OPERATING SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
REVENUES
Revenues	$ 613,276	$ 577,904
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries, wages, and benefits	306,916	286,801
Rents, purchased transportation, and other costs of services	177,966	164,126
Fuel, supplies, and expenses	75,902	88,774
Depreciation and amortization	22,232	20,453
Other	28,980	26,452
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(310)	(214)
Pension settlement expense	1,119	3,691
Total expenses	611,996	586,606
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	1,280	(8,702)
OTHER INCOME (COSTS)
Interest and dividend income	234	190
Interest and other related financing costs	(1,002)	(808)
Other, net	400	365
TOTAL OTHER COSTS	(368)	(253)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	912	(8,955)
Operating Segments | Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)
REVENUES
Revenues	441,207	428,871
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries, wages, and benefits	278,371	261,154
Fuel, supplies, and expenses	79,026	90,791
Operating taxes and licenses	11,996	11,493
Insurance	5,785	5,395
Communications and utilities	3,985	4,242
Depreciation and amortization	17,400	16,338
Rents and purchased transportation	41,844	47,420
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(244)	(203)
Pension settlement expense	840	2,890
Other	2,161	1,535
Total expenses	441,164	441,055
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	43	(12,184)
Operating Segments | Premium Logistics (Panther)
REVENUES
Revenues	75,292	72,226
OPERATING EXPENSES
Purchased transportation	56,044	54,573
Depreciation and amortization	2,924	2,737
Salaries, benefits, insurance, and other	15,129	11,552
Total expenses	74,097	68,862
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	1,195	3,364
Operating Segments | Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)
REVENUES
Revenues	42,489	41,699
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total expenses	41,319	40,298
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	1,170	1,401
Operating Segments | Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)
REVENUES
Revenues	47,372	29,717
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total expenses	46,597	29,182
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	775	535
Operating Segments | Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)
REVENUES
Revenues	18,568	14,750
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total expenses	18,931	15,591
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(363)	(841)
Operating Segments | Non-asset-based segments
OPERATING EXPENSES
Pension settlement expense	100	100
Other and eliminations
REVENUES
Revenues	(11,652)	(9,359)
OPERATING EXPENSES
Pension settlement expense	200	700
Total expenses	(10,112)	(8,382)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	$ (1,540)	$ (977)