Davey Tree Expert 10-K 10 Mar 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 27, 2015	Jul. 01, 2014
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO
Entity Central Index Key	277638
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,168,800
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$330,928,487

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash	$18,415	$15,861
Accounts receivable, net	111,598	105,256
Operating supplies	6,968	5,661
Prepaid expenses	14,088	11,393
Other current assets	16,127	13,845
Total current assets	167,196	152,016
Property and equipment:
Land and land improvements	16,553	13,904
Buildings and leasehold improvements	33,644	27,364
Equipment	482,752	442,882
Property and equipment	532,949	484,150
Less accumulated depreciation	372,066	347,266
Property and equipment, net	160,883	136,884
Other assets	18,862	16,917
Identified intangible assets and goodwill, net	34,063	27,561
Total assets	381,004	333,378
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt	8,281	8,434
Accounts payable	42,140	37,922
Accrued expenses	34,925	36,858
Self-insurance accruals	23,007	22,057
Total current liabilities	108,353	105,271
Long-term debt	51,306	20,034
Senior unsecured notes	30,000	30,000
Self-insurance accruals	35,886	34,655
Other liabilities	18,968	12,280
Total liabilities	244,513	202,240
Common shareholders' equity:
Common shares, $1.00 par value, per share; 24,000 shares authorized; 21,457 shares issued and outstanding before treasury shares as of December 31, 2014 and 2013	21,457	21,457
Additional paid-in capital	9,461	5,008
Common shares subscribed	9,381	10,467
Retained earnings	251,470	230,975
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-11,523	-4,393
Stockholders' equity before treasury stock	280,246	263,514
Less: Cost of Common shares held in treasury; 8,292 shares in 2014 and 8,018 in 2013	138,155	125,034
Common shares subscription receivable	5,600	7,342
Common shareholders' equity	136,491	131,138
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$381,004	$333,378

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Common stock, par value	1	1
Common stock, shares authorized	24,000,000	24,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	21,456,880	21,456,880	21,456,880
Common stock, shares outstanding	13,165,000	13,439,000	13,726,000
Treasury stock, shares	8,291,947	8,018,269	7,730,878
Common Stock [Member]
Common stock, shares issued	21,457,000	21,457,000	21,457,000	21,457,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	21,456,880	21,456,880

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues	$789,911	$713,848	$680,153
Costs and expenses:
Operating	508,677	462,646	437,332
Selling	140,027	120,842	111,578
General and administrative	54,970	50,654	48,171
Depreciation	40,970	38,231	37,365
Amortization of intangible assets	2,070	1,980	1,742
Gain on sale of assets, net	-806	-1,294	-1,802
Costs and Expenses	745,908	673,059	634,386
Income from operations	44,003	40,789	45,767
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	-2,948	-2,708	-2,698
Interest income	295	311	200
Other	-3,050	-2,827	-2,611
Income before income taxes	38,300	35,565	40,658
Income taxes	15,131	12,712	16,063
Net income	$23,169	$22,853	$24,595
Share data:
Earnings per share--basic:	$1.68	$1.61	$1.74
Earnings per share--diluted:	$1.63	$1.57	$1.68
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	13,821,223	14,170,681	14,102,366
Diluted	14,238,276	14,602,432	14,608,857
Dividends declared per share	$0.19	$0.18	$0.18

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net income	$23,169	$22,853	$24,595
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (losses)/gains	-2,798	-1,864	561
Change in deferred gains on cash flow hedges	0	0	77
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net (loss)/gain arising during the year	-6,023	3,717	-2,170
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:
Net actuarial loss	1,682	861	752
Prior service cost	-9	-8	-9
Amortization of defined benefit pension items:	1,691	869	761
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	-4,332	4,586	-1,409
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-7,130	2,722	-771
Comprehensive income	$16,039	$25,575	$23,824

Statements_of_Consolidated_Sha

Statements of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common shares	Additional paid-in capital	Common shares subscribed, unissued	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	Common shares held in treasury	Common shares subscription receivable
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance at the beginning of the year at Dec. 31, 2011	($6,344)					($6,344)
Balance at beginning of year, value at Dec. 31, 2011		-21,457	-1,721	0	-188,613		104,721	0
Common shares, at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2011		21,457,000
Share subscriptions, beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011				0				0
Balance at beginning of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2011							7,611,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares sold to employees, value			1,742				4,390
Options exercised, value			-2,100				-5,197
Subscription shares, issued, value			428				1,078
Stock-based compensation			1,640
Common shares, subscribed, value				-12,563				-9,732
Common shares, subscribed, shares				-638,000				-638,000
Common shares, issued, value				-1,508				-517
Common shares, issued, shares				-77,000				-77,000
Cancellations, value				0				0
Cancellations, shares				0				0
Net income	24,595				24,595
Dividends					-2,556
Currency translation adjustments						561
Net gain (loss) on interest rate contracts	77					77
Defined benefit pension plans	1,409					-1,409
Shares purchased, value							-18,103
Shares purchased, shares							892,000
Shares sold to employees, shares							-327,000
Options exercised, shares							-368,000
Subscription shares, issued, shares							-77,000
Balance at the end of the year at Dec. 31, 2012	-7,115					-7,115
Balance at ending of year, value at Dec. 31, 2012	-118,106	-21,457	-3,431	-11,055	-210,652		112,159	-9,215
Common shares, at end of year at Dec. 31, 2012	21,456,880	21,457,000
Share subscriptions, ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012				-561,000				-561,000
Balance at ending of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	13,726,000						7,731,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares sold to employees, value			2,745				3,853
Options exercised, value			-2,273				-4,776
Subscription shares, issued, value			98				383
Stock-based compensation			1,007
Common shares, subscribed, value				0				0
Common shares, subscribed, shares				0				0
Common shares, issued, value				-409				-1,728
Common shares, issued, shares				-21,000				-21,000
Cancellations, value				-179				-145
Cancellations, shares				-9,000				-9,000
Net income	22,853				22,853
Dividends					-2,530
Currency translation adjustments						-1,864
Net gain (loss) on interest rate contracts	0					0
Defined benefit pension plans	-4,586					4,586
Shares purchased, value							-21,887
Shares purchased, shares	931,078						931,000
Shares sold to employees, shares	-299,330						-299,000
Options exercised, shares							-319,000
Subscription shares, issued, shares							-26,000
Balance at the end of the year at Dec. 31, 2013	-4,393					-4,393
Balance at ending of year, value at Dec. 31, 2013	-131,138	-21,457	-5,008	-10,467	-230,975		125,034	-7,342
Common shares, at end of year at Dec. 31, 2013	21,456,880	21,457,000
Share subscriptions, ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013				-531,000				-531,000
Balance at ending of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	13,439,000	21,456,880					8,018,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares sold to employees, value			3,417				3,822
Options exercised, value			-273				-1,861
Subscription shares, issued, value			184				794
Stock-based compensation			1,125
Common shares, subscribed, value	-12,563			0				0
Common shares, subscribed, shares	-637,714			0				0
Common shares, issued, value				-758				-1,543
Common shares, issued, shares				-39,000				-39,000
Cancellations, value				-328				-199
Cancellations, shares				-16,000				-16,000
Net income	23,169				23,169
Dividends					-2,674
Currency translation adjustments						-2,798
Net gain (loss) on interest rate contracts	0					0
Defined benefit pension plans	4,332					-4,332
Shares purchased, value							-19,598
Shares purchased, shares	727,436						727,000
Shares sold to employees, shares	-287,536						-287,000
Options exercised, shares	-74,715						-116,000
Subscription shares, issued, shares							-50,000
Balance at the end of the year at Dec. 31, 2014	-11,523					-11,523
Balance at ending of year, value at Dec. 31, 2014	($136,491)	($21,457)	($9,461)	($9,381)	($251,470)		$138,155	($5,600)
Common shares, at end of year at Dec. 31, 2014	21,456,880	21,457,000
Share subscriptions, ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014				-476,000				-476,000
Balance at ending of year, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	13,165,000	21,456,880					8,292,000

