Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenues
Revenue	$ 7,571,244	$ 6,779,413	$ 4,878,908
Lease and rental sales	353,780	322,257	247,234
Total revenue	7,925,024	7,101,668	5,126,142
Cost of products sold
Lease and rental sales	247,935	221,804	188,093
Total cost of products sold	6,331,934	5,614,511	4,033,844
Gross profit	1,593,090	1,487,159	1,092,298
Selling, general and administrative	1,021,722	927,836	731,340
Depreciation and amortization	59,830	55,665	53,354
Gain on sale of assets	843	2,455	1,432
Operating income	512,381	506,113	309,036
Other income	2,597	22,338	6,417
Interest income (expense):
Interest income	777	639	657
Interest expense	(53,694)	(19,763)	(2,427)
Total interest expense, net	(52,917)	(19,124)	(1,770)
Income before taxes	462,061	509,327	313,683
Income tax provision	114,000	117,242	72,268
Net income	348,061	392,085	241,415
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,006	703	0
Net income attributable to Rush Enterprises, Inc.	$ 347,055	$ 391,382	$ 241,415
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.28	$ 4.71	$ 2.88
Diluted (in dollars per share)	4.15	4.57	2.78
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.49	$ 0.27
New and Used Commercial Vehicle [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	$ 4,957,969	$ 4,351,370	$ 3,039,953
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold	4,474,616	3,937,091	2,736,502
Parts and Service [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	2,562,141	2,372,439	1,793,363
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold	1,609,383	1,455,616	1,109,249
Finance and Insurance [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	24,271	29,741	27,964
Product and Service, Other [Member]
Revenues
Revenue	$ 26,863	$ 25,863	$ 17,628