EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Details 6) (ABF, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended												0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum	Aug. 02, 2012 Multiemployer pension plans	Aug. 02, 2011 Multiemployer pension plans	Aug. 02, 2010 Multiemployer pension plans	Dec. 31, 2012 Multiemployer pension plans plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Multiemployer pension plans	Dec. 31, 2010 Multiemployer pension plans	Dec. 31, 2012 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2010 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2005 Central States Pension Plan	Jan. 02, 2012 Central States Pension Plan	Jan. 02, 2010 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Central States Pension Plan Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Central States Pension Plan Maximum	Dec. 31, 2010 Central States Pension Plan Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Central States Pension Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Central States Pension Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2010 Central States Pension Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2011 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2010 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2012 Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2011 Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2010 Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Fund	Jan. 31, 2012 Local 710 Pension Fund	Jan. 31, 2011 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2012 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2011 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2010 Local 710 Pension Fund	Aug. 02, 2012 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Aug. 02, 2011 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Aug. 02, 2010 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Dec. 31, 2012 Multiemployer health and welfare plans plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Dec. 31, 2010 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Dec. 31, 2012 All Other Pension Plans in Aggregate	Dec. 31, 2011 All Other Pension Plans in Aggregate	Dec. 31, 2010 All Other Pension Plans in Aggregate
Multiemployer Plans
Number of multiemployer plans to which ABF currently contributes						25																													44
Maximum required increase in employer's contribution to multiemployer plans that enter reorganization status (as a percent)						7.00%
Maximum funded percentage of plans in red zone						65.00%
Maximum funded percentage of plans in yellow zone						80.00%
Minimum funded percentage of plans in green zone						80.00%
Percentage of contributions to the multiemployer pension plans that are in critical status						63.00%
Percentage of contributions to the multiemployer pension plans that are in endangered status						12.00%
Extension period for the plan's funding improvement or rehabilitation period of plans in endangered or critical status						3 years
Total contributions to multiemployer plans						$ 131,895	$ 132,841	$ 120,613	$ 68,683	$ 70,579	$ 65,091										$ 20,774	$ 20,807	$ 18,268	$ 11,170	$ 12,022	$ 10,827			$ 9,567	$ 9,265	$ 8,207				$ 113,000	$ 112,100	$ 103,100	$ 21,701	$ 20,168	$ 18,220
Threshold percentage of the entity's contributions relative to total fund contributions, which was exceeded during the period										5.00%	5.00%														5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
Percentage increase in contribution rate for time worked related to benefit costs			0.023	0.036	0.096																											0.053	0.041	0.038
Percentage of contributions to multiemployer pension plan															55.00%	55.00%	55.00%	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Actuarially certified funded percentage of multiemployer pension plan													53.90%	63.40%
Period of extension granted by Internal Revenue Service for amortization of unfunded liabilities												10 years
Percentage of additional surcharge that could be imposed if contribution rates in the collective bargaining agreement fail to meet the requirements for underfunded plans	10.00%	5.00%