Note 10 - Equity Investment (Details Textual) - M W L [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	45.00%
Equity Method Investment, Amount Sold	$ 1.3
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage by Non-related Party	55.00%
Revenue from Related Parties		$ 2.0

The percentage of ownership by a non-related party of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mrtn_
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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

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- Definition

Amount of the entity's equity method investment which has been sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120401555&loc=SL114874292-224272

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227

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