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Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2014
Days
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||
| Number of principal reporting segments | 3fwrd_NumberOfPrincipalReportingSegments | ||
| Forward Air number of categories of service | 3fwrd_NumberOfCategoriesOfService | ||
| Net income allocated to participating securities | $ (404)us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsLossAllocatedToParticipatingSecuritiesBasic | ||
| Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] | |||
| Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve | 90fwrd_MinimumNumberOfDaysPastDueForReceivableReserve | ||
| Average monthly revenue adjustments | 205fwrd_AverageMonthlyRevenueAdjustments | ||
| Average monthly revenue | 65,080fwrd_AverageMonthlyRevenue | ||
| Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue | 0.30%fwrd_AverageMonthlyRevenueAdjustmentsAsPercentageOfMonthlyRevenue | ||
| Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum | 45fwrd_NumberOfDaysInRevenueAdjustmentReserveMinimum | ||
| Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum | 100fwrd_NumberOfDaysInRevenueAdjustmentReserveMaximum | ||
| Self insurance limit on individual vehicle and general claims | 500fwrd_SelfInsuranceLimitOnIndividualVehicleAndGeneralClaims | ||
| Self insurance limit on workers' compensation claims and health insurance claims | 250fwrd_SelfInsuranceLimitOnWorkersCompensationClaimsAndHealthInsuranceClaims | ||
| Self Insurance limit on Ohio workers' compensation and health insurance claims | 500fwrd_SelfInsuranceLimitOnOhioWorkersCompensationAndHealthInsuranceClaims | ||
| Accounting Policies, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] | |||
| Maximum term for liquid investments to be considered cash equivalents, in months | 3fwrd_MaximumTermForLiquidInvestmentsToBeConsideredCashEquivalentsInMonths | ||
| Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] | |||
| Depreciation | 22,616us-gaap_Depreciation | 17,817us-gaap_Depreciation | 16,455us-gaap_Depreciation |
| Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract] | |||
| Capitalized software development costs | 13,246us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross | 11,763us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross | |
| Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization | 9,065us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAccumulatedAmortization | 7,644us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAccumulatedAmortization | |
| Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization | 1,464us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization | 1,228us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization | 1,100us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization |
| Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract] | |||
| Period from grant date of stock options to expiration (in years) | 7 years | ||
| Purchase Period for Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 6 months | ||
| 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 | |||
| 2015 |
1,374fwrd_CapitalizedSoftwareAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember |
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| 2016 |
1,080fwrd_CapitalizedSoftwareAmortizationExpenseYearTwo / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember |
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| 2017 |
767fwrd_CapitalizedSoftwareAmortizationExpenseYearThree / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember |
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| 2018 |
509fwrd_CapitalizedSoftwareAmortizationExpenseYearFour / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember |
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| 2019 |
211fwrd_CapitalizedSoftwareAmortizationExpenseYearFive / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember |
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| Total |
$ 3,941fwrd_ComputerSoftwareNet / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember |
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| Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract] | |||
| Share-based awards, vesting period | 3 years | ||
| Expected stock price volatility |
32.50%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember |
34.50%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember |
40.80%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember |
| Weighted average risk-free interest rate |
0.70%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember |
0.40%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember |
0.40%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember |
| Stock Option [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract] | |||
| Expected dividend yield (in hundredths) |
1.20%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
1.20%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
0.90%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
| Expected stock price volatility |
38.50%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
43.70%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
46.60%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
| Weighted average risk-free interest rate |
1.60%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
0.90%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
0.80%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_StockOptionMember |
| Expected life of options (in years) | 5 years 3 months 12 days | 5 years 2 months 12 days | 4 years 2 months 12 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%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember |
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| Number of large lump sum contributions related to ESPP stock purchases |
2fwrd_NumberOfLargeLumpSumContributionsRelatedToEsspStockPurchases / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = fwrd_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember |
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| Forward Air [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] | |||
| Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable |
50.00%fwrd_ReservePercentageForPastDueAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = fwrd_ForwardAirMember |
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| Forward Air Intermodal Drayage Operations [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] | |||
| Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable |
10.00%fwrd_ReservePercentageForPastDueAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = fwrd_ForwardAirIntermodalDrayageOperationsMember |
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| FASI [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] | |||
| Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable |
25.00%fwrd_ReservePercentageForPastDueAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = fwrd_FasiMember |
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| TQI Pharmaceutical Operations [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] | |||
| Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable |
10.00%fwrd_ReservePercentageForPastDueAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = fwrd_TQIPharmaceuticalOperationsMember |
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| TQI Non-Pharmaceutical Operations [Member] | |||
| Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] | |||
| Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable |
50.00%fwrd_ReservePercentageForPastDueAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = fwrd_TQINonPharmaceuticalOperationsMember |
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| 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 | ||
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Average monthly revenue No definition available.
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Average monthly revenue adjustments No definition available.
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Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue. No definition available.
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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the lastest fiscal year for computer software. No definition available.
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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the lastest fiscal year for computer software. No definition available.
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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the lastest fiscal year for computer software. No definition available.
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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the lastest fiscal year for computer software. No definition available.
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Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the lastest fiscal year for computer software. No definition available.
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Amount after amortization of computer software. No definition available.
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Maximum term for highly liquid investments to be considered cash equivalents, in months No definition available.
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Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve No definition available.
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The number of services provided by an entity's principal reporting segment. No definition available.
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Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum No definition available.
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Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum No definition available.
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Stock purchases related to ESSP are paid through payroll deductions or a number of large lump sum contributions. No definition available.
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The number of reporting segments for an entity. No definition available.
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Purchase period for employee stock purchase plan. No definition available.
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Reserve percentage for receivables 90 days or more past due No definition available.
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The amount at which insurance coverage begins for individual vehicle and general liability claims. No definition available.
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Self Insurance limit on Ohio workers' compensation and health insurance claims No definition available.
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The amount at which insurance coverage begins on individual workers' compensation and health insurance claims No definition available.
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For each balance sheet presented, the amount of accumulated amortization for capitalized computer software costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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For each income statement presented, the amount charged to expense for amortization of capitalized computer software costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount before accumulated amortization of capitalized costs for computer software, including but not limited to, acquired and internally developed computer software. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. No definition available.
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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Discount rate from fair value on purchase date that participants pay for shares. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount of undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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