERP [Member]
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets [Abstract]
Noncurrent asset	0	0
Current liability	(159)	(158)
Long-term liability	(1,066)	(1,087)
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets [Abstract]
Noncurrent asset	0	0
Current liability	(60)	(65)
Long-term liability	$ (602)	$ (678)

Retirement Plans, Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net actuarial loss (gain)	$ 52,160	$ 47,101
Prior service cost (credit)	0	0
Accumulated other compensation income	52,160	47,101
SERP [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net actuarial loss (gain)	460	415
Prior service cost (credit)	0	0
Accumulated other compensation income	460	415
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net actuarial loss (gain)	(3,795)	(4,313)
Prior service cost (credit)	0	0
Accumulated other compensation income	$ (3,795)	$ (4,313)

Retirement Plans, Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan [Member]
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$ 442,861	$ 381,483
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	358,197	303,151
SERP [Member]
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	1,225	1,246
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$ 0	$ 0

Retirement Plans, Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan [Member]
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$ 442,861	$ 381,483
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	417,981	356,797
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	358,197	303,151
SERP [Member]
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	1,225	1,246
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	1,225	1,246
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$ 0	$ 0

Retirement Plans, Expected Employer Contribution and Benefit Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Pension Plan [Member]
Expected employer contributions [Abstract]
First year	$ 2,407	$ 2,395
Expected benefit payments (gross) [Abstract]
Year one	12,063	12,209
Year two	13,123	13,108
Year three	14,300	13,959
Year four	15,572	14,959
Year five	16,857	16,052
Next five years	100,587	96,547
SERP [Member]
Expected employer contributions [Abstract]
First year	0	0
Expected benefit payments (gross) [Abstract]
Year one	162	162
Year two	158	159
Year three	133	155
Year four	107	130
Year five	103	104
Next five years	426	447
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Expected employer contributions [Abstract]
First year	0	0
Expected benefit payments (gross) [Abstract]
Year one	61	66
Year two	62	68
Year three	51	69
Year four	51	57
Year five	49	56
Next five years	$ 220	$ 261

Retirement Plans, Estimated Amounts That Will be Amortized from AOCI Into Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Pension Benefits (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Pension Plan [Member]
Estimated Amounts that will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Actuarial gain (loss)	$ 929
Prior service cost (credit)	0
Estimated amounts to be amortized	929
SERP [Member]
Estimated Amounts that will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Actuarial gain (loss)	35
Prior service cost (credit)	0
Estimated amounts to be amortized	$ 35

Retirement Plans, Estimated Amounts That Will be Amortized from AOCI Into Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Other Postretirement Benefits (Details) - Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Estimated Amounts that will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Actuarial gain	$ (522)
Prior service cost	0
Estimated amounts to be amortized	$ (522)

Contingencies and Commitments (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Jul. 16, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 16, 2019 CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 Company Spill BargeSlip	Mar. 22, 2014 TankBarge Vessel
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Loss contingency, settlement charges	$ 2,200	$ 2,900
Collision with M/S Summer Wind [Member]
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Number of vessels involved in collision \| Vessel				2
Number of vessels damaged in collision resulting in fuel oil discharge \| TankBarge				1
Portland Harbor Superfund Site [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Number of other companies also named as Potentially Responsible Parties ("PRPs") \| Company			250
Number of spills \| Spill			4
SBA Shipyard Site [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Number of barge slips \| BargeSlip			3

Contingencies and Commitments, Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Customers Distributor	Dec. 31, 2018 Customers	Dec. 31, 2017 Customers
Guaranties [Abstract]
Issued guaranties	$ 22,804,000
Maximum [Member]
Guaranties [Abstract]
Guarantor obligations, expiration period	2 years
Performance Bonds [Member]
Guaranties [Abstract]
Issued guaranties	$ 11,564,000
Marine Transportation [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Percentage of inland revenue	65.00%
Marine Transportation [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Range of renewal options under term contracts	1 year
Marine Transportation [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Range of renewal options under term contracts	3 years
Marine Transportation [Member] \| Customers [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Percentage of costal revenue	80.00%
Customer relationship period	40 years
Number of single customers accounting more than 10% of segment revenue \| Customers	0	0	0
Distribution and Services [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Number of off-highway top distributors \| Distributor	5
Distribution and Services [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Services segment's relationship term	50 years
Distribution and Services [Member] \| Customers [Member]
Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Number of single customers accounting more than 10% of segment revenue \| Customers	0	0	0
Letters Of Credit [Member]
Guaranties [Abstract]
Issued guaranties	$ 11,240,000