Statement_of_Consolidated_Shar

Statement of Consolidated Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Dividends	$0.19	$0.18	$0.18

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating activities
Net income	$23,169	$22,853	$24,595
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	40,970	38,231	37,365
Amortization	2,070	1,980	1,742
Gain on sale of assets	-806	-1,294	-1,802
Deferred income taxes	-2,679	1,716	-3,607
Other	-5,638	-3,228	3,493
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	-4,489	10,307	-24,294
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,206	-2,308	-1,145
Self-insurance accruals	2,116	-5,021	4,468
Other assets, net	-6,640	-6,926	3,121
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities	26,110	33,457	19,341
Net cash provided by operating activities	49,279	56,310	43,936
Capital expenditures:
Equipment	-46,228	-42,462	-29,294
Land and buildings	-9,503	-2,743	-440
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	1,366	2,080	2,955
Purchases of businesses	-9,695	-80	-4,400
Net cash used in investing activities	-64,060	-43,205	-31,179
Financing activities
Revolving credit facility borrowings/(payments), net	24,500	-4,200	4,200
Borrowings/(payments) of notes payable	-1,091	1,442	1,155
Borrowings/(payments) of long-term debt and capital leases	5,695	-583	-649
Purchase of common shares for treasury	-19,598	-21,887	-18,103
Sale of common shares from treasury	8,762	9,582	10,735
Cash received on common-share subscriptions	1,741	1,285	1,841
Dividends	-2,674	-2,530	-2,556
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	17,335	-16,891	-3,377
Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,554	-3,786	9,380
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	15,861	19,647	10,267
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$18,415	$15,861	$19,647

Our_Business

Our Business	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Our Business	Our Business
	We provide a wide range of arboriculture, horticulture, environmental and consulting services to residential, utility, commercial and government entities throughout the United States and Canada. We have two reportable operating segments organized by type or class of customer: Residential and Commercial, and Utility.
	Residential and Commercial--Residential and Commercial provides services to our residential and commercial customers including: the treatment, preservation, maintenance, removal, planting of trees, shrubs and other plant life; the practice of landscaping, grounds maintenance, tree surgery, tree feeding and tree spraying; the application of fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides; and, natural resource management and consulting, forestry research and development, and environmental planning.
	Utility--Utility is principally engaged in providing services to our utility customers--investor-owned, municipal utilities, and rural electric cooperatives--including: the practice of line-clearing and vegetation management around power lines, rights-of-way and chemical brush control; and, natural resource management and consulting, forestry research and development and environmental planning.
	We also maintain research, technical support and laboratory diagnostic facilities.
	When we refer to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Davey Tree,” and the “Company,” we mean The Davey Tree Expert Company, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation--The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Davey Tree and our wholly-owned subsidiaries and were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation--The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, accounts receivable valuation, depreciable lives of fixed assets, self-insurance accruals, and revenue recognition. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Property and Equipment--Property and equipment are stated at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed for financial reporting purposes by the straight-line method for land improvements, building and leasehold improvements and by the declining-balance method for equipment, based on the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
	Land improvements	5 to 20 years
	Buildings	5 to 20 years
	Equipment	3 to 10 years
	Leasehold improvements	Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life; ranging from 5-to-20 years
	Intangible Assets--Intangible assets with finite lives, primarily customer lists, noncompete agreements and tradenames, are amortized by the straight-line method based on their estimated useful lives, ranging from one-to-ten years.
	Long-Lived Assets--We assess potential impairment to our long-lived assets, other than goodwill, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances have made recovery of the asset’s carrying value unlikely and the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated future undiscounted cash flow. In the event the assessment indicates that the carrying amounts
	B.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	may not be recoverable, an impairment loss would be recognized to reduce the asset’s carrying amount to its estimated fair value based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows.
	Goodwill--Goodwill is recorded when the cost of acquired businesses exceeds the fair value of the identified net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but tested for impairment annually or when events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. Annually, we perform the impairment tests for goodwill during the fourth quarter. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the reporting-unit level, which for us are also our business segments. Impairment of goodwill is tested by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying value, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. The fair values of the reporting units are estimated using discounted projected cash flows. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. We conducted our annual impairment tests and determined that no impairment loss was required to be recognized in 2014 or for any prior periods. There were no events or circumstances from the date of our assessment through December 31, 2014 that would impact this conclusion.
	Self-Insurance Accruals--We are generally self-insured for losses and liabilities related primarily to workers’ compensation, vehicle liability and general liability claims. We use commercial insurance as a risk-reduction strategy to minimize catastrophic losses. Ultimate losses are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred using certain actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and based on Company-specific experience.
	Our self-insurance accruals include claims for which the ultimate losses will develop over a period of years. Accordingly, our estimates of ultimate losses can change as claims mature. Our accruals also are affected by changes in the number of new claims incurred and claim severity. The methods for estimating the ultimate losses and the total cost of claims were determined by third-party consulting actuaries; the resulting accruals are reviewed by management, and any adjustments arising from changes in estimates are reflected in income.
	The workers' compensation accruals are discounted as the amount and timing of cash payments related to those accruals are reliably determinable given the nature of workers' compensation benefits and the level of historical claim volume to support the actuarial assumptions and judgments used to derive the expected loss payment pattern. The workers' compensation accruals are discounted using an interest rate that approximates the long-term investment yields over the expected payment pattern of unpaid losses.
	Our self-insurance accruals are based on estimates and, while we believe that the amounts accrued are adequate and not excessive, the ultimate claims may be in excess of or less than the amounts provided.
	Stock-Based Compensation--Stock-based compensation cost for all share-based payment plans is measured at fair value on the date of grant and recognized over the employee service period on the straight-line recognition method for awards expected to vest. The fair value of all stock-based payment plans—stock option plans, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, and performance-based restricted stock units as well as our Employee Stock Purchase Plan—is determined by the number of awards granted and the price of our common stock. The fair value of each award is estimated on the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. The binomial model considers a range of assumptions related to volatility, risk-free interest rate and employee exercise behavior. Expected volatilities utilized in the binomial model are based on historical volatility of our share prices and other factors. Similarly, the dividend yield is based on historical experience and expected future changes. The binomial model also incorporates exercise and forfeiture assumptions based on an analysis of historical data. The expected life of the stock-based awards is derived from the output of the binomial model and represents the period of time that awards granted are expected to be outstanding.
	Defined Benefit Pension Plans--We record annual expenses relating to our defined benefit pension plans based on calculations that include various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates and expected long-term rates of return on plan assets. Actuarial assumptions are reviewed annually with modifications made to the assumptions, if necessary, based on current rates and trends. The effects of the actuarial gains or losses are amortized over future service periods. The funded status (that is, the projected benefit obligation less the fair value of plan assets) for each plan is reported in our balance sheet
	B.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	using a December 31 measurement date. Changes in the funded status of the plans are recognized in the year in which the changes occur and reported in comprehensive income (loss).
	Income Taxes--We compute taxes on income in accordance with the tax rules and regulations where the income is earned. The income tax rates imposed by these taxing authorities vary. Taxable income may differ from pretax income for financial reporting purposes. We compute and recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of our assets and liabilities. Changes in tax rates and laws are reflected in income in the period when such changes are enacted. We account for uncertain tax positions by recognizing the financial statement effects of a tax position only when, based upon the technical merits, it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination.
	Earnings Per Share--Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing the income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the weighted-average number of shares is increased to include the effect of stock awards that were granted and outstanding during the period.
	Revenue Recognition--Revenues from residential and commercial services are recognized as the services are provided and amounts are determined to be collectible. Revenues from contractual arrangements, primarily with utility services customers, are recognized based on costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. During the performance of such contracts, estimated final contract prices and costs are periodically reviewed and revisions are made, as required, to the revenue recognized. On cost-plus-fee contracts, revenue is recognized to the extent of costs incurred plus a proportionate amount of fees earned, and on time-and-material contracts, revenue is recognized to the extent of billable rates times hours worked, plus material and other reimbursable costs incurred. Revisions arise in the normal course of providing services to utility services customers and generally relate to changes in contract specifications and cost allowability. Such revisions are recorded when realization is probable and can be reliably estimated.
	Concentration of Credit Risk--Credit risk represents the accounting loss that would be recognized if the counterparties failed to perform as contracted. The principal financial instruments subject to credit risk follow:
	Cash--To limit our exposure, we transact our business and maintain banking relationships and our derivative contracts with high credit-quality financial institutions.
	Accounts Receivable--Our residential and commercial customers are located geographically throughout the United States and Canada and, as to commercial customers, within differing industries; thus, minimizing credit risk. The credit exposure of utility services customers is directly affected by conditions within the utility industries as well as the financial condition of individual customers. One utility customer approximated 8% of revenues during 2014, 9% in 2013 and 10% in 2012. To reduce credit risk, we evaluate the credit of customers, but generally do not require advance payments or collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer’s financial condition.
	Currency Translation Adjustments--All assets and liabilities of our Canadian operations are translated into United States dollars at year-end exchange rates while revenues and expenses are translated at weighted-average exchange rates in effect during the year. Translation adjustments are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.
	Interest Rate Risk Management--We have entered into interest rate contracts, from time-to-time, with the objective of altering interest rate exposures related to variable rate debt. In the interest rate contracts, we have agreed with a financial institution to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated on an agreed-upon notional principal amount.
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)--Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. GAAP are included in
	B.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	comprehensive income but are excluded from net income as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to shareholders’ equity, net of tax.

