Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Business	Business: Hub Group, Inc. ("we", "us" or "our") provides intermodal transportation services utilizing primarily third party arrangements with railroads. Drayage can be provided by our subsidiary, Comtrak, or a third party company. We also arrange for transportation of freight by truck and perform logistics services. Transportation services are provided through our legacy business and our new acquisition, Mode Transportation, LLC. We now report two distinct business segments. The first segment is Mode, which includes the Mode business we acquired on April 1, 2011. The other segment is Hub, which is all business other than Mode."Hub Group" includes both segments.
Principles Of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and all entities in which we have more than a 50% equity ownership or otherwise exercise unilateral control. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Cash And Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents: We consider as cash equivalents all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less. We invested our cash in a money market fund comprised of U.S. treasury securities and repurchase agreements for these securities. The outstanding balances were $42.5 million and $114.6 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Accounts Receivable And Allowance For Uncollectible Accounts	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts: In the normal course of business, we extend credit to customers after a review of each customer's credit history. An allowance for uncollectible trade accounts has been established through an analysis of the accounts receivable aging, an assessment of collectibility based on historical trends and an evaluation based on current economic conditions. To be more specific, we reserve a portion of every account balance that has aged over one year, a portion of receivables for customers in bankruptcy and certain account balances specifically identified as uncollectible. On an annual basis, we perform a hindsight analysis on Hub and Mode separately to determine each segment's experience in collecting account balances over one year old and account balances in bankruptcy. We then use this hindsight analysis to establish our reserves for receivables over one year and in bankruptcy. In establishing a reserve for certain account balances specifically identified as uncollectible, we consider the aging of the customer receivables, the customer's current and projected financial results, the customer's ability to meet and sustain their financial commitments, the positive or negative effects of the current and projected industry outlook and the general economic conditions. The allowance for uncollectible accounts is reported on the balance sheet in net accounts receivable. Our reserve for uncollectible accounts was approximately $7.7 million and $3.9 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Receivables are written off once collection efforts have been exhausted. Recoveries of receivables previously charged off are recorded when received.
Property And Equipment	Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method at rates adequate to depreciate the cost of the applicable assets over their expected useful lives: building and improvements, 1 to 8 years; leasehold improvements, the shorter of useful life or lease term; computer equipment and software, 1 to 5 years; furniture and equipment, 1 to 10 years; and transportation equipment and automobiles, 1 to 10 years. Direct costs related to internally developed software projects are capitalized and amortized over their expected useful life on a straight-line basis not to exceed five years. Interest is capitalized on qualifying assets under development for internal use. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred and major improvements are capitalized. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are removed from the accounts with any gain or loss realized upon sale or disposal charged or credited to operations. We review long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In the event that the undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset group is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the assets carrying amount over its fair value, less cost to dispose, is recorded.
Goodwill And Other Intangibles	Goodwill and Other Intangibles: Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair market value of net assets acquired in connection with our business combinations. Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. We test goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of this asset might exceed the current fair value. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we adopted the FASB's new accounting guidance, which allows companies to assess qualitative factors such as current company performance and overall economic factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that the goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. In the two-step quantitative goodwill test, a company compares the carrying value of a reporting unit to its fair value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, the second step is performed, which compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value, to determine the amount of impairment. We review other indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of other indefinite-lived intangibles may not be recoverable. An indefinite lived intangible asset is impaired if its fair value is less than its carrying value. An impairment loss is measured as the difference between the implied fair value of the reporting unit's indefinite-lived asset and the carrying amount of the asset. The fair value measurement is determined based on assumptions that a market participant would use including expectations regarding future operating performance (which are consistent with our internal projections and operating plans), discount rates, control premiums and other factors which are subjective in nature. As of December 31, 2011, reasonable variations in these assumptions do not have a significant impact on the results of the impairment test. Actual cash flows from operations could differ from management's estimates due to changes in business conditions, operating performance and economic conditions. We evaluate the potential impairment of finite-lived acquired intangible assets when impairment indicators exist. If the carrying value is no longer recoverable based upon the undiscounted future cash flows of the asset, the amount of the impairment is the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the asset.
Concentration Of Credit Risk	Concentration of Credit Risk: Our financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. We place our cash and temporary investments with high quality financial institutions and invest our cash overnight in a money market fund comprised of U.S. Treasury Securities and repurchase agreements for these securities. We primarily serve customers located throughout the United States with no significant concentration in any one region. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of revenue in 2011, 2010 or 2009. We review a customer's credit history before extending credit. In addition, we routinely assess the financial strength of our customers and, as a consequence, believe that our trade accounts receivable risk is limited.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized at the time 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) services have been rendered, 3) the sales price is fixed and determinable and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenue and related transportation costs are recognized based on relative transit time. Further, in most cases, we report our revenue on a gross basis because we are the primary obligor as we are responsible for providing the service desired by the customer. Our customers view us as responsible for fulfillment including the acceptability of the service. Services requirements may include, for example, on-time delivery, handling freight loss and damage claims, setting up appointments for pick up and delivery and tracing shipments in transit. We have discretion in setting sales prices and as a result, the amount we earn varies. In addition, we have the discretion to select our vendors from multiple suppliers for the services ordered by our customers. Finally, we have credit risk for our receivables. These three factors, discretion in setting prices, discretion in selecting vendors and credit risk, further support reporting revenue on a gross basis.
Provision For Income Taxes	Provision for Income Taxes: Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. We believe that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realized based on future taxable income projections with the exception of $0.1 million related to state tax net operating losses for which a valuation allowance has been established. In the event the probability of realizing the remaining deferred tax assets do not meet the more likely than not threshold in the future, a valuation allowance would be established for the deferred tax assets deemed unrecoverable. Tax liabilities are recorded when, in management's judgment, a tax position does not meet the more likely than not threshold for recognition as prescribed by the guidance. For tax positions that meet the more likely than not threshold, a tax liability may be recorded depending on management's assessment of how the tax position will ultimately be settled. We recognize interest expense and penalties related to income tax liabilities in our provision for income taxes.
Earnings Per Common Share	Earnings Per Common Share: Basic earnings per common share are based on the average quarterly weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share are adjusted for the assumed exercise of dilutive stock options and for restricted stock which are both computed using the treasury stock method.
Stock Based Compensation	Stock Based Compensation: Share-based compensation includes the restricted stock awards expected to vest based on the grant date fair value. Compensation expense is amortized straight-line over the vesting period including an estimate of forfeitures and is included in salaries and benefits. We present excess tax benefits resulting from the exercise of share-based compensation as financing cash in-flows and as operating cash out-flows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
New Pronouncements	New Pronouncements: In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an update to Topic 820—Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures of the Accounting Standards Codification. This update provides guidance on how fair value accounting should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards. The guidance does not extend the use of fair value accounting. We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2012, as required. The adoption of this standard will not impact our consolidated financial statements. In June 2011, the FASB issued an update to Topic 220—Comprehensive Income of the Accounting Standards Codification. The update is intended to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income in the financial statements. The guidance requires that we present components of comprehensive income in either one continuous or two separate, but consecutive financial statements and no longer permits the presentation of comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity. We will adopt this new guidance effective January 1, 2012, as required, and the adoption will not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements. In September 2011, the FASB issued an update to Topic 350 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other of the Accounting Standards Codification. The objective of this update is to simplify how entities, both public and nonpublic, test goodwill for impairment. The amendments in the update permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. We adopted this new guidance effective during the fourth quarter of 2011. The adoption of this standard did not impact our consolidated financial statements.
Use Of Estimates	Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, revenue, the cost of transportation, commission expense, useful lives of equipment and repair liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications: Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business: Hub Group, Inc. ("we", "us" or "our") provides intermodal transportation services utilizing primarily third party arrangements with railroads. Drayage can be provided by our subsidiary, Comtrak, or a third party company. We also arrange for transportation of freight by truck and perform logistics services. Transportation services are provided through our legacy business and our new acquisition, Mode Transportation, LLC. We now report two distinct business segments. The first segment is Mode, which includes the Mode business we acquired on April 1, 2011. The other segment is Hub, which is all business other than Mode."Hub Group" includes both segments.

