CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 769,080	$ 832,714
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	265,403	268,315
Fuel	77,622	91,414
Supplies and maintenance	61,775	68,225
Taxes and licenses	25,164	25,425
Insurance and claims	36,362	36,485
Depreciation and amortization	74,270	74,313
Rent and purchased transportation	203,925	220,224
Communications and utilities	4,706	4,733
Other	4,265	(9,806)
Total operating expenses	753,492	779,328
Operating income	15,588	53,386
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	7,948	7,916
Interest income	(1,685)	(1,552)
Loss on investments in equity securities	138	81
Loss from equity method investment	133	0
Other	(261)	7
Total other expense, net	6,273	6,452
Income before income taxes	9,315	46,934
Income tax expense	3,067	11,400
Net income	6,248	35,534
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	64	(310)
Net income attributable to Werner	$ 6,312	$ 35,224
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.56
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.55
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	63,472	63,306
Diluted (in shares)	63,727	63,695