Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 27, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Entity File Number	001-38528
Entity Registrant Name	US XPRESS ENTERPRISES INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NV
Entity Tax Identification Number	62-1378182
Entity Address, Address Line One	4080 Jenkins Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Chattanooga
Entity Address, State or Province	TN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	37421
City Area Code	423
Local Phone Number	510-3000
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	USX
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000923571
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		15,647,095
Class A common stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		33,936,199