Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 18, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
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 per share
Trading Symbol	USX
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Auditor Name	GRANT THORNTON LLP	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Auditor Firm ID	248	238
Auditor Location	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Birmingham, AL
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float				$ 280.9
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000923571
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)			15,657,089
Common Stock Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)			35,001,769