Forward Air Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Shareholders' Equity, Stock Incentive Plan and Net Income per Share - Common and Preferred Stock (Details)

Shareholders' Equity, Stock Incentive Plan and Net Income per Share - Common and Preferred Stock (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Feb. 05, 2019 shares	Jul. 21, 2016 shares	Dec. 31, 2020 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2020 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2020 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2020 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2019 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2019 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) numberOfSegments $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 shares
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Preferred stock, shares authorized			5,000,000				5,000,000								5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock par value per share \| $ / shares			$ 0.01				$ 0.01								$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Cash Dividends [Abstract]
Quarterly cash dividend per share, common stock \| $ / shares			$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15
Repurchase of Common Stock [Abstract]
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program) \| $															$ 45,248	$ 56,204	$ 66,126
Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Additional authorized shares for employee stock awards			965,000												965,000			2,000,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Expected life of options (in years) \| numberOfSegments															7
Minimum [Member] \| Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Option award vesting period															2 years
Maximum [Member] \| Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Option award vesting period															3 years
2016 Stock Repurchase Plan [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Repurchase of Common Stock [Abstract]
Share repurchase program, authorized shares		3,000,000
2019 Stock Repurchase Plan [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Repurchase of Common Stock [Abstract]
Share repurchase program, authorized shares	5,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares															787,000	913,000
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program) \| $															$ 45,248	$ 56,204
Treasury stock acquired, average cost per share \| $ / shares															$ 57.53	$ 61.59
Remaining shares authorized under share repurchase program															3,368,000