Segment Data (Details)	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
Segment Data (Details)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Segment	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Data [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| Segment										2
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenues										$ 2,838,399,000	$ 2,970,697,000	$ 2,214,418,000
Segment profit (loss)	$ 4,319,000	$ 64,455,000	$ 62,709,000	$ 58,337,000	$ (30,292,000)	$ 57,066,000	$ 44,854,000	$ 42,531,000		189,820,000	114,159,000	73,014,000
Total assets	6,079,097,000				5,871,594,000				$ 5,127,427,000	6,079,097,000	5,871,594,000	5,127,427,000
Depreciation and amortization										219,632,000	224,972,000	202,881,000
Capital expenditures										248,164,000	301,861,000	177,222,000
Other segment disclosures [Abstract]
Interest expense	(12,968,000)	(14,310,000)	(15,515,000)	(13,201,000)	(12,191,000)	(12,345,000)	(12,540,000)	(9,780,000)		(55,994,000)	(46,856,000)	(21,472,000)
Impairment of long-lived assets					(82,705,000)				(105,712,000)	0	(82,705,000)	(105,712,000)
Impairment of goodwill										0	(2,702,000)	0
Lease cancellation costs										0	(2,403,000)	0
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets	3,251,000	(374,000)	3,118,000	2,157,000	(390,000)	18,000	442,000	1,898,000		8,152,000	1,968,000	(4,487,000)
Nonoperating expense	1,110,000	864,000	2,381,000	(568,000)	1,140,000	1,454,000	1,541,000	1,591,000
Earnings before taxes on income	4,319,000	$ 64,455,000	$ 62,709,000	$ 58,337,000	(30,292,000)	$ 57,066,000	$ 44,854,000	$ 42,531,000		189,820,000	114,159,000	73,014,000
Details of "Other" total assets [Abstract]
Investment in affiliates	2,025,000				2,495,000					2,025,000	2,495,000
Marine Transportation [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenues										1,587,082,000	1,483,143,000	1,324,106,000
Distribution and Services [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenues										1,251,317,000	1,487,554,000	890,312,000
Other [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Segment profit (loss)										(93,223,000)	(162,562,000)	(149,012,000)
Total assets	120,335,000				72,664,000				75,243,000	120,335,000	72,664,000	75,243,000
Depreciation and amortization										3,892,000	3,316,000	3,596,000
Capital expenditures										12,516,000	6,166,000	6,715,000
Other segment disclosures [Abstract]
General corporate expenses										(13,643,000)	(35,590,000)	(18,202,000)
Interest expense										(55,994,000)	(46,856,000)	(21,472,000)
Inventory write-down										(35,525,000)	0	0
Impairment of long-lived assets										0	(82,705,000)	(105,712,000)
Impairment of goodwill										0	(2,702,000)	0
Lease cancellation costs										0	(2,403,000)	0
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets										8,152,000	1,968,000	(4,487,000)
Nonoperating expense										3,787,000	5,726,000	861,000
Earnings before taxes on income										(93,223,000)	(162,562,000)	(149,012,000)
Details of "Other" total assets [Abstract]
General corporate assets	118,310,000				70,169,000				73,353,000	118,310,000	70,169,000	73,353,000
Investment in affiliates	2,025,000				2,495,000				1,890,000	2,025,000	2,495,000	1,890,000
Total other assets	120,335,000				72,664,000				75,243,000	120,335,000	72,664,000	75,243,000
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Marine Transportation [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenues										1,587,082,000	1,483,143,000	1,324,106,000
Segment profit (loss)										215,842,000	147,416,000	135,547,000
Total assets	4,536,368,000				4,145,294,000				3,485,099,000	4,536,368,000	4,145,294,000	3,485,099,000
Depreciation and amortization										179,742,000	182,307,000	178,898,000
Capital expenditures										217,364,000	284,953,000	165,421,000
Other segment disclosures [Abstract]
Earnings before taxes on income										215,842,000	147,416,000	135,547,000
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Distribution and Services [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenues										1,251,317,000	1,487,554,000	890,312,000
Segment profit (loss)										67,201,000	129,305,000	86,479,000
Total assets	$ 1,422,394,000				$ 1,653,636,000				$ 1,567,085,000	1,422,394,000	1,653,636,000	1,567,085,000
Depreciation and amortization										35,998,000	39,349,000	20,387,000
Capital expenditures										18,284,000	10,742,000	5,086,000
Other segment disclosures [Abstract]
Earnings before taxes on income										67,201,000	129,305,000	86,479,000
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenues										27,441,000	29,363,000	20,717,000
Segment profit (loss)										2,744,000	2,936,000	2,072,000
Other segment disclosures [Abstract]
Earnings before taxes on income										$ 2,744,000	$ 2,936,000	$ 2,072,000

Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Hollywood Camp [Member]
Related Party [Abstract]
Ownership percentage	50.00%
Related party expenses	$ 5,110,000	$ 4,523,000	$ 3,634,000
Bolivar [Member]
Related Party [Abstract]
Ownership percentage	50.00%
Related party expenses	$ 459,000	461,000	581,000
ABS [Member]
Related Party [Abstract]
Related party expenses	1,774,000	1,162,000	1,081,000
Signal [Member]
Related Party [Abstract]
Related party expenses	1,391,000
Strasburger & Price, LLP [Member]
Related Party [Abstract]
Legal services	$ 1,278,000	$ 2,019,000	$ 830,000