Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Con-way recognized a tax provision of $22.9 million in the second quarter of 2012 and $16.0 million in the same quarter of 2011. In the first six months of 2012, Con-way recognized a tax provision of $38.7 million, compared with $30.5 million in 2011. The 2012 first-half tax provision reflects a $2.5 million benefit for discrete adjustments, including $4.2 million of benefit in the second quarter for the release of reserves due to the expiration of the statute of limitations on uncertain tax positions, partially offset by a $2.5 million second-quarter charge for a proposed Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") audit adjustment. The 2011 first-half tax provision reflects $5.3 million of charges for discrete adjustments, including a $5.9 million first-quarter charge due to the matter discussed below under “Audit Settlement.” Excluding the effect of various discrete tax adjustments, the second-quarter effective tax rate increased to 38.9% in 2012 from 37.7% in 2011. For the first half of the year, the effective tax rate increased to 38.8% in 2012 from 37.6% in 2011. The rates in 2012 increased from 2011 primarily due to a 2011 benefit associated with a now-expired fuel-related tax credit. Other accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets include income tax receivables of $12.1 million and $4.8 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Audit Settlement In 2011, Con-way settled a disputed issue with the IRS that arose in the 2005 to 2007 audit cycle. This issue primarily related to the treatment and character of certain payments Con-way made to retirees and former employees of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“MWF”) since the 2004 sale of MWF to United Parcel Service, Inc. Con-way and the IRS agreed in the settlement to re-characterize a portion of these payments as capital losses. The re-characterized portion may not be deducted and may be used only to offset capital gains.

Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Con-way recognized a tax provision of $22.9 million in the second quarter of 2012 and $16.0 million in the same quarter of 2011. In the first six months of 2012, Con-way recognized a tax provision of $38.7 million, compared with $30.5 million in 2011. The 2012 first-half tax provision reflects a $2.5 million benefit for discrete adjustments, including $4.2 million of benefit in the second quarter for the release of reserves due to the expiration of the statute of limitations on uncertain tax positions, partially offset by a $2.5 million second-quarter charge for a proposed Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") audit adjustment. The 2011 first-half tax provision reflects $5.3 million of charges for discrete adjustments, including a $5.9 million first-quarter charge due to the matter discussed below under “Audit Settlement.” Excluding the effect of various discrete tax adjustments, the second-quarter effective tax rate increased to 38.9% in 2012 from 37.7% in 2011. For the first half of the year, the effective tax rate increased to 38.8% in 2012 from 37.6% in 2011. The rates in 2012 increased from 2011 primarily due to a 2011 benefit associated with a now-expired fuel-related tax credit.

Other accounts receivable in the consolidated balance sheets include income tax receivables of $12.1 million and $4.8 million at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Audit Settlement

In 2011, Con-way settled a disputed issue with the IRS that arose in the 2005 to 2007 audit cycle. This issue primarily related to the treatment and character of certain payments Con-way made to retirees and former employees of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“MWF”) since the 2004 sale of MWF to United Parcel Service, Inc. Con-way and the IRS agreed in the settlement to re-characterize a portion of these payments as capital losses. The re-characterized portion may not be deducted and may be used only to offset capital gains.