GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Intangible (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2021	Oct. 01, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020
Finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period			11 years
Cost			$ 130,656		$ 53,701
Accumulated Amortization			36,376		31,020
Net Value			94,280		22,681
Total intangible assets
Cost			162,956		86,001
Net Value			126,580		54,981
Impairment Assessment of Intangible Assets
Long-lived assets impairment				$ 6,500
Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets	$ 0	$ 0
ArcBest
Impairment Assessment of Intangible Assets
Long-lived assets impairment				6,500
Revenue equipment | ArcBest
Impairment Assessment of Intangible Assets
Impairment of revenue equipment				500
Trade name
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Net Value			$ 32,300		32,300
Customer relationships
Finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period			12 years
Cost			$ 100,321		52,721
Accumulated Amortization			35,072		30,477
Net Value			$ 65,249		22,244
Customer relationships | ArcBest
Impairment Assessment of Intangible Assets
Impairment of finite-lived intangible assets				$ 6,000
Other intangible assets
Finite-lived intangible assets
Weighted Average Amortization Period			8 years
Cost			$ 30,335		980
Accumulated Amortization			1,304		543
Net Value			$ 29,031		$ 437