Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Accounting Policies (Details)

v2.4.0.8
Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Days
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of principal reporting segments 3    
Forward Air number of categories of service 3    
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve 90    
Average monthly revenue adjustments $ 211    
Average monthly revenue 54,373    
Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue 0.50%    
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum 40    
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum 80    
Self insurance limit on individual vehicle and general claims 500    
Self insurance limit on workers' compensation claims and health insurance claims 250    
Self Insurance limit on Ohio workers' compensation and health insurance claims 350    
Accounting Policies, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]      
Maximum term for liquid investments to be considered cash equivalents, in months 3    
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]      
Depreciation 17,817 16,455 16,402
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]      
Capitalized software development costs 11,763 10,389  
Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization 7,644 6,436  
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization 1,228 1,100 1,447
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Period from grant date of stock options to expiration (in years) 7 years    
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      
2014 1,328    
2015 1,112    
2016 821    
2017 529    
2018 260    
Total $ 4,050    
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Share-based awards, vesting period 3 years    
Expected stock price volatility 34.50% 40.80%  
Weighted average risk-free interest rate 0.40% 0.40%  
Stock Option [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths) 1.20% 0.90% 1.00%
Expected stock price volatility 43.70% 46.60% 44.90%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate 0.90% 0.80% 2.40%
Expected life of options (in years) 5 years 2 months 12 days 4 years 2 months 12 days 4 years 7 months 6 days
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    
FASI [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 25.00%    
Forward Air [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 50.00%    
TQI [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 25.00%    
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] | 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