Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

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

v2.4.1.9
Shareholders' Equity, Stock Options and Net Income per Share - Employee Activity 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
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based compensation $ 6,681us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 6,178us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation $ 6,050us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based awards, vesting period 3 years    
Outstanding at beginning of year (shares) 88us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		62us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		38us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Granted (shares) 23us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		26us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		24us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Vested (shares) (56)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		   
Outstanding at end of year (shares) 74us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		88us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		62us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Weighted average grant date fair value of non-vested shares at beginning of year $ 37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		$ 36us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		$ 30us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		$ 40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		$ 45us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 30us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		   
Weighted average grant date fair value non-vested shares at end of year $ 44us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		$ 37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		$ 36us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Granted in Period, Total Fair Value 3,279fwrd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		3,278fwrd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		2,205fwrd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Share-based compensation 1,098us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		1,055us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		699us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense 419us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		402us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		269us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember
Unrecognized compensation cost 1,225us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_KeyEmployeePerformanceShareBasedPlanMember 		   
Employee Non-vested Shares [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based awards, vesting period 3 years    
Outstanding at beginning of year (shares) 186us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		168us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		108us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Granted (shares) 99us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		98us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		103us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Vested (shares) (94)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		(68)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		(36)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Forfeited (shares) (1)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		(12)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		(7)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Outstanding at end of year (shares) 190us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		186us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		168us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Weighted average grant date fair value of non-vested shares at beginning of year $ 35us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 29us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 42us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 43us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 29us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 36us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Weighted average grant date fair value non-vested shares at end of year $ 40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 35us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		$ 33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Granted in Period, Total Fair Value 7,585fwrd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		6,588fwrd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		5,579fwrd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Grant date fair value of shares that vested during the year 4,008us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		2,503us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		1,249us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Share-based compensation 3,626us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		3,058us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		2,039us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense 1,385us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		1,165us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember 		785us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember
Unrecognized compensation cost $ 4,325us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= fwrd_EmployeeNonVestedSharesMember