Recent_Accounting_Guidance

Recent Accounting Guidance	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Guidance	Recent Accounting Guidance
	Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)--In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("Topic 606"),” which will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance on revenue recognition and eliminate all industry-specific guidance.
	The new revenue recognition guidance provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the entity expects in exchange for those goods and services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of the time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced information to be presented in the financial statements regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers.
	Unless the FASB delays the effective date of the new guidelines, it will be effective for Davey Tree beginning January 1, 2017 and can be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the methods of adoption as well as the impact that it may have, if any, on our consolidated financial statements. The new revenue guidance will supersede existing revenue guidance affecting our Company, and may also affect our business processes and our information technology systems. As a result, our evaluation of the effect of the new revenue guidance will extend over future periods.

Business_Combinations

Business Combinations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business combinations	Business Combinations
	Our investments in businesses were: (a) $12,853 in 2014, including $1,078 liabilities assumed and debt issued of $2,080; (b) $110 in 2013, including no liabilities assumed and $30 debt issued; and (c) $6,368 in 2012, including liabilities assumed of $1,868 and $100 debt issued.
	The net assets of the businesses acquired are accounted for under the acquisition method and were recorded at their fair values at the dates of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired was recorded as an increase in goodwill of approximately $4,624 in 2014 (all of which is deductible for tax purposes), no goodwill in 2013 and $1,820 in 2012 (of which $258 is deductible for tax purposes).
	The results of operations of acquired businesses have been included in the consolidated statements of operations beginning as of the effective dates of acquisition. The effect of these acquisitions on our consolidated revenues and results of operations, either individually or in the aggregate, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 or 2012 was not significant.

Accounts_Receivable_Net_and_Su

Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
	Accounts receivable, net, consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Accounts receivable	$	98,657	$	93,156
	Receivables under contractual arrangements	15,362		14,309
		114,019		107,465
	Less allowances for doubtful accounts	2,421		2,209
		$	111,598	$	105,256
	Receivables under contractual arrangements consist of work-in-process in accordance with the terms of contracts, primarily, with utility services customers.
	The following items comprise the amounts included in the balance sheets:
		December 31,
	Other current assets	2014		2013
	Refundable income taxes	$	2,122	$	5,317
	Deferred income taxes	8,927		7,715
	Note receivable	4,319		—
	Other	759		813
	Total	$	16,127	$	13,845
		December 31,
	Other assets, noncurrent	2014		2013
	Assets invested for self-insurance	$	13,684	$	12,716
	Investment--cost-method affiliate	1,168		1,168
	Deferred income taxes	1,705		—
	Other	2,305		3,033
	Total	$	18,862	$	16,917
	E.	Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (continued)
		December 31,
	Accrued expenses	2014		2013
	Employee compensation	$	19,195	$	18,578
	Accrued compensated absences	8,034		6,953
	Self-insured medical claims	2,722		2,503
	Customer advances, deposits	2,030		2,191
	Taxes, other than income	2,054		5,730
	Other	890		903
	Total	$	34,925	$	36,858
		December 31,
	Other liabilities, noncurrent	2014		2013
	Pension and retirement plans	$	16,311	$	7,760
	Deferred income taxes	—		2,564
	Other	2,657		1,956
	Total	$	18,968	$	12,280

Supplemental_Operating_Informa

Supplemental Operating Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
LItigation Settlement and Supplemental Operating Information	Supplemental Operating Information
	Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Net
	Other nonoperating (expense) income, net, included in the statements of operations follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Other nonoperating expense, net	$	(3,050	)	$	(2,827	)	$	(2,611	)
	Other nonoperating (expense) income, net, includes foreign currency (i) losses of $235 for 2014, (ii) losses of $146 for 2013, and (iii) gains of $11 for 2012 on the intercompany balances of our Canadian operations.

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa

Supplemental Cash Flow Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	Supplemental Cash Flow Information
	Supplemental cash flow information follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
	Supplemental cash flow information	2014			2013			2012
	Interest paid	$	2,948		$	2,732		$	2,683
	Income taxes paid, net	13,577			20,133			11,131
	Noncash transactions:
	Debt issued for purchases of businesses	$	2,080		$	30		$	100
	Detail of acquisitions:
	Assets acquired:
	Receivables	$	1,852		$	—		$	474
	Operating supplies	61			—			209
	Prepaid expense	213			—			47
	Equipment	1,726			—			1,826
	Deposits and other	558			—			—
	Intangibles	8,443			110			3,812
	Liabilities assumed	(1,078		)	—			(1,868		)
	Debt issued for purchases of businesses	(2,080		)	(30		)	(100		)
	Cash paid	$	9,695		$	80		$	4,400

Identified_Intangible_Assets_a

Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net [Text Block]	Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net
	The carrying amount of the identified intangibles and goodwill acquired in connection with our investments in businesses were as follows:
		Weighted-Average Amortization			December 31, 2014							December 31, 2013
		Period (Years)			Carrying			Accumulated				Carrying			Accumulated
					Amount			Amortization				Amount			Amortization
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Customer lists/relationships	2.5	years		$	16,076		$	12,560			$	14,429		$	11,398
	Employment-related	2.8	years		7,026			5,776				5,631			5,474
	Tradenames	3.3	years		5,286			4,153				4,525			3,754
	Total				28,388			$	22,489			24,585			$	20,626
	Less accumulated amortization				22,489							20,626
	Identified intangibles, net				5,899							3,959
	Unamortized intangible assets:
	Goodwill	Not amortized			28,164							23,602
					$	34,063						$	27,561
	H.	Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net (continued)
	The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill, by segment, for the year ended December 31, 2014 follow:
		Balance at				Acquisitions			Translation				Balance at
		January 1,							and Other				December 31,
		2014							Adjustments				2014
	Utility	$	3,064			$	360		$	—			$	3,424
	Residential and Commercial	20,538				4,264			(62		)		24,740
	Total	$	23,602			$	4,624		$	(62	)		$	28,164
	Estimated future aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets--The estimated aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets, as of December 31, 2014, in each of the next five years follows:
			Estimated Future
			Amortization Expense
	Year ending December 31, 2015		$	1,876
	2016		1,670
	2017		1,210
	2018		473
	2019		338

