CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 832,714	$ 764,605
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	268,315	241,996
Fuel	91,414	88,421
Supplies and maintenance	68,225	57,025
Taxes and licenses	25,425	23,833
Insurance and claims	36,485	27,492
Depreciation and amortization	74,313	67,229
Rent and purchased transportation	220,224	185,237
Communications and utilities	4,733	3,926
Other	(9,806)	(14,065)
Total operating expenses	779,328	681,094
Operating income	53,386	83,511
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	7,916	1,439
Interest income	(1,552)	(275)
Loss on investments in equity securities	81	9,806
Other	7	73
Total other expense, net	6,452	11,043
Income before income taxes	46,934	72,468
Income tax expense	11,400	17,433
Net income	35,534	55,035
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(310)	(1,286)
Net income attributable to Werner	$ 35,224	$ 53,749
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.56	$ 0.82
Diluted	$ 0.55	$ 0.82
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	63,306	65,543
Diluted	63,695	65,878