Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	US XPRESS ENTERPRISES INC
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0000923571
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		15,687,101
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		33,266,863