ShortTerm_and_LongTerm_Debt

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Short-Term and Long-Term Debt [Text Block]	Short-Term and Long-Term Debt
	Short-term debt consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	8,281	$	8,434
	At December 31, 2014, we also had unused short-term lines of credit with several banks totaling $7,281, generally at the banks' prime rate or LIBOR plus a margin adjustment of .75% to 1.50%. Long-term debt consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Revolving credit facility
	Swing-line borrowings	$	7,500	$	—
	LIBOR borrowings	37,000		20,000
		44,500		20,000
	Senior unsecured notes	30,000		30,000
	Term loans	15,087		8,468
		89,587		58,468
	Less current portion	8,281		8,434
		$	81,306	$	50,034
	Revolving Credit Facility and 5.09% Senior Unsecured Notes--In November 2013, the Company amended its revolving credit facility. The amended and restated credit agreement, which expires in November 2018, permits borrowings as defined up to $175,000 including a letter of credit sublimit of $100,000 and a swing-line commitment of $15,000 (the previous
	I.	Short-Term and Long-Term Debt (continued)
	agreement permitted borrowings up to $140,000 with a letter of credit sublimit of $100,000). Under certain circumstances, the amount available under the revolving credit facility may be increased to $210,000. The revolving credit facility contains certain affirmative and negative covenants customary for this type of facility and includes financial covenant ratios with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a maximum balance sheet leverage ratio.
	On July 22, 2010, we issued $30,000 of 5.09% Senior Unsecured Notes, Series A, due July 22, 2020 (the "5.09% Senior Notes"). The 5.09% Senior Notes were issued pursuant to a Master Note Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the purchasers of the 5.09% Senior Notes. The net proceeds of the 5.09% Senior Notes were used to pay down borrowings under our revolving credit facility.
	The 5.09% Senior Notes are equal in right of payment with our revolving credit facility and all other senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest is payable semiannually and five equal, annual principal payments commence on July 22, 2016 (the sixth anniversary of issuance).  The Purchase Agreement contains customary events of default and covenants related to limitations on indebtedness and transactions with affiliates and the maintenance of certain financial ratios.
	As of December 31, 2014, we had unused commitments under the facility approximating $70,964, and $104,036 committed, which consisted of borrowings of $44,500 and issued letters of credit of $59,536. Borrowings outstanding bear interest, at Davey Tree’s option, of either (a) the base rate or (b) LIBOR plus a margin adjustment ranging from .75% to 1.50%--with the margin adjustments in both instances based on the Company's leverage ratio at the time of borrowing. The base rate is the greater of (i) the agent bank’s prime rate, (ii) LIBOR plus 1.5%, or (iii) the federal funds rate plus .5%. A commitment fee ranging from .10% to .25% is also required based on the average daily unborrowed commitment.
	Term Loans, Weighted-Average Interest Rate--The weighted-average interest on the term loans approximated 3.03% at December 31, 2014 and 2.04% at December 31, 2013.
	Aggregate Maturities of Long-Term Debt--Aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2014 were as follows: 2015--$8,281; 2016--$7,234; 2017--$6,803; 2018--$6,150; and, 2019--$6,159.

SelfInsurance_Accruals

Self-Insurance Accruals	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Self-Insurance Accruals [Abstract]
Self-Insurance Accruals [Text Block]	Self-Insurance Accruals
	Components of our self-insurance accruals for workers’ compensation, vehicle liability and general liability follow:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Workers' compensation	$	32,982		$	35,199
	Present value discount	1,658			1,796
		31,324			33,403
	Vehicle liability	4,940			4,885
	General liability	22,629			18,424
	Total	58,893			56,712
	Less current portion	23,007			22,057
	Noncurrent portion	$	35,886		$	34,655
	J.	Self-Insurance Accruals (continued)
	The changes in our self-insurance accruals and the discount rate used for the workers’ compensation accrual are summarized in the table below.
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance, beginning of year	$	56,712		$	61,733
	Provision for claims	30,340			27,084
	Payment of claims	28,159			32,105
	Balance, end of year	$	58,893		$	56,712
	Workers' compensation discount rate	2		%	2		%

Operating_Lease_Obligations

Operating Lease Obligations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leases, Operating [Abstract]
Operating Lease Obligations [Text Block]	Operating Lease Obligations
	We lease facilities under noncancelable operating leases, which are used for district office and warehouse operations. These leases extend for varying periods of time up to five years and, in some cases, contain renewal options. Minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases, as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:
	Minimum lease obligations	Operating Lease
		Obligations
	Year ending December 31, 2015	$	5,813
	2016	4,470
	2017	2,918
	2018	1,764
	2019	868
	2020 and after	1,398
	Total minimum lease payments	$	17,231
	Total rent expense under all operating leases was $6,554 in 2014, $6,167 in 2013 and $5,860 in 2012.

