Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Accounting Policies (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Days
segments
ServiceCategories
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of principal reporting segments 2    
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 $ 163    
Average monthly revenue 44,700    
Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue 1.00%    
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 16,402 15,860 15,068
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]      
Capitalized software development costs 9,273 7,443  
Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization 5,336 3,889  
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization 1,447 1,301 1,016
Capitalized software future estimated amortization expense:      
2012 4,566    
2013 4,279    
2014 4,087    
2015 3,281    
2016 2,750    
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Period from grant date of stock options to expiration (in years) 7    
Share-based awards, vesting period 3 years    
Period of Volatility for Monte Carlo Simulation 3 years    
Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]      
Capitalized computer software, estimated useful life 5    
Capitalized software future estimated amortization expense:      
2012 1,012    
2013 893    
2014 829    
2015 612    
2016 314    
Total $ 3,660    
Building [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property and equipment, minimum useful life 30    
Property and equipment, maximum useful life 40    
Equipment [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]      
Property and equipment, minimum useful life 3    
Property and equipment, maximum useful life 10    
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Share-based awards, vesting period third    
Expected stock price volatility 47.70%    
Weighted average risk-free interest rate 1.40%    
Stock Option [Member]
      
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]      
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths) 1.00% 1.30% 0.90%
Expected stock price volatility 44.90% 45.70% 42.30%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate 2.40% 2.50% 2.00%
Expected life of options (in years) 4.6 4.5 4.5
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%