Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Estimates in Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Loans and Leases Receivable, Allowance for Loan Losses Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Credit Losses and Repossession Losses

The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses based on the probability of default, its historical rate of losses, aging and current economic conditions. Accounts receivable consists primarily of commercial vehicle sales receivables, manufacturers’ receivables, leasing and parts and service receivables and other trade receivables. The Company writes off account balances when it has exhausted reasonable collection efforts and determined that the likelihood of collection is remote. These write-offs are charged against the allowance for credit losses.

The Company provides an allowance for repossession losses after considering historical loss experience and other factors that might affect the ability of customers to meet their obligations on finance contracts sold by the Company when the Company has a potential liability.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the useful life of the improvement, or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Provision for depreciation of property and equipment is calculated primarily on a straight-line basis. The Company capitalizes interest on borrowings during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest, when incurred, is added to the cost of underlying assets and is amortized over the estimated useful life of such assets. The Company recorded capitalized interest of approximately $163,500 related to major capital projects during 2020. The cost, accumulated depreciation and amortization and estimated useful lives of certain of the Company’s property and equipment are summarized as follows (in thousands):

	2020			2019			Estimated Life (Years)
Land	$	136,024		$	137,416				–
Buildings and improvements		495,808			474,106			10	–	39
Leasehold improvements		38,767			34,350			2	–	39
Machinery and shop equipment		87,090			82,594			5	–	20
Furniture, fixtures and computers		81,834			73,846			3	–	15
Transportation equipment		96,319			99,127			3	–	15
Lease and rental vehicles		905,465			968,121			1	–	8
Construction in progress		2,989			16,874
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(640,577	)		(606,503	)

Total	$	1,203,719		$	1,279,931

The Company recorded depreciation expense of $157.8 million and amortization expense of $19.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, depreciation expense of $158.7 million and amortization expense of $16.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, and depreciation expense of $149.1 million and amortization expense of $36.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $109.5 million in lease and rental vehicles under various finance leases included in property and equipment, net of accumulated amortization of $40.2 million. The Company recorded depreciation and amortization expense of $119.9 million related to lease and rental vehicles in lease and rental cost of products sold for the year ended December 31, 2020, $120.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 and $114.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Assets

ERP Platform

The total capitalized costs of the Company’s SAP enterprise resource planning software platform (“the ERP Platform”) of $7.0 million are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Other Assets. Amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform, which is recognized in depreciation and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, was $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company estimates that amortization expense relating to the ERP Platform will be approximately $1.2 million for each of the next five years.

In the first quarter of 2018, as part of an assessment that involved a technical feasibility study of the then current ERP Platform, the Company determined that a majority of the components of this ERP Platform would require replacement earlier than originally anticipated; in prior disclosures, the Company had referred to the ERP Platform separately as the SAP enterprise software and SAP dealership management system. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350-40, in the first quarter of 2018, the Company adjusted the useful life of these components that were replaced so that the respective net book values of the components were fully amortized upon replacement in May 2018. The Company amortized the remaining net book value of the components that were replaced on a straight-line basis in February 2018 through May 2018. The Company recorded amortization expense of $19.9 million in 2018 related to the components of the ERP Platform that were replaced. The ERP Platform asset and related amortization are reflected in the Truck Segment.

Franchise Rights

The Company’s only significant identifiable intangible assets, other than goodwill, are rights under franchise agreements with manufacturers. The fair value of the franchise right is determined at the acquisition date by discounting the projected cash flows specific to each acquisition. The carrying value of the Company’s manufacturer franchise rights was $7.0 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and is included in Other Assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company has determined that manufacturer franchise rights have an indefinite life, as there are no economic or other factors that limit their useful lives and they are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely due to the historically long lives of the manufacturers’ brand names. Furthermore, to the extent that any agreements evidencing manufacturer franchise rights have expiration dates, the Company expects that it will be able to renew those agreements in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Company does not amortize manufacturer franchise rights.