Common_Shares_and_Preferred_Sh

Common Shares and Preferred Shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Common Shares and Preferred Shares [Text Block]	Common Shares and Preferred Shares
	Preferred Shares--We have authorized a class of 4,000,000 preferred shares, no par value, of which none were issued.
	Common Shares--The number of common shares authorized is 24,000,000, par value $1.00. The number of common shares issued during each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 was 21,456,880. The number of shares in the treasury for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 was as follows: 2014--8,291,947; 2013--$8,018,269; and 2012--$7,730,878.
	Our common shares are not listed or traded on an established public trading market, and market prices are, therefore, not available. Semiannually, an independent stock valuation firm determines the fair market value of our common shares based upon our performance and financial condition. Since 1979, we have provided a ready market for all shareholders through our direct purchase of their common shares, although we are under no obligation to do so. During 2014, purchases of common shares totaled 727,436 shares for $19,598 in cash; we also had direct sales to directors and employees of 13,061 shares for $346, excluding those shares issued through either the exercise of options or the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We also sold 53,857 shares to our 401(k) plan for $1,444 and issued 105,589 shares to participant accounts to satisfy our liability for the
	L.	Common Shares and Preferred Shares (continued)
	2013 employer match in the amount of $2,788. The liability accrued at December 31, 2014 for the 2014 employer match was $2,922. There were also 115,029 shares purchased during 2014 under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
	Common Shares Outstanding--The table below reconciles the activity of the common shares outstanding:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Shares outstanding, beginning of year	13,438,611		13,726,002
	Shares purchased	(727,436	)	(931,078	)
	Shares sold	287,536		299,330
	Stock subscription offering, employee cash purchases	49,940		25,837
	Options exercised	116,282		318,520
		(273,678	)	(287,391	)
	Shares outstanding, end of year	13,164,933		13,438,611
	On December 31, 2014, we had 13,164,933 common shares outstanding, employee and director options exercisable to purchase 388,851 common shares, partially-paid subscription for 476,197 common shares and purchase rights outstanding for 195,029 common shares.
	Stock Subscription Offering--Beginning May 2012, the Company offered to eligible employees and nonemployee directors the right to subscribe to common shares of the Company at $19.70 per share in accordance with the provisions of The Davey Tree Expert Company 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan and the rules of the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (collectively, the "plan"). The offering period ended on August 1, 2012 and resulted in the subscription of 637,714 common shares for $12,563 at $19.70 per share.
	Under the plan, a participant in the offering purchasing common shares for an aggregate purchase price of less than $5 had to pay with cash. All participants (excluding Company directors and officers) purchasing $5 or more of the common shares had an option to finance their purchase through a down-payment of at least 10% of the total purchase price and a seven-year promissory note for the balance due with interest at 2%. Payments on the promissory note can be made either by payroll deductions or annual lump-sum payments of both principal and interest.
	Common shares purchased under the plan have been pledged as security for the payment of the promissory note and the common shares will not be issued until the promissory note is paid-in-full. Dividends will be paid on all subscribed shares, subject to forfeiture to the extent that payment is not ultimately made for the shares.
	All participants in the offering purchasing in excess of $5 of common shares were granted a "right" to purchase one additional common share at a price of $19.70 per share for every three common shares purchased under the plan. As a result of the stock subscription, employees were granted rights to purchase 211,800 common shares. Each right may be exercised at the rate of one-seventh per year and will expire seven years after the date that the right was granted. Employees may not exercise a right should they cease to be employed by the Company.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income and other adjustments that relate to foreign currency translation adjustments, changes in the fair value of interest rate contracts qualifying as cash flow hedges, and defined benefit pension plan adjustments. We do not provide income taxes on currency translation adjustments, as the earnings of our Canadian operations are considered to be indefinitely reinvested.
	M.	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (continued)
	The following summarizes the components of other comprehensive income (loss) accumulated in shareholders’ equity:
			Foreign			Interest			Defined			Accumulated
			Currency			Rate Cash			Benefit			Other
			Translation			Flow Hedges			Pension			Comprehensive
			Adjustments						Plans			Income/(Loss)
	Balance at January 1, 2012		$	2,950		$	(77	)	$	(9,217	)	$	(6,344	)
	Unrealized gains (losses)		561			—			—			561
	Unrealized gains in fair value		—			123			—			123
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			1,268			1,268
	Tax effect		—			—			(507		)	(507		)
	Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans		—			—			(3,712		)	(3,712		)
	Tax effect		—			(46		)	1,542			1,496
	Net of tax amount		561			77			(1,409		)	(771		)
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	3,511		$	—		$	(10,626	)	$	(7,115	)
	Unrealized gains (losses)		(1,864		)	—			—			(1,864		)
	Unrealized gains in fair value		—			—			—			—
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			1,401			1,401
	Tax effect		—			—			(532		)	(532		)
	Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans		—			—			6,306			6,306
	Tax effect		—			—			(2,589		)	(2,589		)
	Net of tax amount		(1,864		)	—			4,586			2,722
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	1,647		$	—		$	(6,040	)	$	(4,393	)
	Unrealized gains (losses)		(2,798		)	—			—			(2,798		)
	Unrealized gains in fair value		—			—			—			—
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		—			—			2,786			2,786
	Tax effect		—			—			(1,095		)	(1,095		)
	Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans		—			—			(9,923		)	(9,923		)
	Tax effect		—			—			3,900			3,900
	Net of tax amount		(2,798		)	—			(4,332		)	(7,130		)
	Balance at December 31, 2014		$	(1,151	)	$	—		$	(10,372	)	$	(11,523	)
	The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to defined benefit pension plans for 2014, 2013 and 2012 are included in net periodic pension expense and classified in the statement of operations as costs and expenses, general and administrative.

