OPERATING SEGMENT DATA (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
REVENUES
Revenues	$ 621,455	$ 613,276
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries, wages, and benefits	329,469	306,916
Rents, purchased transportation, and other costs of services	183,088	177,966
Fuel, supplies, and expenses	64,220	75,902
Depreciation and amortization	25,151	22,232
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(311)	(310)
Pension settlement expense	900	1,119
Other	28,792	28,980
Total consolidated operating expenses	630,720	611,996
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(9,265)	1,280
OTHER INCOME (COSTS)
Interest and dividend income	401	234
Interest and other related financing costs	(1,247)	(1,002)
Other, net	366	400
TOTAL OTHER INCOME (COSTS)	(480)	(368)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(9,745)	912
Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)
OPERATING EXPENSES
Pension settlement expense	700	800
Operating Segments | Freight Transportation (ABF Freight)
REVENUES
Revenues	439,508	441,207
OPERATING EXPENSES
Salaries, wages, and benefits	296,607	278,371
Fuel, supplies, and expenses	66,689	79,026
Operating taxes and licenses	11,980	11,996
Insurance	6,466	5,785
Communications and utilities	4,372	3,985
Depreciation and amortization	20,392	17,400
Rents and purchased transportation	39,696	41,844
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(172)	(244)
Pension settlement expense	677	840
Other	1,800	2,161
Total consolidated operating expenses	448,507	441,164
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(8,999)	43
Operating Segments | Premium Logistics (Panther)
REVENUES
Revenues	66,078	75,292
OPERATING EXPENSES
Purchased transportation	48,851	56,044
Depreciation and amortization	2,837	2,924
Salaries, benefits, insurance, and other	14,134	15,129
Total consolidated operating expenses	65,822	74,097
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	256	1,195
Operating Segments | Transportation Management (ABF Logistics)
REVENUES
Revenues	66,947	47,372
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total consolidated operating expenses	66,281	46,597
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	666	775
Operating Segments | Emergency & Preventative Maintenance (FleetNet)
REVENUES
Revenues	43,564	42,489
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total consolidated operating expenses	42,580	41,319
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	984	1,170
Operating Segments | Household Goods Moving Services (ABF Moving)
REVENUES
Revenues	18,144	18,568
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total consolidated operating expenses	18,893	18,931
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(749)	(363)
Operating Segments | Asset-Light Logistics Segments | Maximum
OPERATING EXPENSES
Pension settlement expense	100	100
Other and eliminations
REVENUES
Revenues	(12,786)	(11,652)
OPERATING EXPENSES
Pension settlement expense	200	200
Total consolidated operating expenses	(11,363)	(10,112)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	$ (1,423)	$ (1,540)