Debt And Other Financing Arrangements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility	$ 325,000,000
Credit facility maturity date	Jun. 28, 2018
Letters of credit outstanding	109,300,000
Available capacity for additional letters of credit or cash borrowings	215,700,000
Credit facility, covenant terms	The revolving facility is guaranteed by certain of Con-way’s material domestic subsidiaries and contains two financial covenants: (i) a leverage ratio and (ii) a fixed-charge coverage ratio. There are also various restrictive covenants, including limitations on (i) the incurrence of liens, (ii) consolidations, mergers and asset sales, and (iii) the incurrence of additional subsidiary indebtedness.
Other credit facilities amount outstanding	29,900,000
Short-term Debt	1,588,000	6,982,000
Weighted-average interest rate on the short-term borrowings		5.50%
Non-interest bearing borrowings	1,600,000	4,200,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	600,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	425,000,000
Fair value of long-term debt	806,000,000	817,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility fee range	0.18%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility fee range	0.35%
7.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate of interest on Notes	7.25%
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	semi-annually
Notes, redemption description	Con-way may redeem the 7.25% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60-days notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the principal amount being redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes being redeemed, discounted at the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the rate payable on a Treasury note having a comparable maturity plus 50 basis points. There are also various restrictive covenants, including limitations on (i) the incurrence of liens, and (ii) consolidations, mergers and asset sales. Including amortization of underwriting fees and related debt costs, interest expense on the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2018 is recognized at an annual effective interest rate of 7.37%.
6.70% Senior Debentures Due 2034 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate of interest on Notes	6.70%
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage	101.00%
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	semi-annually
Notes, redemption description	Con-way may redeem the Senior Debentures, in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60-days notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the principal amount being redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Senior Debentures being redeemed, discounted at the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the rate payable on a Treasury note having a comparable maturity plus 35 basis points. The Senior Debentures were issued under an indenture that restricts Con-way’s ability, with certain exceptions, to incur debt secured by liens. Including amortization of a discount, interest expense on the 6.70% Senior Debentures Due 2034 is recognized at an annual effective interest rate of 6.90%.
Senior Notes	$ 300,000,000