Due to the fact that manufacturer franchise rights are specific to a geographic region, the Company has determined that evaluating and including all locations acquired in the geographic region is the appropriate level for purposes of testing franchise rights for impairment. Management reviews indefinite-lived manufacturer franchise rights for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. The Company is subject to financial statement risk to the extent that manufacturer franchise rights become impaired due to decreases in the fair market value of its individual franchises.

The significant estimates and assumptions used by management in assessing the recoverability of manufacturer franchise rights include estimated future cash flows, present value discount rate and other factors. Any changes in these estimates or assumptions could result in an impairment charge. The estimates of future cash flows, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management’s subjective judgment. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the estimated future cash flows projected in the evaluations of manufacturer franchise rights can vary within a range of outcomes.

No impairment write-down was required in the period presented. The Company cannot predict the occurrence of certain events that might adversely affect the reported value of manufacturer franchise rights in the future.

Equity Method Investment and Call Option

On February 25, 2019, the Company acquired 50% of the equity interest in Rush Truck Centres of Canada Limited (“RTC Canada”), which acquired the operating assets of Tallman Group, the largest International Truck dealer in Canada. The Company was also granted a call option in the purchase agreement that provides the Company with the right to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in RTC Canada until the close of business on February 25, 2024. The value of the Company’s call option was $3.6 million as of December 31, 2020, and is reported in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On April 25, 2019, the Company entered into a Guaranty Agreement (“Guaranty”) with Bank of Montreal (“BMO”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to guaranty up to CAD250 million (the “Guaranty Cap”) of certain credit facilities entered into by and between Tallman Truck Centre Limited (“TTCL”) and BMO. The Company owned a 50% equity interest in TTCL, which was the sole owner of RTC Canada. Later in 2019, RTC Canada and TTCL were amalgamated into RTC Canada. Interest, fees and expenses incurred by BMO to enforce its rights with respect to the guaranteed obligations and its rights against the Company under the Guaranty are not subject to the Guaranty Cap. In exchange for the Guaranty, RTC Canada is receiving a reduced rate of interest on its credit facilities with BMO. The Guaranty was valued at $5.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and $5.1 million as of December 31, 2019, and is included in the investment in RTC Canada. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s investment in RTC Canada is $32.0 million. The Company’s equity income in RTC Canada is included in Other income on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition Policies

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”),” using the modified retrospective transition method. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations. The Company then assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct and recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. For a complete discussion of accounting for revenue, see Note 18 – Revenue of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Lessee and Lessor Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases

The Company leases commercial vehicles and real estate under finance and operating leases. The Company determines whether an arrangement is a lease at its inception. For leases with terms greater than twelve months, the Company records a lease asset and liability at the present value of lease payments over the term. Many of the Company’s leases include renewal options and termination options that are factored into its determination of lease payments when appropriate.

When available, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value; however, most of its leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, the Company must estimate its incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments based on information available at lease commencement.

The Company leases commercial vehicles that the Company owns to customers. Lease and rental revenue is recognized over the period of the related lease or rental agreement. Variable rental revenue is recognized when it is earned.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of incentive based compensation for sales, finance and general management personnel, salaries for administrative personnel and expenses for rent, marketing, insurance, utilities, research and development and other general operating purposes.

Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing expense was $7.9 million for 2020, $11.5 million for 2019 and $10.4 million for 2018. Advertising and marketing expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense.

Unpaid Policy Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Insurance

The Company is partially self-insured for a portion of the claims related to its property and casualty insurance programs. Accordingly, the Company is required to estimate expected losses to be incurred. The Company engages a third-party administrator to assess any open claims and the Company adjusts its accrual accordingly on an annual basis. The Company is also partially self-insured for a portion of the claims related to its worker’s compensation and medical insurance programs. The Company uses actuarial information provided from third-party administrators to calculate an accrual for claims incurred, but not reported, and for the remaining portion of claims that have been reported.

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Acquisitions

The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting for the recognition of assets acquired and liabilities assumed through acquisitions at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Any excess consideration transferred over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to measure the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which is not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition, any changes in the estimated fair values of the net assets recorded for the acquisitions will result in an adjustment to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Consolidated Statements of Income.