Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Accounting Policies (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
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Days
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
$ / shares
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
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Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Days
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
Jan. 01, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue $ 356,561 $ 331,375 $ 330,343 $ 302,608 $ 325,136 $ 298,289 $ 283,876 $ 262,046 $ 1,320,886 $ 1,169,346 $ 1,030,210    
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current $ 156,359       147,948       $ 156,359 147,948      
Number of principal reporting segments                 4        
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic                 $ 881 700 210    
Amount Reclassified from Current Deferred Tax Asset to Non-current Deferred Tax Liability                         $ (558)
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve | Days 90               90        
Average monthly revenue adjustments                 $ 302        
Average monthly revenue                 $ 110,074        
Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue 0.30%               0.30%        
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum | Days                 35        
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum | Days                 85        
Self insurance limit on individual vehicle and general claims                 $ 7,500        
Insurance Settlements Receivable $ 28,520       8,133       $ 28,520 8,133      
Accounting Policies, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]                          
Maximum term for liquid investments to be considered cash equivalents, in months                 3 months        
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Depreciation                 $ 33,044 30,862 28,088    
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]                          
Capitalized software development costs 21,492       19,567       21,492 19,567      
Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization 15,611       13,706       15,611 13,706      
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization                 1,905 1,816 1,658    
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent 37,174       29,080       37,174 29,080      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) 342,663       337,058       342,663 337,058      
Costs and Expenses                 1,198,855 1,060,589 970,507    
Operating Income (Loss) 35,047 29,879 32,870 24,235 27,843 27,176 29,996 23,743 122,031 108,757 59,703    
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)                 28,195 20,282 30,605    
Net income (loss) $ 27,684 $ 22,329 $ 24,298 $ 17,741 $ 34,681 $ 18,328 $ 19,666 $ 14,581 $ 92,051 $ 87,255 $ 27,505    
Diluted net income per share | $ / shares $ 0.95 $ 0.76 $ 0.82 $ 0.60 $ 1.16 $ 0.61 $ 0.65 $ 0.48 $ 3.12 $ 2.89 $ 0.90    
Self insurance retention liability                 $ 3,000        
Self-insurance retention Workers' compensation                 $ 350        
Software and Software Development Costs [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Property and equipment, useful life                 5 years        
Capitalized software future estimated amortization expense                          
2019 $ 1,605               $ 1,605        
2020 1,263               1,263        
2021 932               932        
2022 653               653        
2023 382               382        
Total $ 4,835               $ 4,835        
Stock Option [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Period from grant date of stock options to expiration (in years)                 7 years        
Share-based awards, vesting period                 3 years        
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)                 1.10% 1.30% 1.00%    
Expected stock price volatility                 24.40% 28.50% 28.90%    
Weighted average risk-free interest rate                 2.70% 2.00% 1.30%    
Expected life of options (in years)                 6 years 1 month 11 days 5 years 10 months 11 days 5 years 9 months 11 days    
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Share-based awards, vesting period                 3 years        
Expected stock price volatility                 24.30% 24.70% 22.30%    
Weighted average risk-free interest rate                 2.20% 1.40% 0.80%    
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Percentage of share price for shares issued under the ESPP (in hundredths)                 90.00%        
Purchase Period for Employee Stock Purchase Plan                 6 months        
Number of large lump sum contributions related to ESPP stock purchases 2               2        
Expedited LTL [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                 $ 740,332 $ 652,304 $ 593,472    
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 50.00%               50.00%        
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Income (Loss)                 $ 96,385 87,969 83,142    
Intermodal [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                 $ 200,750 154,446 105,504    
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 10.00%               10.00%        
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Income (Loss)                 $ 23,266 12,963 11,060    
Self insurance retention liability                 50        
Pool Distribution [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                 $ 193,690 168,194 151,245    
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 25.00%               25.00%        
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Income (Loss)                 $ 5,870 6,378 3,633    
Truckload Premium Services [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                 $ 186,114 194,402 179,989    
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 50.00%               50.00%        
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Income (Loss)                 $ 5,055 3,215 (35,409)    
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Income (Loss)                 $ (8,545) (1,768) (2,723)    
Minimum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset                       $ 130,000  
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Lease, Liability                       130,000  
Minimum [Member] | Building [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Property and equipment, useful life                 30 years        
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Property and equipment, useful life                 3 years        
Maximum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset                       150,000  
