Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]        
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance $ 2,836us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance $ 2,153us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance $ 1,763us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance $ 1,851us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense 2,745us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense 2,869us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense 2,173us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense  
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions 2,062us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions 2,479us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions 2,261us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions  
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]        
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]        
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance 2,155us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		1,583us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		1,149us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		1,219us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense 241us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		423us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		199us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		 
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions (331)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1] (11)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1] 269us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1]  
Allowance for revenue adjustments [Member]        
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]        
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance 408us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2] 336us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2] 295us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2] 284us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense 2,465us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2] 2,531us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2] 2,003us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2]  
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions 2,393us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2],[3] 2,490us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2],[3] 1,992us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= fwrd_AllowanceForRevenueAdjustmentsMember 		[2],[3]  
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member]        
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]        
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance 273us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		234us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		319us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		348us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense $ 39us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		$ (85)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		$ (29)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember 		 
[1] Represents uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries
[2] Represents an allowance for adjustments to accounts receivable due to disputed rates, accessorial charges and other aspects of previously billed shipments.
[3] Represents adjustments to billed accounts receivable