EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Details 6) (ABF Freight, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended												0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended						0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2013 Multiemployer pension plans	Aug. 01, 2012 Multiemployer pension plans	Aug. 01, 2011 Multiemployer pension plans	Dec. 31, 2013 Multiemployer pension plans plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Multiemployer pension plans	Dec. 31, 2011 Multiemployer pension plans	Dec. 31, 2013 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2005 Central States Pension Plan	Jan. 02, 2013 Central States Pension Plan	Jan. 02, 2012 Central States Pension Plan	Jan. 02, 2011 Central States Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Central States Pension Plan Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Central States Pension Plan Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 Central States Pension Plan Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 Central States Pension Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Central States Pension Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Central States Pension Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Pension Plan	Jan. 31, 2012 Local 710 Pension Fund	Jan. 31, 2011 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2013 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2012 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2011 Local 710 Pension Fund	Dec. 31, 2013 All Other Pension Plans in Aggregate	Dec. 31, 2012 All Other Pension Plans in Aggregate	Dec. 31, 2011 All Other Pension Plans in Aggregate	Aug. 01, 2013 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Aug. 01, 2012 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Aug. 01, 2011 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Dec. 31, 2013 Multiemployer health and welfare plans plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Multiemployer health and welfare plans	Dec. 31, 2011 Multiemployer health and welfare plans
Multiemployer Plans
Employees covered under ABF NMFA (as a percent)				76.00%
Number of multiemployer plans to which ABF currently contributes				25																																	44
Maximum funded percentage of plans in yellow zone				80.00%
Maximum funded percentage of plans in red zone				65.00%
Maximum required increase in employer's contribution to multiemployer plans that enter reorganization status (as a percent)				7.00%
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				3.00%
Total contributions to multiemployer plans				$ 136,233	$ 131,895	$ 132,841	$ 70,020	$ 68,683	$ 70,579											$ 20,601	$ 20,774	$ 20,807	$ 12,143	$ 11,170	$ 12,022			$ 10,001	$ 9,567	$ 9,265	$ 23,468	$ 21,701	$ 20,168				$ 118,000	$ 113,000	$ 112,100
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	0.020	0.023	0.036																															0.076	0.053	0.041
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											47.60%	53.90%	58.90%
Period of extension granted by Internal Revenue Service for amortization of unfunded liabilities										10 years