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

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Subsequent Event (Details)

Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 04, 2015	Feb. 02, 2014
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue		$ 786,048	$ 710,107
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Changes in Accounting and Extraordinary Items, Net of Tax		96,596	91,215
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)		61,286	58,713
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic		$ 2.00	$ 1.95
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted		$ 1.97	$ 1.91
Pending Business Combination, Consideration to be transferred	125,000
Pending Business Combination, Escrow Deposit				16,500us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Line of Credit Facility Term, In Years				5fwrd_LineOfCreditFacilityTermInYears
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				275,000
Term loan availability	90 days
Line of Credit Facility, Periodic Payment	11.10%fwrd_TermLoanQuarterlyPaymentPercentage
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.30%
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	LIBOR	LIBOR
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Minimum		1.10%		1.00%
CST [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cash Paid					82,998
Business Combination, Acquired Receivables, Gross Contractual Amount					9,339
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment					2,132
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets					35
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Goodwill					89,140
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities					6,535
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt					11,215
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities					17,750
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net Assets					100,747
Pending Business Combination, Escrow Deposit					10,000
CST [Member] \| Trade Names [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		2 years
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill					500
CST [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		15 years
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill					36,000
CST [Member] \| Goodwill [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Goodwill					51,710
CST [Member] \| Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		5 years
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill					930
Towne possible net working capital shortfall [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Pending Business Combination, Escrow Deposit				2,000
Towne possible claims [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Pending Business Combination, Escrow Deposit				14,500
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				150,000
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Minimum				0.30%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Maximum				0.80%
Letter of Credit [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Capacity Available for Specific Purpose Other than for Trade Purchases				25,000
Swing line loan [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Capacity Available for Specific Purpose Other than for Trade Purchases				15,000
Term loan [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 125,000
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Minimum				0.10%
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Maximum				0.60%
Federal funds [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.50%