<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912728</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FORWARD AIR CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FWRD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001688282</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLEARLAKE CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>233 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323912</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Feliciano Jose Enrique</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>233 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001409564</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Eghbali Behdad</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>233 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA MONICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2691677</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1133323</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held for the account of Clearlake Capital Partners VII Finance, L.P. (&quot;Clearlake Capital Partners VII&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares held for the account of Clearlake Capital Partners VIII Finance, L.P. (&quot;Clearlake Capital Partners VIII&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. serves as the investment adviser to and controls each of Clearlake Capital Partners VII and Clearlake Capital Partners VIII.  Mr. Feliciano and Mr. Eghbali are Managing Partners of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P.  Each of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., Mr. Feliciano and Mr. Eghbali disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities, except to the extent of its/his indirect pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit List: Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney of Reporting Persons (incorporated herein by reference to the Power of Attorney filed as Exhibit No. 2 to the Schedule 13G filed by the Reporting Persons on February 8, 2021).</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., By: /s/ John Cannon, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Cannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Jose Enrique Feliciano</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Cannon, Attorney-in-Fact for Behdad Eghbali</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
