<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-26-016698.txt : 20260217
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-26-016698.hdr.sgml : 20260217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20260217215639
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-26-016698
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20251020
FILED AS OF DATE:		20260217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20260217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Cetus Capital VI, L.P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001837548
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-42704
		FILM NUMBER:		26645154

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 SOUND SHORE DRIVE, SUITE 303
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-552-3500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 SOUND SHORE DRIVE, SUITE 303
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FORWARD AIR CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912728
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ARRANGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT & CARGO [4731]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	01 Energy & Transportation
		EIN:				621120025
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 OLYMPUS BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		817-552-5270

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 OLYMPUS BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75019

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LANDAIR SERVICES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930928
</SEC-HEADER>
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<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>tm2529247-4_4seq1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2025-10-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912728</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FORWARD AIR CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FWRD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001837548</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cetus Capital VI, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8 SOUND SHORE DRIVE SUITE 303</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
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            <otherText></otherText>
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    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>215000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.89</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.86</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>74716</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.85</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>284</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.39</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2025-11-10</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.55</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3223709</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.66</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3193709</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>67163</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.71</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3126546</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2025-11-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.38</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3116546</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were acquired in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $17.51 to $18.41, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were acquired in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $18.75 to $18.98, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Given that the reporting person's sales of the Issuer's common stock reported herein on November 6, 2025, November 10, 2025, November 11, 2025, and November 12, 2025, together with the reporting person's sales of the Issuer's common stock on October 14, 2025 as disclosed in the Form 4 filed on February 17, 2026, were potentially matchable under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&quot;Section 16(b)&quot;), to the extent of an aggregate of 225,000 shares, with the reporting person's purchase of 225,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock on October 20, 2025, the reporting person has agreed to remit, and the Issuer has agreed to accept, an aggregate of $807,054 in connection with such sale transactions pursuant to Section 16(b).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $21.38 to $22.37, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $22.38 to $22.40, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $21.21 to $22.01, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $22.50 to $22.91, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $21.56 to $21.94, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $22.08 to $22.45, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares acquired at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert E. Davis, authorized signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
