Additional authorized shares for employee stock options

No definition available.

Name:	fwrd_AdditionalAuthorizedSharesForEmployeeStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	fwrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Preferred Stock [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fwrd_PreferredStockAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	fwrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Quarterly Cash Dividen per Share, Common Stock

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fwrd_QuarterlyCashDividendPerShareCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	fwrd_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares approved for repurchase

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fwrd_ShareRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedShares
Namespace Prefix:	fwrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

shares repurchase program, remaining shares authorized for repurchase. Number of shares originally authorized net of repurchases to date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	fwrd_SharesRepurchaseProgramRemainingSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	fwrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisclosureOfRepurchaseAgreementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsCashAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(2)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109197908&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.D.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115993241&loc=d3e301413-122809

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=fwrd_A2016StockRepurchasePlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=fwrd_A2019StockRepurchasePlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Shareholders' Equity, Stock Options and Net Income per Share - Common and Preferred Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Feb. 05, 2019	Jul. 21, 2016	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016
Preferred Stock [Abstract]
Preferred stock, shares authorized				5,000,000				5,000,000								5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock par value per share				$ 0.01				$ 0.01								$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Cash Dividends [Abstract]
Quarterly cash dividend per share, common stock			$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.15	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12
Repurchase of Common Stock [Abstract]
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program)																$ 66,126	$ 48,983	$ 39,983
Common Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Additional authorized shares for employee stock awards				1,266,219												1,266,219			2,000,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Expected life of options (in years)																7 years
Minimum [Member] \| Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Option award vesting period																2 years
Maximum [Member] \| Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Option award vesting period																3 years
2016 Stock Repurchase Plan [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Repurchase of Common Stock [Abstract]
Share repurchase program, authorized shares		3,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares																1,109,270
Repurchase of common stock (repurchase program)																$ 66,126
Treasury stock acquired, average cost per share																$ 59.61
Remaining shares authorized under share repurchase program																709,395
2019 Stock Repurchase Plan [Member] \| Common Stock [Member]
Repurchase of Common Stock [Abstract]
Share repurchase program, authorized shares	5,000,000