Principles Of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and all entities in which we have more than a 50% equity ownership or otherwise exercise unilateral control. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Cash And Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents: We consider as cash equivalents all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less. We invested our cash in a money market fund comprised of U.S. treasury securities and repurchase agreements for these securities. The outstanding balances were $42.5 million and $114.6 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Accounts Receivable And Allowance For Uncollectible Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts: In the normal course of business, we extend credit to customers after a review of each customer's credit history. An allowance for uncollectible trade accounts has been established through an analysis of the accounts receivable aging, an assessment of collectibility based on historical trends and an evaluation based on current economic conditions. To be more specific, we reserve a portion of every account balance that has aged over one year, a portion of receivables for customers in bankruptcy and certain account balances specifically identified as uncollectible. On an annual basis, we perform a hindsight analysis on Hub and Mode separately to determine each segment's experience in collecting account balances over one year old and account balances in bankruptcy. We then use this hindsight analysis to establish our reserves for receivables over one year and in bankruptcy. In establishing a reserve for certain account balances specifically identified as uncollectible, we consider the aging of the customer receivables, the customer's current and projected financial results, the customer's ability to meet and sustain their financial commitments, the positive or negative effects of the current and projected industry outlook and the general economic conditions. The allowance for uncollectible accounts is reported on the balance sheet in net accounts receivable. Our reserve for uncollectible accounts was approximately $7.7 million and $3.9 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Receivables are written off once collection efforts have been exhausted. Recoveries of receivables previously charged off are recorded when received.

Property And Equipment

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method at rates adequate to depreciate the cost of the applicable assets over their expected useful lives: building and improvements, 1 to 8 years; leasehold improvements, the shorter of useful life or lease term; computer equipment and software, 1 to 5 years; furniture and equipment, 1 to 10 years; and transportation equipment and automobiles, 1 to 10 years. Direct costs related to internally developed software projects are capitalized and amortized over their expected useful life on a straight-line basis not to exceed five years. Interest is capitalized on qualifying assets under development for internal use. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred and major improvements are capitalized. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the accumulated depreciation thereon are removed from the accounts with any gain or loss realized upon sale or disposal charged or credited to operations. We review long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In the event that the undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset group is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the assets carrying amount over its fair value, less cost to dispose, is recorded.

Goodwill And Other Intangibles

Goodwill and Other Intangibles: Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair market value of net assets acquired in connection with our business combinations. Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests.

We test goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of this asset might exceed the current fair value. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we adopted the FASB's new accounting guidance, which allows companies to assess qualitative factors such as current company performance and overall economic factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that the goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. In the two-step quantitative goodwill test, a company compares the carrying value of a reporting unit to its fair value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, the second step is performed, which compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value, to determine the amount of impairment.

We review other indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment annually in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of other indefinite-lived intangibles may not be recoverable. An indefinite lived intangible asset is impaired if its fair value is less than its carrying value. An impairment loss is measured as the difference between the implied fair value of the reporting unit's indefinite-lived asset and the carrying amount of the asset. The fair value measurement is determined based on assumptions that a market participant would use including expectations regarding future operating performance (which are consistent with our internal projections and operating plans), discount rates, control premiums and other factors which are subjective in nature. As of December 31, 2011, reasonable variations in these assumptions do not have a significant impact on the results of the impairment test. Actual cash flows from operations could differ from management's estimates due to changes in business conditions, operating performance and economic conditions.

We evaluate the potential impairment of finite-lived acquired intangible assets when impairment indicators exist. If the carrying value is no longer recoverable based upon the undiscounted future cash flows of the asset, the amount of the impairment is the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the asset.

Concentration Of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk: Our financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. We place our cash and temporary investments with high quality financial institutions and invest our cash overnight in a money market fund comprised of U.S. Treasury Securities and repurchase agreements for these securities. We primarily serve customers located throughout the United States with no significant concentration in any one region. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of revenue in 2011, 2010 or 2009. We review a customer's credit history before extending credit. In addition, we routinely assess the financial strength of our customers and, as a consequence, believe that our trade accounts receivable risk is limited.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: Revenue is recognized at the time 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) services have been rendered, 3) the sales price is fixed and determinable and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenue and related transportation costs are recognized based on relative transit time. Further, in most cases, we report our revenue on a gross basis because we are the primary obligor as we are responsible for providing the service desired by the customer. Our customers view us as responsible for fulfillment including the acceptability of the service. Services requirements may include, for example, on-time delivery, handling freight loss and damage claims, setting up appointments for pick up and delivery and tracing shipments in transit. We have discretion in setting sales prices and as a result, the amount we earn varies. In addition, we have the discretion to select our vendors from multiple suppliers for the services ordered by our customers. Finally, we have credit risk for our receivables. These three factors, discretion in setting prices, discretion in selecting vendors and credit risk, further support reporting revenue on a gross basis.

Provision For Income Taxes

Provision for Income Taxes: Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. We believe that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realized based on future taxable income projections with the exception of $0.1 million related to state tax net operating losses for which a valuation allowance has been established. In the event the probability of realizing the remaining deferred tax assets do not meet the more likely than not threshold in the future, a valuation allowance would be established for the deferred tax assets deemed unrecoverable.

Tax liabilities are recorded when, in management's judgment, a tax position does not meet the more likely than not threshold for recognition as prescribed by the guidance. For tax positions that meet the more likely than not threshold, a tax liability may be recorded depending on management's assessment of how the tax position will ultimately be settled. We recognize interest expense and penalties related to income tax liabilities in our provision for income taxes.

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share: Basic earnings per common share are based on the average quarterly weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share are adjusted for the assumed exercise of dilutive stock options and for restricted stock which are both computed using the treasury stock method.

Stock Based Compensation

Stock Based Compensation: Share-based compensation includes the restricted stock awards expected to vest based on the grant date fair value. Compensation expense is amortized straight-line over the vesting period including an estimate of forfeitures and is included in salaries and benefits. We present excess tax benefits resulting from the exercise of share-based compensation as financing cash in-flows and as operating cash out-flows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

New Pronouncements

New Pronouncements: In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an update to Topic 820—Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures of the Accounting Standards Codification. This update provides guidance on how fair value accounting should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards. The guidance does not extend the use of fair value accounting. We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2012, as required. The adoption of this standard will not impact our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an update to Topic 220—Comprehensive Income of the Accounting Standards Codification. The update is intended to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income in the financial statements. The guidance requires that we present components of comprehensive income in either one continuous or two separate, but consecutive financial statements and no longer permits the presentation of comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity. We will adopt this new guidance effective January 1, 2012, as required, and the adoption will not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an update to Topic 350 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other of the Accounting Standards Codification. The objective of this update is to simplify how entities, both public and nonpublic, test goodwill for impairment. The amendments in the update permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. We adopted this new guidance effective during the fourth quarter of 2011. The adoption of this standard did not impact our consolidated financial statements.

Use Of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, revenue, the cost of transportation, commission expense, useful lives of equipment and repair liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications: Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.