The_Davey_401KSOP_and_Employee

The Davey 401KSOP and Employee Stock Ownership Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
The Davey 401KSOP and Employee Stock Ownership Plan	The Davey 401KSOP and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
	On March 15, 1979, we consummated a plan, which transferred control of the Company to our employees. As a part of this plan, we initially sold 120,000 common shares (presently, 11,520,000 common shares adjusted for stock splits) to our Employee Stock Ownership Trust (“ESOT”) for $2,700. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”), in conjunction with the related ESOT, provided for the grant to certain employees of certain ownership rights in, but not possession of, the common shares held by the trustee of the ESOT. Annual allocations of shares have been made to individual accounts established for the benefit of the participants.
	N.	The Davey 401KSOP and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (continued)
	Defined Contribution and Savings Plans--Most employees are eligible to participate in The Davey 401KSOP and ESOP. Effective January 1, 1997, the plan commenced operations and retained the existing ESOP participant accounts and incorporated a deferred savings plan (a "401(k) plan") feature. Participants in the 401(k) plan are allowed to make before-tax contributions, within Internal Revenue Service established limits, through payroll deductions. Effective January 1, 2009 we match, in either cash or our common shares, 100% of the first one percent and 50% of the next three percent of each participant's before-tax contribution, limited to the first four percent of the employee's compensation deferred each year. All nonbargaining domestic employees who attained age 21 and completed one year of service are eligible to participate. In May 2004, we adopted the 401K Match Restoration Plan, a defined contribution plan that supplements the retirement benefits of certain employees that participate in the savings plan feature of The Davey 401KSOP and ESOP Plan, but are limited in contributions because of tax rules and regulations.
	Total compensation for these plans, consisting primarily of the employer match, was $2,922 in 2014, $2,788 in 2013, and $2,643 in 2012.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation
	Our shareholders approved the 2014 Omnibus Stock Plan (the “2014 Stock Plan”) at our annual meeting of shareholders on May 20, 2014. The 2014 Stock Plan replaced the expired 2004 Omnibus Stock Plan (the “2004 plan”) previously approved by the shareholders in 2004. The 2014 Stock Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and will remain in effect for ten years. All directors of the Company and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the 2014 Stock Plan. The 2014 Stock Plan (similar to the 2004 plan) continues the maintenance of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as provisions for the grant of stock options and other stock-based incentives. The 2014 Stock Plan provides for the grant of five percent of the number of the Company’s common shares outstanding as of the first day of each fiscal year plus the number of common shares that were available for grant of awards, but not granted, in prior years. In no event, however, may the number of common shares available for the grant of awards in any fiscal year exceed ten percent of the common shares outstanding as of the first day of that fiscal year. Common shares subject to an award that is forfeited, terminated, or canceled without having been exercised are generally added back to the number of shares available for grant under the 2014 Stock Plan.
	Stock-based compensation expense under all share-based payment plans—our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, stock option plans, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, and performance-based restricted stock units—included in the results of operations follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans	$	1,860			$	1,411			$	1,508
	Income tax benefit	549				348				383
	Stock-based compensation consisted of the following:
	O.	Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan--Under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, all full-time employees with one year of service are eligible to purchase, through payroll deduction, common shares. Employee purchases under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan are at 85% of the fair market value of the common shares--a 15% discount. Purchases under the plan, at 85% of the fair market value of the common shares, have been as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Number of employees participating	1,684				1,500				1,157
	Shares purchased during the year	115,029				118,444				136,947
	Weighted-average per share purchase price paid	$	23.07			$	20.01			$	17.2
	Cumulative shares purchased since 1982	8,751,255				8,636,226				8,517,782
	Compensation costs are recognized as payroll deductions are made. The 15% discount of total shares purchased under the plan resulted in compensation cost recognized of $463 in 2014, $417 in 2013 and $415 in 2012.
	Stock Option Plans-The stock options outstanding were awarded under a graded vesting schedule, measured at fair value, and have a term of ten years. Compensation costs for stock options are recognized over the requisite service period on the straight-line recognition method. Compensation cost recognized for stock options was $398 in 2014, $234 in 2013 and $166 in 2012.
	Stock-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights--During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors awarded 127,050 Stock-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights (“SSARs”) to certain management employees and nonemployee directors, which vest ratably over five years. A stock-settled stock appreciation right is an award that allows the recipient to receive common stock equal to the appreciation in the fair market value of our common stock between the date the award was granted and the conversion date of the shares vested.
	The following table summarizes the SSARs as of December 31, 2014:
	Stock-Settled		Number of			Weighted-				Weighted-		Unrecognized		Aggregate
	Stock Appreciation Rights		Rights			Average Award Date Value				Average		Compensation Cost		Intrinsic Value
										Remaining Contractual Life
	Unvested, January 1, 2014		283,453			$	3.15
	Granted		127,050			4.88
	Forfeited		—			—
	Vested		(107,232	)		3.26
	Unvested, December 31, 2014		303,271			$	3.84			2.0 years		$	865	$	8,431
	Employee SSARs		286,294			$	3.92			2.0 years		$	838	$	7,959
	Nonemployee Director SSARs		16,977			$	2.29			1.8 years		$	27	$	472
	Compensation costs for stock appreciation rights are determined using a fair-value method and amortized over the requisite service period. Compensation expense for stock appreciation rights totaled $384 in 2014, $315 in 2013 and $185 in 2012.
	O.	Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units--During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors awarded 39,476 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units ("PRSUs") to certain management employees.
	Similar awards were made in prior periods. The awards vest over specified periods. The following table summarizes
	Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units as of December 31, 2014:
	Performance-Based		Number of			Weighted-				Weighted-		Unrecognized		Aggregate
	Restricted Stock Units		Stock Units			Average				Average		Compensation		Intrinsic
						Grant Date Value				Remaining		Cost		Value
										Contractual Life
	Unvested, January 1, 2014		95,558			$	19.03
	Granted		39,476			24.64
	Forfeited		—			—
	Vested		(17,325	)		17.48
	Unvested, December 31, 2014		117,709			$	21.14			2.7 years		$	1,456	$	3,272
	Employee PRSUs		103,139			$	20.78			2.9 years		$	1,236	$	2,867
	Nonemployee Director PRSUs		14,570			$	23.61			1.8 years		$	220	$	405
	Compensation cost for awards is determined using a fair-value method, amortized over the requisite service period. “Intrinsic value” is defined as the amount by which the fair market value of a common share of stock exceeds the exercise price of a performance-based restricted stock unit. Compensation expense on restricted stock awards totaled $615 in 2014, $445 in 2013 and $644 in 2012.
	The fair value of each award was estimated on the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. The binomial model considers a range of assumptions related to volatility, risk-free interest rate and employee exercise behavior. Expected volatilities utilized in the binomial model are based on historical volatility of our share prices and other factors. Similarly, the dividend yield is based on historical experience and expected future changes. The binomial model also incorporates exercise and forfeiture assumptions based on an analysis of historical data. The expected life of the stock-based awards is derived from the output of the binomial model and represents the period of time that awards granted are expected to be outstanding.
	The fair values of stock-based awards granted were estimated at the dates of grant with the following weighted-average assumptions:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Volatility rate	11.2	%		11.3	%		11.7	%
	Risk-free interest rate	2.6	%		2.1	%		1.6	%
	Expected dividend yield	1.1	%		1.5	%		1.5	%
	Expected life of awards (years)	9.4			9.4			9.1
	O.	Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	General Stock Option Information--The following table summarizes activity under the stock option plans for the year ended December 31, 2014:
	Stock Options		Number of			Weighted-				Weighted-		Unrecognized		Aggregate
			Options			Average				Average		Compensation		Intrinsic
			Outstanding			Exercise				Remaining		Cost		Value
						Price				Contractual
										Life
	Outstanding, January 1, 2014		662,246			$	16.68
	Granted		183,500			26.4
Exercised		(74,715	)		13.11
Forfeited		(900	)		24.98
Outstanding, December 31, 2014		770,131			$	19.33			6.3 years		$	1,509	$	6,523
Exercisable, December 31, 2014		388,851			$	14.7			3.9 years				$	5,094
“Intrinsic value” is defined as the amount by which the market price of a common share of stock exceeds the exercise price of an option. Information regarding the stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 is summarized below:
Stock Options			Number			Weighted-Average		Weighted-				Number	Weighted-
Exercise Price			Outstanding			Remaining		Average				Exercisable	Average
						Contractual Life		Exercise					Exercise
								Price					Price
Employee options:
$11.25			170,047			1.4 years		$	11.25			170,047	$	11.25
16			113,234			4.8 years		16				113,234	16
16.6			108,900			5.8 years		16.6				69,420	16.6
23.2			194,950			8.5 years		23.2				36,150	23.2
26.4			183,000			9.5 years		26.4				—	26.4
			770,131			6.3 years		$	19.33			388,851	$	14.7
We issue common shares from treasury upon the exercise of stock options, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, performance-based restricted stock units or purchases under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Tax Benefits of Stock-Based Compensation--Our total income tax benefit from share-based awards--as recognized in our consolidated statement of operations--for the last three years was: $549 in 2014, $348 in 2013, and $383 in 2012.
Tax benefits for share-based awards are accrued as stock compensation expense and recognized in our consolidated statement of operations. Tax benefits on share-based awards are realized when: (a) stock-settled stock appreciation rights are exercised; (b) performance-based restricted stock units vest; and, (c) stock options are exercised.
When actual tax benefits realized exceed the tax benefits accrued for share-based awards, we realize an excess tax benefit. We report the excess tax benefit as financing cash inflows rather than operating cash inflows. We had excess tax benefits of: $354 in 2014, $242 in 2013, and $402 in 2012.

