Employee Benefit Plans (Changes In The Projected Benefit Obligation, The Fair Value Of Plan Assets And The Determination Of The Amounts Recognized) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value Of Pension Plan Assets	$ 1,438,865	$ 1,281,261
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	1,680,603	1,526,136
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	70,022	70,168	71,308
Actuarial loss (gain)	(177,347)	85,755
Plan amendments	0	44,961
Benefits paid	(49,747)	(46,417)
Projected and accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	1,523,531	1,680,603	1,526,136
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value Of Pension Plan Assets	1,281,261	1,105,370
Actual return on plan assets	152,014	170,886
Con-way contributions	55,337	51,422
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value Of Pension Plan Assets	1,438,865	1,281,261	1,105,370
Funded status of the plan	(84,666)	(399,342)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	15,018	10,951
Liabilities, Current	0	0
Liabilities, Noncurrent	(99,684)	(410,293)
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities	(84,666)	(399,342)
Projected and accumulated benefit obligation	1,502,541	1,657,701
Fair value of plan assets	1,402,857	1,247,409
Discount rate	5.05%	4.25%
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	78,218	76,229
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	3,213	3,438	3,787
Actuarial loss (gain)	(5,508)	3,574
Plan amendments	0	109
Benefits paid	(5,109)	(5,132)
Projected and accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	70,814	78,218	76,229
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value Of Pension Plan Assets	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Con-way contributions	5,109	5,132
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value Of Pension Plan Assets	0	0	0
Funded status of the plan	(70,814)	(78,218)
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	0	0
Liabilities, Current	(5,145)	(5,135)
Liabilities, Noncurrent	(65,669)	(73,083)
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities	(70,814)	(78,218)
Projected and accumulated benefit obligation	70,814	78,218
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Discount rate	5.05%	4.25%
Postretirement Medical Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	102,291	98,417
Service Cost	1,459	1,679	1,441
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	3,434	4,318	4,492
Participant contributions	2,009	3,265
Plan amendments	(19,243)	0
Benefits paid	(6,890)	(7,367)
Projected and accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	61,917	102,291	98,417
Funded status of the plan	(61,917)	(102,291)
Liabilities, Current	(4,462)	(6,588)
Liabilities, Noncurrent	(57,455)	(95,703)
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities	$ (61,917)	$ (102,291)
Discount rate	4.50%	3.60%