Number of annual installments.

No definition available.

Name:	odfl_NumberOfAnnualInstallments
Namespace Prefix:	odfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award employment period for eligibility of employees participation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	odfl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEmploymentPeriodForEligibilityOfEmployeesParticipation
Namespace Prefix:	odfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares settled during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	odfl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsSettled
Namespace Prefix:	odfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award equity instruments other than options share based liability net.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	odfl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsShareBasedLiabilityNet
Namespace Prefix:	odfl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share-based compensation arrangement by share based payment vesting increment percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	odfl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentVestingIncrementPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	odfl_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted-average period over which cost not yet recognized is expected to be recognized for award under share-based payment arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost to be recognized for nonvested award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes share and unit options.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Per share or unit weighted-average fair value of nonvested award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes share and unit options.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of equity instruments other than options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares authorized for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_RestatementAxis=odfl_ModifiedAwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=odfl_PerformanceBasedRestrictedStockUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=odfl_PhantomStockPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=odfl_AccountingStandardUpdate201709Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=odfl_VestedPhantomStockPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_PhantomShareUnitsPSUsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=odfl_StockIncentivePlan2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Share-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2012 shares	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Installment $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares granted		0
Shares settled		0
Shares forfeited		0
Modified Award [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Phantom shares vested		612,274
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of annual installments \| Installment		3
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per, Granted \| $ / shares		$ 213.55	$ 149.38	$ 96.59
Weighted average grant date fair value per, vested \| $		$ 15,600,000	$ 11,900,000	$ 7,300,000
Unrecognized stock-based compensation cost \| $		$ 9,600,000
Unrecognized compensation costs, weighted-average recognition periods		1 year 7 months 6 days
Shares granted		49,969
Shares forfeited		2,830
Phantom shares vested		71,426
Unvested Weighted Average grant date fair value \| $ / shares		$ 163.57	$ 121.53
PBRSUs [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per, Granted \| $ / shares		$ 204.84
Unrecognized stock-based compensation cost \| $		$ 3,800,000
Unrecognized compensation costs, weighted-average recognition periods		1 year 10 months 24 days
Shares granted		37,288
Phantom shares vested		10,353
Unvested Weighted Average grant date fair value \| $ / shares		$ 183.93	$ 146.29
Phantom Stock Plan [Member] \| Modified Award [Member] \| ASU 2017-09 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per, Granted \| $ / shares				$ 120.41
Share based compensation outstanding number				613,996
Vested Phantom Stock Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per, Granted \| $ / shares		120.43
Phantom Share Units (PSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized	1,500,000
Share-based compensation arrangement vesting increment percentage	20.00%
Share based compensation arrangement, employment period for eligibility of employees participation	10 years
Unvested Weighted Average grant date fair value \| $ / shares		$ 114.76
Liability for unsettled stock awards \| $		$ 0	$ 0
Stock Incentive Plan 2016 [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized		3,000,000