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

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Shareholders' Equity, Stock Options and Net Income per Share - Non-employee Director Non-vested Shares (Details)

Shareholders' Equity, Stock Options and Net Income per Share - Non-employee Director Non-vested Shares (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Non-Vested Shares [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	$ 6,681us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	$ 6,178us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	$ 6,050us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Employee Non-vested Shares [Member]
Non-Vested Shares [Line Items]
Non-vested share vesting period	3 years
Outstanding at beginning of year (shares)	186	168	108
Granted (shares)	99	98	103
Vested (shares)	(94)	(68)	(36)
Outstanding at end of year (shares)	190	186	168
Weighted average grant date fair value of non-vested shares at beginning of year	$ 35	$ 33	$ 29
Weighted average grant date fair value non-vested shares at end of year	$ 40	$ 35	$ 33
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 42	$ 37	$ 37
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 43	$ 37	$ 29
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Granted in Period, Total Fair Value	7,585	6,588	5,579
Grant date fair value of shares that vested during the year	4,008	2,503	1,249
Share-based compensation	3,626	3,058	2,039
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense	1,385	1,165	785
Unrecognized compensation cost	4,325
Nonemployee Director Nonvested Shares Granted [Member]
Non-Vested Shares [Line Items]
Non-vested share vesting period	1 year
Outstanding at beginning of year (shares)	15	20	24
Granted (shares)	15	15	20
Vested (shares)	(15)	(20)	(24)
Outstanding at end of year (shares)	15	15	20
Weighted average grant date fair value of non-vested shares at beginning of year	$ 38	$ 32	$ 33
Weighted average grant date fair value non-vested shares at end of year	$ 44	$ 38	$ 32
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 44	$ 38	$ 32
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 38	$ 32	$ 32
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Granted in Period, Total Fair Value	650	560	640
Grant date fair value of shares that vested during the year	632	762	752
Share-based compensation	589	589	687
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense	225	225	264
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 256