Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenues
Revenue	$ 6,779,413	$ 4,878,908	$ 4,499,717
Lease and rental sales	322,257	247,234	236,223
Total revenue	7,101,668	5,126,142	4,735,940
Cost of products sold
Lease and rental sales	221,804	188,093	202,412
Total cost of products sold	5,614,511	4,033,844	3,860,473
Gross profit	1,487,159	1,092,298	875,467
Selling, general and administrative	927,836	731,340	665,258
Depreciation and amortization	55,665	53,354	57,456
Gain on sale of assets	2,455	1,432	1,852
Operating income	506,113	309,036	154,605
Other income	22,338	6,417	6,132
Interest income (expense):
Interest income	639	657	713
Interest expense	(19,763)	(2,427)	(9,727)
Total interest expense, net	(19,124)	(1,770)	(9,014)
Income before taxes	509,327	313,683	151,723
Income tax provision	117,242	72,268	36,836
Net income	392,085	241,415	114,887
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	703	0	0
Net income attributable to Rush Enterprises, Inc.	$ 391,382	$ 241,415	$ 114,887
Net income attributable to Rush Enterprises, Inc. per share of common stock:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 7.06	$ 4.32	$ 2.09
Diluted (in dollars per share)	6.85	4.17	2.04
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.74	$ 0.41
New and Used Commercial Vehicle [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	$ 4,351,370	$ 3,039,953	$ 2,863,309
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold	3,937,091	2,736,502	2,641,487
Parts and Service [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	2,372,439	1,793,363	1,600,445
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold	1,455,616	1,109,249	1,016,574
Finance and Insurance [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	29,741	27,964	21,949
Product and Service, Other [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	$ 25,863	$ 17,628	$ 14,014