Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Accounting Policies (Details)

v3.3.1.900
Accounting Policies (Details)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Days
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of principal reporting segments 3    
Forward Air number of categories of service 3    
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic $ (369) $ (404)  
Amount Reclassified from Current Deferred Tax Asset to Non-current Deferred Tax Liability   2,496  
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve | Days 90    
Average monthly revenue adjustments $ 399    
Average monthly revenue $ 79,927    
Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue 0.50%    
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum | Days 35    
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum | Days 110    
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 $ 500    
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 $ 26,252 22,616 $ 17,817
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]      
Capitalized software development costs 14,866 13,246  
Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization 10,584 9,065  
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization $ 1,526 $ 1,464 $ 1,228
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      
2016 $ 1,439    
2017 1,119    
2018 861    
2019 569    
2020 220    
Total $ 4,208    
Stock Option [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Share-based awards, vesting period 3 years    
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract]      
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths) 1.00% 1.20% 1.20%
Expected stock price volatility 33.30% 38.50% 43.70%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate 1.60% 1.60% 0.90%
Expected life of options (in years) 5 years 10 months 11 days 5 years 3 months 12 days 5 years 2 months 12 days
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Share-based awards, vesting period 3 years    
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract]      
Expected stock price volatility 23.50% 32.50% 34.50%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate 1.00% 0.70% 0.40%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]      
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [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    
Forward Air [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 50.00%    
Forward Air Intermodal Drayage Operations [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 10.00%    
FASI [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 25.00%    
TQI Pharmaceutical Operations [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 10.00%    
TQI Non-Pharmaceutical Operations [Member]      
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]      
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable 50.00%    
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