Amount of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI), classified as noncurrent.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123594786&loc=SL75136599-209740

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFVNINoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 321
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123583765&loc=SL75117546-209714

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGain
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment in equity security without readily determinable fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 321
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123583765&loc=SL75117539-209714

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	wern_InvesteeAxis=wern_MasteryLogisticsSystemIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	wern_InvesteeAxis=wern_TuSimpleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on interest in investment	$ 20,191	$ 0	$ 20,191	$ 0
Mastery Logistics System, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Initial value of ownership interest in investment	$ 5,000		$ 5,000
Ownership interest in investment	5.00%		5.00%
TuSimple
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Initial value of ownership interest in investment	$ 5,000		$ 5,000
Gain on interest in investment	20,191		20,191
Fair value of investment	$ 25,191		$ 25,191