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Operating Lease, Liability                       $ 150,000  
Maximum [Member] | Building [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Property and equipment, useful life                 40 years        
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Property and equipment, useful life                 10 years        
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   1,169,346 1,030,210    
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current         $ 147,948         147,948      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Accounts Payable         30,723         30,723      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent         29,080         29,080      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)         337,058         337,058      
Costs and Expenses                   1,060,589 970,507    
Operating Income (Loss)                   108,757 59,703    
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)                   20,282 30,605    
Net income (loss)                   $ 87,255 $ 27,505    
Diluted net income per share | $ / shares                   $ 2.89 $ 0.90    
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Expedited LTL [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   $ 655,838 $ 596,539    
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Intermodal [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   154,684 105,664    
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Pool Distribution [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   168,483 151,852    
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Truckload Premium Services [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   201,752 181,007    
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   (11,411) (4,852)    
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   68,530 47,680    
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current         4,907         4,907      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Accounts Payable         6,019         6,019      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent         (323)         (323)      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)         (790)         (790)      
Costs and Expenses                   68,445 47,956    
Operating Income (Loss)                   85 (276)    
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)                   151 (111)    
Net income (loss)                   (66) (165)    
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Expedited LTL [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   36,059 25,761    
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Intermodal [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   5,777 1,993    
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Pool Distribution [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   4,262 3,191    
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Truckload Premium Services [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   22,432 16,735    
Previously Reported [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   1,100,816 982,530    
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current         143,041         143,041      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Accounts Payable         24,704         24,704      
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent         29,403         29,403      
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)         $ 337,848         337,848      
Costs and Expenses                   992,144 922,551    
Operating Income (Loss)                   108,672 59,979    
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)                   20,131 30,716    
Net income (loss)                   $ 87,321 $ 27,670    
Diluted net income per share | $ / shares                   $ 2.89 $ 0.90    
Previously Reported [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Expedited LTL [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   $ 619,779 $ 570,778    
Previously Reported [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Intermodal [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   148,907 103,671    
Previously Reported [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Pool Distribution [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   164,221 148,661    
Previously Reported [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Truckload Premium Services [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   179,320 164,272    
Previously Reported [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]                          
Accounting Policies [Line Items]                          
Operating revenue                   $ (11,411) $ (4,852)    
Aggregate deductible for claims between $3,000 and $5,000 [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self insurance retention liability additional deductible                 $ 6,000        
Aggregate deductible for claims between $3,000 and $5,000 [Member] | Minimum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self insurance retention liability additonal deductible applicable range                 3,000        
Aggregate deductible for claims between $3,000 and $5,000 [Member] | Maximum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self insurance retention liability additonal deductible applicable range                 5,000        
Aggregate deductible for claims between $5,000 and $10,000 [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self insurance retention liability additional deductible                 2,500        
Aggregate deductible for claims between $5,000 and $10,000 [Member] | Minimum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self insurance retention liability additonal deductible applicable range                 5,000        
Aggregate deductible for claims between $5,000 and $10,000 [Member] | Maximum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self insurance retention liability additonal deductible applicable range                 10,000        
Truckload Premium Services [Member] | Aggregate deductible for claims between $0 and $5,000 [Member] | Minimum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Liability insurance coverage                 0        
Truckload Premium Services [Member] | Aggregate deductible for claims between $0 and $5,000 [Member] | Maximum [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]                          
Liability insurance coverage                 5,000        
State of Ohio [Member]                          
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]                          
Self-insurance retention Workers' compensation                 $ 500