Note C - Marketable Equity Securities - Realized Gains on Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Sales proceeds	$ 1,271	$ 18	$ 1,550	$ 18
Cost of securities sold	178	3	547	3
Realized gain	1,093	15	1,003	15
Realized gain, net of taxes	$ 676	$ 9	$ 621	$ 9

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities during the period, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptsi_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainsLossesCostOfSecuritiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	ptsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized, net of taxes on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ptsi_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesRealizedGainNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	ptsi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of proceeds received for the sale of securities, categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities, during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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