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans

Defined Benefit Pension Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Pension Plans	Defined Benefit Pension Plans
	We have defined benefit pension plans covering certain current and retired U.S. employees. Plans include: (i) the Employee Retirement Plan (“ERP”) for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009; (ii) a plan for bargaining employees not covered by union pension plans (the “SPP”) for which future benefit accruals were frozen effective December 31, 2013; (iii) a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”); and, (iv) a Benefit Restoration Pension Plan (“Restoration Plan”) for certain key employees hired prior to January 1, 2009.
	Both the SERP and the Restoration Plan are defined benefit plans under which nonqualifed supplemental pension benefits will be paid in addition to amounts paid under our qualified retirement defined benefit pension plans, which are subject to Internal Revenue Service limitations on covered compensation.
	Effective December 31, 2008, enhanced benefits were implemented to our defined contribution savings plan--The Davey 401KSOP and ESOP--at which time, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to freeze the ERP and the Restoration Plan. The ERP was closed to new participants after December 2008. In connection with the freeze of the ERP and Restoration Plan, (i) benefits currently being paid to retirees continue and (ii) benefits accrued through December 31, 2008 for employees covered by the ERP were not affected. All ERP and Restoration Plan balances remain intact and participant account balances, as well as service credits for vesting and retirement eligibility, remain intact and continue in accordance with the terms of the plans. The 2008 freeze of the ERP and Restoration Plan eliminated future accruals only as did the December 31, 2013 freeze of the SPP.
	The change in benefit obligations and the fair value of plans assets follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Change in benefit obligation
	Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	31,888			$	36,045
	Service cost	51				222
	Interest cost	1,618				1,515
	Actuarial (gains)/losses	4,838				(4,272		)
	New longevity assumptions	3,229				—
	Settlements	(4,319		)		—
	Benefits paid	(1,429		)		(1,622		)
	Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	35,876			$	31,888
	Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	35,475			$	31,599
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Change in fair value of plan assets
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	25,754			$	22,957
	Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses	136				3,793
	Employer contributions	1,425				626
	Settlements	(4,319		)		—
	Benefits paid	(1,429		)		(1,622		)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	21,567			$	25,754
	P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
	The settlements in the change in benefit obligation and in the change in fair value of plan assets, arise from the purchase, during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014, of a guaranteed group annuity contract from a third-party insurance company which unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the full payment of all annuity payments to the participants that were receiving payments from the ERP plan, with the third-party insurance company having assumed all investment risk associated with funding participant payments.
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Funded status of the plans
	Fair value of plan assets	$	21,567			$	25,754
	Projected benefit obligation	35,876				31,888
	Funded status of the plans	$	(14,309	)		$	(6,134	)
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets
	Current liability	$	(38	)		$	(37	)
	Noncurrent liability	(14,271		)		(6,097		)
	Funded status of the plans	$	(14,309	)		$	(6,134	)
	The change in funded status of the plans and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to our defined benefit pension plans as at December 31, 2014, is primarily a result of lower discount rate and having implemented a new set of mortality and mortality improvement tables. During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014, the Society of Actuaries (“SOA”) issued new mortality and mortality improvement tables that reflect longer life expectancies and thereby indicate the amount of estimated aggregate benefit payments to plan participants is increasing. We have incorporated the new SOA tables--new longevity assumptions--into our December 31, 2014 measurement of pension plans’ benefit obligations.
	Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), related to our defined benefit pension plans follow:
		At December 31, 2014								At December 31, 2013
		Pretax				Net of Tax				Pretax			Net of Tax
	Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	17,093			$	10,339			$	9,942		$	5,995
	Unrecognized prior service cost	55				33				69			45
		$	17,148			$	10,372			$	10,011		$	6,040
	To the extent actuarial losses exceed the greater of 10% of the projected benefit obligation or market-related value of plan assets, the unrecognized actuarial losses will be amortized straight-line on a plan-by-plan basis, over the remaining expected future working lifetime of active participants. The total amount of unrecognized prior service cost is also amortized straight-line on a plan-by-plan basis. The total amortization associated with these amounts that is expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit expense for 2015 follows:
	P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
		Year ending December 31, 2015
		Pretax				Net of Tax
	Amortization of Costs Expected to be Recognized Next Year
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	1,546			$	928
	Unrecognized prior service cost	14				8
		$	1,560			$	936
	The aggregate projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for plans in which the fair value of plan assets is less than either the projected benefit obligation or accumulated benefit obligation follow:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	For pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
	Projected benefit obligation	$	35,876			$	31,888
	Accumulated benefit obligation	35,475				31,599
	Fair value of plan assets	21,567				25,754
	The actuarial assumptions follow. The discount rates were used to measure the year-end benefit obligation and compute pension expense for the subsequent year.
	December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Actuarial assumptions
Discount rate	4.3	%		5.2	%		4.25	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.5			7.75			7.75
Net periodic benefit expense (income) associated with the defined benefit pension plans included the following components:
	Year Ended December 31,
	2014				2013				2012
Components of pension expense (income)
Service costs--increase in benefit obligation earned	$	51			$	222			$	185
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	1,618				1,515				1,657
Expected return on plan assets	(1,993		)		(1,760		)		(1,701		)
Settlement loss	2,065				—				219
Amortization of net actuarial loss	708				1,388				1,041
Amortization of prior service cost	14				14				14
Net pension expense of defined benefit pension plans	$	2,463			$	1,379			$	1,415
Investment Strategy and Risk Management for Plan Assets--Our investment strategy is to manage the plan assets in order to pay retirement benefits to plan participants while minimizing our cash contributions over the life of the plans. This is accomplished by preserving capital through diversification in high-quality investments through the use of investment
P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
managers and mutual funds. Performance of all investment managers and mutual funds is monitored quarterly and evaluated over rolling three-to-five year periods.
The plan assets are divided into asset classes that include equity, fixed income, and alternative investments and allocated among target allocations to include: (a) equities of a minimum 55% to a maximum of 65%; (b) fixed income and cash of a minimum 20% to a maximum of 30%; and, (c) alternative investments of a minimum of zero to a maximum of 15%. The purpose of the equity asset class is to provide a total return that simultaneously provides for growth in principal and current income while at the same time preserving the purchasing power of the plan assets, even though assets invested in equities have greater market volatility and risk. The purpose of the fixed income asset class is to provide a deflation hedge, to reduce the overall volatility of plan assets and to produce current income in support of the needs of the plan. The purpose of alternative investments is the diversification benefit of alternative strategies.
Equity assets are to be allocated within certain ranges among the asset categories of large cap growth and value; small/midcap growth and value; and international growth and value. Each of the equity asset categories are assigned to an appropriate asset manager or mutual fund. Fixed income assets are allocated within a certain range to mutual funds of fixed income securities. Alternative investment assets are allocated within a certain range to mutual funds and may include the use of leverage. Short-selling, securities lending, financial futures, margins, options, and derivatives are not used. Investments in nonmarketable securities, commodities, or direct ownership of real estate are prohibited.
Rate-of-return-on-assets assumptions are made by major category of plan assets according to historical analysis, tempered for an assessment of possible future influences that could cause the returns to exceed or trail long-term patterns. The overall expected long-term rate-of-return-on-plan assets net of investment manager fees as at December 31, 2014, was 7.50%.
Plan Assets--The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 31, 2014 by asset category, using the three-level hierarchy of fair value inputs, were as follows:
						Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014 Using:
Description		Total Carrying				Quoted prices				Significant			Significant
		Value at				in				other observable			unobservable
		31-Dec-14				active markets				inputs			inputs
						(Level 1)				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
Asset Category
Money market funds		$	2,442			$	—			$	2,442		$	—
U.S. large-cap equities
Growth		2,625				2,625				—			—
Value		2,088				2,088				—			—
U.S. small/mid-cap equities
Growth		1,623				1,623				—			—
Value		1,844				1,844				—			—
International equities
Growth		2,128				2,128				—			—
Value		2,124				2,124				—			—
Fixed income		3,747				3,747				—			—
Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds		2,946				2,946				—			—
		$	21,567			$	19,125			$	2,442		$	—
The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 31, 2013 by asset category, using the three-level hierarchy of fair value inputs, were as follows:
P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
						Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013 Using:
Description		Total Carrying				Quoted prices				Significant			Significant
		Value at				in				other observable			unobservable
		31-Dec-13				active markets				inputs			inputs
						(Level 1)				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
Asset Category
Money market funds		$	1,726			$	—			$	1,726		$	—
U.S. large-cap equities
Growth		3,639				3,639				—			—
Value		2,971				2,971				—			—
U.S. small/mid-cap equities
Growth		1,813				1,813				—			—
Value		1,959				1,959				—			—
International equities
Growth		2,718				2,718				—			—
Value		2,622				2,622				—			—
