Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Temporary Equity - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Temporary Equity - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,195,040	$ 805	$ 116,039	$ 1,438,916	$ (22,833)	$ (337,887)	$ 0
Net income attributable to Werner	182,285	0	0	182,285	0	0	0
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,328
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,241	0	0	0	1,241	0	0
Purchases of common stock	(53,266)	0	0	0	0	(53,266)	0
Dividends on common stock	(22,969)	0	0	(22,969)	0	0	0
Equity compensation activity	(3,773)	0	(4,262)	0	0	489	0
Non-cash equity compensation expense	7,999	0	7,999	0	0	0	0
Investment in noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	35,322
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(35)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2021	1,306,557	805	119,776	1,598,232	(21,592)	(390,664)	36,615
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2021	1,296,583	805	117,069	1,542,497	(20,873)	(342,915)	0
Net income attributable to Werner	63,761	0	0	63,761	0	0	0
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,328
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(719)	0	0	0	(719)	0	0
Purchases of common stock	(47,759)	0	0	0	0	(47,759)	0
Dividends on common stock	(8,026)	0	0	(8,026)	0	0	0
Equity compensation activity	(33)	0	(43)	0	0	10	0
Non-cash equity compensation expense	2,750	0	2,750	0	0	0	0
Investment in noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	35,322
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(35)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2021	1,306,557	805	119,776	1,598,232	(21,592)	(390,664)	36,615
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2021	1,327,550	805	121,904	1,667,104	(20,604)	(441,659)	35,947
Net income attributable to Werner	181,090	0	0	181,090	0	0	0
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	3,479
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,169	0	0	0	7,169	0	0
Purchases of common stock	(110,400)	0	0	0	0	(110,400)	0
Dividends on common stock	(24,267)	0	0	(24,267)	0	0	0
Equity compensation activity	(3,704)	0	(3,978)	0	0	274	0
Non-cash equity compensation expense	9,120	0	9,120	0	0	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(750)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2022	1,386,558	805	127,046	1,823,927	(13,435)	(551,785)	38,676
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2022	1,343,872	805	124,065	1,777,092	(14,584)	(543,506)	38,552
Net income attributable to Werner	55,051	0	0	55,051	0	0	0
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	874
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,149	0	0	0	1,149	0	0
Purchases of common stock	(8,287)	0	0	0	0	(8,287)	0
Dividends on common stock	(8,216)	0	0	(8,216)	0	0	0
Equity compensation activity	(46)	0	(54)	0	0	8	0
Non-cash equity compensation expense	3,035	0	3,035	0	0	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(750)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 1,386,558	$ 805	$ 127,046	$ 1,823,927	$ (13,435)	$ (551,785)	$ 38,676