<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.19.3</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>175</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>362</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>37</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>4</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) Parenthetical</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) Parenthetical</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlowsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfShareholdersEquityUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004001 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) Parenthetical</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfShareholdersEquityUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) Parenthetical</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Description of Business and Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Description of Business and Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Recent Accounting Pronouncements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/RecentAccountingPronouncements</Role>
      <ShortName>Recent Accounting Pronouncements</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Revenue</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/Revenue</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and Long-Lived Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/AcquisitionsAndLongLivedAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions and Long-Lived Assets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPayments</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Senior Credit Facility</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SeniorCreditFacility</Role>
      <ShortName>Senior Credit Facility</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Net Income Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/NetIncomePerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income Per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Leases</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/Leases</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/FinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Shareholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Shareholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SegmentReporting</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2305301 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and Long-Lived Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/AcquisitionsAndLongLivedAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions and Long-Lived Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/AcquisitionsAndLongLivedAssets</ParentRole>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPayments</ParentRole>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2308301 - Disclosure - Net Income Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/NetIncomePerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/NetIncomePerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2310301 - Disclosure - Leases (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/LeasesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/Leases</ParentRole>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2311301 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/FinancialInstruments</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Shareholders' Equity (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareholdersEquityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Shareholders' Equity (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareholdersEquity</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2314301 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SegmentReportingTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SegmentReporting</ParentRole>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401401 - Disclosure - Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndBasisOfPresentation</ParentRole>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402401 - Disclosure - Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/RecentAccountingPronouncementsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Revenue (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/RevenueDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Revenue (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/Revenue</ParentRole>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405402 - Disclosure - Acquisitions and Long-Lived Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/AcquisitionsAndLongLivedAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions and Long-Lived Assets (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/AcquisitionsAndLongLivedAssetsTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Stock Option Activity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsStockOptionActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments - Stock Option Activity (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Employee Activity Non-vested Shares (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsEmployeeActivityNonVestedSharesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments - Employee Activity Non-vested Shares (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406404 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Employee Activity Performance Shares (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsEmployeeActivityPerformanceSharesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments - Employee Activity Performance Shares (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406405 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsEmployeeStockPurchasePlanDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406406 - Disclosure - Share-Based Payments - Non-employee Director Non-vested Shares (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareBasedPaymentsNonEmployeeDirectorNonVestedSharesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Payments - Non-employee Director Non-vested Shares (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407401 - Disclosure - Senior Credit Facility (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SeniorCreditFacilityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Senior Credit Facility (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SeniorCreditFacility</ParentRole>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408402 - Disclosure - Net Income Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/NetIncomePerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Net Income Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/NetIncomePerShareTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409401 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/IncomeTaxes</ParentRole>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410402 - Disclosure - Leases (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/LeasesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/LeasesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411403 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments - Fair Value (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsFairValueDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments - Fair Value (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Shareholders' Equity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareholdersEquityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Shareholders' Equity (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/ShareholdersEquityTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413401 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</ParentRole>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="form10-qq32019.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414402 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SegmentReportingDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.forwardair.com/role/SegmentReportingTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File doctype="10-Q" original="form10-qq32019.htm">form10-qq32019.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit311q32019.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit312q32019.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit321q32019.htm</File>
    <File>exhibit322q32019.htm</File>
    <File>fwrd-20190930.xsd</File>
    <File>fwrd-20190930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>fwrd-20190930_def.xml</File>
    <File>fwrd-20190930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>fwrd-20190930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles>
    <File>facorplogo72519a02.jpg</File>
  </SupplementalFiles>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy>http://fasb.org/srt/2018-01-31</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
