Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Segment Reporting (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Number of Reportable Segments                 3us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments    
External revenues $ 214,061us-gaap_Revenues $ 201,477us-gaap_Revenues $ 193,852us-gaap_Revenues $ 171,569us-gaap_Revenues $ 181,084us-gaap_Revenues $ 170,033us-gaap_Revenues $ 159,804us-gaap_Revenues $ 141,560us-gaap_Revenues $ 780,959us-gaap_Revenues $ 652,481us-gaap_Revenues $ 584,446us-gaap_Revenues
Revenue from Related Parties                   0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties 0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Depreciation and amortization                 31,133us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 23,579us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 21,021us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Other Noncash Income                 6,681us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome 6,178us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome 6,050us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
Interest expense                 610us-gaap_InterestExpense 532us-gaap_InterestExpense 391us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest income                 8us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest 37us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest 41us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Income tax expense (benefit)                 34,916us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 29,455us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 30,487us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income (loss) 17,045us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 16,744us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 17,178us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 10,202us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 15,584us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 14,197us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 13,831us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 10,855us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 61,169us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 54,467us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 52,668us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Total assets 541,805us-gaap_Assets       506,269us-gaap_Assets       541,805us-gaap_Assets 506,269us-gaap_Assets 399,187us-gaap_Assets
Additions to Other Assets, Amount                 39,487us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount 35,439us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount 21,353us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
Forward Air [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
External revenues                 608,118us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
497,993us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
500,621us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Revenue from Related Parties                 4,219us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
3,075us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
1,116us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Depreciation and amortization                 21,721us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
16,222us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
16,356us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Other Noncash Income                 6,470us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
5,959us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
5,857us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Interest expense                 602us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
513us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
369us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Interest income                 8us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
36us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
41us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Income tax expense (benefit)                 31,792us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
26,981us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
30,053us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Net income (loss)                 53,985us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
51,251us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
51,127us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Total assets 607,765us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
      478,790us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
      607,765us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
478,790us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
395,936us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
Additions to Other Assets, Amount                 26,170us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
25,017us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
15,910us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_ForwardAirMember
FASI [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
External revenues                 124,382us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
112,766us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
83,825us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Revenue from Related Parties                 831us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
645us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
1,152us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Depreciation and amortization                 5,811us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
4,945us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
4,665us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Other Noncash Income                 176us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
140us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
193us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Interest expense                 2us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
8us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
22us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Income tax expense (benefit)                 2,203us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
846us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
434us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Net income (loss)                 3,790us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
1,255us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
1,541us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Total assets 47,516us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
      42,049us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
      47,516us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
42,049us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
37,135us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
Additions to Other Assets, Amount                 7,133us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
6,901us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
5,443us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_FasiMember
TQI [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
External revenues                 48,459us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
41,722us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Revenue from Related Parties                 365us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
120us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Depreciation and amortization                 3,601us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
2,412us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Other Noncash Income                 35us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
79us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Interest expense                 6us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
11us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Interest income                   1us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Income tax expense (benefit)                 921us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
1,628us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Net income (loss)                 3,394us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
1,961us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Total assets 88,781us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
      85,490us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
      88,781us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
85,490us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Additions to Other Assets, Amount                 6,184us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
3,521us-gaap_AdditionsToOtherAssetsAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= fwrd_TQIMember
 
Business Intersegment, Eliminations [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from Related Parties                 (5,415)us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
(3,840)us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
(2,268)us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
Total assets $ (202,257)us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
      $ (100,060)us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
      $ (202,257)us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
$ (100,060)us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
$ (33,884)us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember