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Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Days | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of principal reporting segments | 4 |  |
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic | $ 700 | $ 212 | $ 369
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] |  |  |
Minimum number of days past due for receivable reserve | Days | 90 |  |
Average monthly revenue adjustments | $ 255 |  |
Average monthly revenue | $ 91,735 |  |
Average monthly revenue adjustments as a percentage of monthly revenue | 0.30% |  |
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, minimum | Days | 35 |  |
Number of days in revenue adjustment reserve, maximum | Days | 65 |  |
Self insurance limit on individual vehicle and general claims | $ 1,000 |  |
Self insurance limit on workers' compensation claims | 350 |  |
Self insurance limit on health insurance claims | 225 |  |
Self Insurance limit on Ohio workers' compensation insurance claims | $ 500 |  |
Accounting Policies, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |
Maximum term for liquid investments to be considered cash equivalents, in months | 3 |  |
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Depreciation | $ 30,862 | 28,088 | 26,252
Accounting Policies, Software Development [Abstract] |  |  |
Capitalized software development costs | 19,567 | 16,268 |
Capitalized computer software, accumulated amortization | 10,874 | 10,716 |
Capitalized Computer Software, Amortization | 1,816 | $ 1,658 | $ 1,526
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ 545 |  |
Software and Software Development Costs [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 5 years |  |
Capitalized software future estimated amortization expense |  |  |
2018 | $ 2,197 |  |
2019 | 1,878 |  |
2020 | 1,620 |  |
2021 | 1,327 |  |
2022 | 716 |  |
Total | $ 7,738 |  |
Stock Option [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract] |  |  |
Period from grant date of stock options to expiration (in years) | 7 years |  |
Share-based awards, vesting period | 3 years |  |
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract] |  |  |
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths) | 1.30% | 1.00% | 1.00%
Expected stock price volatility | 28.50% | 28.90% | 33.30%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate | 2.00% | 1.30% | 1.60%
Expected life of options (in years) | 5 years 10 months 11 days | 5 years 9 months 11 days | 5 years 10 months 11 days
Key Employee Performance Share Based Plan [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Share-based Payments [Abstract] |  |  |
Share-based awards, vesting period | 3 years |  |
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract] |  |  |
Expected stock price volatility | 24.70% | 22.30% | 23.50%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate | 1.40% | 0.80% | 1.00%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] |  |  |
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract] |  |  |
Percentage of share price for shares issued under the ESPP (in hundredths) | 90.00% |  |
Purchase Period for Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 6 months |  |
Number of large lump sum contributions related to ESPP stock purchases | 2 |  |
Expedited LTL [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] |  |  |
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable | 50.00% |  |
Intermodal [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] |  |  |
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable | 10.00% |  |
Pool Distribution [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] |  |  |
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable | 25.00% |  |
Truckload Premium Services [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Use of Estimates [Abstract] |  |  |
Reserve percentage for past due accounts receivable | 50.00% |  |
Minimum [Member] | Building [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 30 years |  |
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 3 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Building [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 40 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member] |  |  |
Accounting Policies, Property and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 10 years |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] |  |  |
Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions [Abstract] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ 66,000 | $ 47,000 |

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