Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	May 03, 2019
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	ARCBEST CORP /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000894405
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,513,294