Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Information [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Represents the Retirement Plan Number 002. E B P 002 [Member] ArcBest 401(k) and DC Retirement Plan Document Information [Line Items] Document Type Entity Registrant Name Entity Tax Identification Number Entity tax identification number Entity Central Index Key Amendment Flag Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] Investment Type [Axis] Investments [Domain] Mutual Fund [Member] Mutual funds Mutual funds Common Collective Trust [Member] Collective trust funds Collective trust funds Fund with stock issued by employer of participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Employer, Stock Fund [Member] Employer stock fund EBP, Self-Directed Brokerage Account [Member] Self-directed brokerage accounts Self-directed brokerage accounts EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Investment, Fair Value [Abstract] Investments, At Fair Value EBP, Noninterest-Bearing Cash Cash EBP, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair Value Investments, At Fair Value Investments at fair value EBP, Receivable [Abstract] Receivables EBP, Employer Contribution, Receivable Employer contributions EBP, Note Receivable from Participant Notes receivable from participants EBP, Receivable Total EBP, Net Asset Available for Benefit Net Assets Available for Benefits, End of Year Net Assets Available for Benefits, Beginning of Year Net Assets Available for Benefits Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Contribution [Abstract] Contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Participant Contribution, Excluding Rollover Participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Employer Contribution, Cash Employer EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Participant Contribution, Rollover Rollovers EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Contribution Total contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease [Abstract] Deductions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Payment to Participant Benefits paid to participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Administrative Expense Administrative expenses Administrative expense EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease Total deductions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Income (Loss) on Investment [Abstract] Net Investment Income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Net appreciation in fair value of investments EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest and Dividend Income on Investment Interest and dividends EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Other Investment Income (Loss) Other income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Income (Loss) on Investment Net investment income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest Income on Note Receivable from Participant Interest Income on Notes Receivable from Participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Transfer to (from) Plan Transfers In from Other Plan EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) Net Increase Description of the Plan EBP, Description of Plan [Table] EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items] Description of the Plan Delinquent Participant Contributions EBP, Description of Plan [Text Block] Description of the Plan Summary of Significant Accounting Policies EBP, Accounting Policy [Table] EBP, Accounting Policy [Line Items] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies EBP, Summary of Accounting Policy [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Fair Value of Plan Assets EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Text Block] Fair Value of Plan Assets Party-in-Interest Transactions EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Table] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Line Items] Party-in-Interest Transactions EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Text Block] Party-in-Interest Transactions Risks and Uncertainties EBP, Risk and Uncertainty [Table] EBP, Risk and Uncertainty [Line Items] EBP, Risk and Uncertainty [Line Items] EBP, Risk and Uncertainty [Text Block] Risks and Uncertainties No definition available. Delinquent Participant Contributions The entire disclosure for delinquent participant contributions of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Delinquent Participant Contributions [Text Block] Delinquent Participant Contributions Schedule H, Line 4a - Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution [Table] EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution [Line Items] Schedule H, Line 4a - Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution [Text Block] Schedule H, Line 4a - Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Line Items] Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Text Block] Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) EBP, Basis of Accounting [Policy Text Block] Basis of Accounting EBP, Use of Estimate [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates Disclosure of accounting policy for income recognition and investment valuation held by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Investment Valuation and Income Recognition [Policy Text Block] Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition EBP, Note Receivable from Participant [Policy Text Block] Notes Receivable from Participants Disclosure of accounting policy for tax status of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Includes, but is not limited to, information concerning whether tax ruling or determination letter was obtained and principal assumption on which plan relied in not making provision for federal income tax. Employee Benefit Plan, Tax Status [Policy Text Block] Plan Tax Status EBP, Expense [Policy Text Block] Administrative Expenses EBP, Payment to Participant [Policy Text Block] Payment of Benefits EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table Text Block] Schedule of fair value hierarchy levels Statistical Measurement [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Domain] Maximum [Member] Maximum EBP, Participant Contribution, Pretax, Maximum Annual Compensation to Total Compensation, Percentage Percentage of annual contribution EBP, Employer Contribution, Matching Percentage Employer contribution percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Participant Compensation Matched, Percentage Participant compensation Amount of profit sharing contributions made to employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Profit Sharing Contributions Profit sharing contributions Amount of accrued discretionary contributions made to employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Accrued Discretionary Contributions Accrued discretionary contributions EBP, Employer, Common Stock Fund [Member] ArcBest Corporation stock fund - common stock ArcBest Corporation stock fund - common stock EBP, Investment Program, Single Participation Status [Extensible Enumeration] Maximum percentage of investment in securities held through an employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Maximum Percentage Of Investment In Securities Maximum percentage of investment in securities Represents the employer contribution period of vesting. Employee Benefit Plan, Employer Contribution Vesting Period Vesting period Represents the DC feature period of vesting. Employee Benefit Plan, DC Feature Vesting Period DC Feature vesting feature EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Minimum Borrowing, Amount Note receivable, minimum borrowing amount EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Maximum Borrowing, Amount Note receivable, maximum borrowing amount EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Maximum Borrowing, to Total Account, Percentage Note receivable, maximum borrowing percentage Term of participant loan of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Note Receivable From Participant, Term Loan term EBP, Forfeited Nonvested Account Forfeited nonvested accounts Amount of decrease in forfeited nonvested account of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from employer matching contribution. Employee Benefit Plan, Forfeited Nonvested Account, Decrease from Employer Matching Contribution Amount of forfeited nonvested accounts used to offset employer contributions Amount of decrease in forfeited nonvested account of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from employer defined contribution. Employee Benefit Plan, Forfeited Nonvested Account, Decrease from Employer Defined Contribution Amount of forfeited nonvested accounts used to offset employer defined contributions EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Allowance for Credit Loss Allowance for credit loss EBP, Tax Determination Letter, Date Tax determination letter date Amount of administrative fee per participant incurred by employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Administrative Fee Per Participant Non-investment related fees Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 [Member] Fair value hierarchy Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Level 1 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Level 2 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Level 3 Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] Net asset value Measurement Frequency [Axis] Measurement Frequency [Domain] Fair Value, Recurring [Member] Recurring Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] Nonrecurring Fund that invests in short-term money-market instruments by employer of participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)). Employee Benefit Plan, Employer, Money Market Fund [Member] ArcBest Corporation stock fund - money market fund EBP, Liability EBP, Investment, Level 3 Reconciliation, Increase from Transfer into Level 3 Transfers into level 3 EBP, Investment, Level 3 Reconciliation, Decrease from Transfer out of Level 3 Transfers out of level 3 EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest [Axis] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest [Domain] Represents information pertaining to CapTrust Partners, LLC. CapTrust Partners, LLC [Member] CapTrust Partners, LLC Represents information pertaining to Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc. Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc [Member] Schwab Retirement Plan Services, Inc EBP, Other Related Party and Party-in-Interest [Member] Other party-in-interest EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution, Transferred Late to Plan Participant Contributions Transferred Late to Plan EBP, Plan Number Plan number EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution, Late Repayment Included [true false] EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution, Late Repayment Included [true false] EBP, Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contribution, Corrected Total Fully Corrected under VFCP and PTE 2002-51 Minimum [Member] Minimum Investment, Identifier [Axis] EBP, Investment, Issuer Name [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Investment, Issuer Name [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Investment, Current Value, Type [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Investment, Current Value, Type [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Investment, Number of Shares Number of Shares EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Current Value Current Value EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, after Deemed Distribution Notes receivable from participants EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, Interest Rate Interest rates of notes receivable from participants EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Party-in-Interest [true false] EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Party-in-Interest [true false]