Forward Air Corporation Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Shareholders' Equity (Details)

Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Feb. 05, 2019	Jul. 21, 2016
Shareholders' Equity [Line Items]
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18		$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.54	$ 0.54
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares		519				152			787	789
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, In Total Dollars		$ 29,990				$ 9,289			$ 45,248	$ 47,906
Repurchase of Common Stock, Average Cost Per Share		$ 57.84				$ 61.01			$ 57.53	$ 60.72
Common Stock [Member]
Shareholders' Equity [Line Items]
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18
Subsequent Event \| Common Stock [Member]
Shareholders' Equity [Line Items]
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21
2016 Stock Repurchase Plan [Member]
Shareholders' Equity [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased												3,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares										68
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, In Total Dollars										$ 3,850
Repurchase of Common Stock, Average Cost Per Share										$ 56.97
2019 Stock Repurchase Plan [Member]
Shareholders' Equity [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased											5,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares		519				152			787	721
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, In Total Dollars		$ 29,990				$ 9,289			$ 45,248	$ 44,056
Repurchase of Common Stock, Average Cost Per Share		$ 57.84				$ 61.01			$ 57.53	$ 61.07
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased		3,368							3,368