Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Days segments ServiceCategories	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of principal reporting segments	2
Forward Air number of categories of service	3
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]
Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve	90
Average monthly revenue adjustments	$ 163
Average monthly revenue	44,700
Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue	1.00%
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum	40
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum	80
Self insurance limit on individual vehicle and general claims	500
Self insurance limit on workers' compensation claims and health insurance claims	250
Self Insurance limit on Ohio workers' compensation and health insurance claims	350
Accounting Policies, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Maximum term for liquid investments to be considered cash equivalents, in months	3
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation	16,402	15,860	15,068
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]
Capitalized software development costs	9,273	7,443
Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization	5,336	3,889
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization	1,447	1,301	1,016
Capitalized software future estimated amortization expense:
2012	4,566
2013	4,279
2014	4,087
2015	3,281
2016	2,750
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Period from grant date of stock options to expiration (in years)	7
Share-based awards, vesting period	3 years
Period of Volatility for Monte Carlo Simulation	3 years
Software and Software Development Costs [Member]
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract]
Capitalized computer software, estimated useful life	5
Capitalized software future estimated amortization expense:
2012	1,012
2013	893
2014	829
2015	612
2016	314
Total	$ 3,660
Building [Member]
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and equipment, minimum useful life	30
Property and equipment, maximum useful life	40
Equipment [Member]
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and equipment, minimum useful life	3
Property and equipment, maximum useful life	10
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member]
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-based awards, vesting period	third
Expected stock price volatility	47.70%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	1.40%
Stock Option [Member]
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)	1.00%	1.30%	0.90%
Expected stock price volatility	44.90%	45.70%	42.30%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate	2.40%	2.50%	2.00%
Expected life of options (in years)	4.6	4.5	4.5
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Percentage of share price for shares issued under the ESPP (in hundredths)	90.00%
Purchase Period for Employee Stock Purchase Plan	6 months
Number of large lump sum contributions related to ESPP stock purchases	2
FASI [Member]
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable	25.00%
Forward Air [Member]
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract]
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable	50.00%