Fixed income		4,423				4,423				—			—
Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds		3,883				3,883				—			—
		$	25,754			$	24,028			$	1,726		$	—
Within the pension plan asset categories, the Level 1 investments are publicly traded in active markets and are valued using the net asset value or closing price of the investment at the measurement date. Securities held by a money market fund are generally high quality and liquid; however, they are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value are not quoted prices in an active market.
Expected Benefit Plan Contributions--We expect, as of December 31, 2014, to make defined-benefit contributions totaling $1,038 before December 31, 2015.
Expected Benefit Plan Payments--The benefits, as of December 31, 2014, expected to be paid to defined-benefit plan participants in each of the next five years, and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter, follow:
		Participants Benefits
Estimated future payments
Year ending December 31, 2015		$	1,117
2016		1,268
2017		1,454
2018		1,529
2019		1,618
Years 2020 to 2024		9,233
Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans--In providing services to our Utility Services customers, we contribute to multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements that cover certain of our union-represented employees.
These plans generally provide retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. We do not administer these multiemployer plans. In general, these plans are managed by a board of trustees with the unions appointing certain trustees and other contributing employers of the plan appointing certain members. We generally are not represented on the board of trustees.
P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in that: (a) assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers; (b) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be assumed by the remaining participating employers; and, (c) if we choose to stop participating in a multiemployer plan, we may be required to pay the plan an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
Our participation in the multiemployer defined benefit pension plans is summarized in the table below. The “EIN/Pension Plan Number” column provides the Employer Identification Number (“EIN”) and the three-digit plan number. The most recent Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “PPA”) zone status is from the Form 5500, “Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan,” filed by the plan and certified by the plan's actuary. The PPA zone status describes plans that are underfunded. Among other factors, plans in the “critical” red zone are generally less than 65% funded; plans in the “endangered” yellow zone are less than 80% funded; and, plans in the “safe” green zone are at least 80% funded.
Pension Fund		EIN/Pension		Pension				FIB/RP		Davey Tree							Surcharge	Expiration
		Plan Number		Protection Act				Status		Contributions							Imposed	Dates of
				Zone Status				Pending										Bargaining
				2014		2013		Implemented		2014			2013		2012			Agreement
National Electric Benefit Fund		53-0181657/001		Green		Green		No		$	743		$	755	$	417	No	Ranging from December 31, 2014 to
																		31-Dec-17
Eighth District Electrical Pension Fund		84-6100393/001		Green		Green		No		105			100		75		No	31-Dec-17
										$	848		$	855	$	492
We were not listed in the Form 5500 for either plan as having provided more than 5% of the total contributions.
Both the National Electric Benefit Fund and the Eighth District Electrical Pension Fund are green zone status--safe--which represents at least 80% funded and does not require a “financial improvement plan” (“FIP”) or a “rehabilitation plan” (“RP”).
We are party to eight collective-bargaining agreements with the National Electric Benefit Fund, with expiration dates ranging from December 31, 2014 (currently in negotiations) to December 31, 2017 and one collective-bargaining agreement with Eighth District Electrical Pension Fund with an expiration date of December 31, 2017.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	Income before income taxes was attributable to the following sources:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	United States	$	30,380			$	29,203			$	35,414
	Canada	7,920				6,362				5,244
	Total	$	38,300			$	35,565			$	40,658
	Q.	Income Taxes (continued)
	The provision for income taxes follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Currently payable:
	Federal	$	13,159			$	7,089			$	15,853
	State	2,524				2,183				2,239
	Canadian	2,127				1,724				1,578
	Total current	17,810				10,996				19,670
	Deferred taxes	(2,679		)		1,716				(3,607		)
	Total taxes on income	$	15,131			$	12,712			$	16,063
	A reconciliation of the expected statutory U.S. federal rate to our actual effective income tax rate follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Statutory U.S. federal tax rate	35	%		35	%		35	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.9			3.6			3.9
	Effect of Canadian income taxes	(1.7	)		(1.6	)		(1.0	)
	Nondeductible expenses	1.9			1.9			1.4
	ESOP dividend deduction	(.7	)		(.8	)		(.7	)
	Audit settlements and uncertain tax adjustments	1.6			(2.2	)		1.8
	All other, net	(.5	)		(.2	)		(.9	)
	Effective income tax rate	39.5	%		35.7	%		39.5	%
	Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that an income tax benefit will not be realized.
	Significant components of our current net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Accrued compensation obligations	$	3,090			$	1,883
	Self-insurance accruals	8,107				7,693
	Prepaid expenses	(3,160		)		(2,565		)
	Other, net	1,102				908
		9,139				7,919
	Less deferred tax asset valuation allowance	212				204
	Net deferred income tax assets--current	$	8,927			$	7,715
	Q.	Income Taxes (continued)
	Significant components of our noncurrent net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Self-insurance accruals	$	12,554			$	12,129
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,388				895
	Accrued stock compensation	1,642				1,550
	Defined benefit pension plans	4,573				1,873
	Foreign tax credit carryforward	768				768
	Other future deductible amounts, net	2,030				1,737
		22,955				18,952
	Less deferred tax asset valuation allowance	556				564
		22,399				18,388
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Intangibles	269				234
	Property and equipment	20,425				20,718
		20,694				20,952
	Net deferred tax assets--noncurrent	$	1,705
	Net deferred tax liabilities--noncurrent					$	2,564
	We treat all of our Canadian subsidiary earnings through December 31, 2014 as permanently reinvested and have not provided any U.S. federal or state tax thereon. As of December 31, 2014, approximately $30,459 of undistributed earnings attributable to our Canadian operations was considered to be indefinitely invested. Presently, our intention is to reinvest the earnings permanently.
	If, in the future, these earnings are distributed to the U.S. in the form of dividends or otherwise, or if the Company determines such earnings will be remitted in the foreseeable future, the Company would be subject to U.S. income taxes and Canadian withholding taxes. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of taxes that would be payable upon remittance of these earnings given the various tax planning alternatives that we could employ should we decide to repatriate those earnings.
	A deferred tax asset has been recorded for the portion of the foreign tax credit that is unavailable in the current year--the foreign tax credit carryforward arising in 2010--wherein we repatriated earnings of our Canadian operations due to capital in Canada in excess of current and future projected needs.  As a result, we recognized and recorded in 2010 additional U.S. federal and state taxes that were payable as a result of the repatriation of the previously undistributed earnings. A valuation allowance is required when it is more-likely-than-not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Because of the uncertainty regarding realization, a valuation allowance equal to the U.S. tax benefit of the foreign tax credit carryforward is recorded--$768 at December 31, 2014--which is subject to expiration in 2020, if not utilized.
Q.	Income Taxes (continued)
The amount of income taxes we pay is subject to audit by U.S. federal, state, local and Canadian tax authorities, which may result in proposed assessments. Our estimate for the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental. Uncertain tax positions are recognized only if they are more-likely-than-not to be upheld during examination based on their technical merits. The measurement of the uncertain tax position is based on the largest benefit amount that is more-likely-than-not (determined on a cumulative probability basis) to be realized upon settlement of the matter. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when we determine the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate settlement, a further charge to expense may result.
The balance of unrecognized benefits and the amount of related interest and penalties at December 31, were as follows:
	December 31,
	2014				2013
Unrecognized tax benefits	$	1,949			$	1,221
Portion, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate	1,512				942
Accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits	77				41
Accrued penalties on unrecognized benefits	—				—
We recognize interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of income tax expense.
The Company is routinely under audit by U.S. federal, state, local and Canadian authorities in the area of income tax. These audits include questioning the timing and the amount of income and deductions and the allocation of income and deductions among various tax jurisdictions. During the fourth quarter 2013, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service completed its audit of the Company's U.S. income tax returns for 2010 and 2011 and, during 2010, Canada Revenue Agency completed its audit of the Company's Canadian operations for 2006, 2007 and 2008. With the exception of U.S. state jurisdictions, the Company is no longer subject to examination by tax authorities for the years through 2009. As of December 31, 2014, we believe it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will not significantly increase or decrease.
The changes in our unrecognized tax benefits are summarized in the table below:
	Year Ended December 31,
	2014				2013				2012
Balance, beginning of year	$	1,221			$	2,638			$	1,825
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	587				370				667
Additions for tax positions of prior years	234				133				149
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(79		)		(1,155		)		(3		)
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities	—				(460		)		—
Lapses in statutes of limitations	(14		)		(305		)		—
Balance, end of year	$	1,949			$	1,221			$	2,638

Earnings_Per_Share_Information

Earnings Per Share Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share Information	Earnings Per Share Information
	Earnings per share is computed as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Income available to common shareholders:
	Net income	$	23,169	$	22,853	$	24,595
	Weighted-average shares:
	Basic:
	Outstanding	13,337,198		13,639,356		13,867,771
	Partially-paid share subscriptions	484,025		531,325		234,595
	Basic weighted-average shares	13,821,223		14,170,681		14,102,366
	Diluted:
	Basic from above	13,821,223		14,170,681		14,102,366
	Incremental shares from assumed:
	Exercise of stock subscription purchase rights	54,824		34,273		5,750
	Exercise of stock options and awards	362,229		397,478		500,741
	Diluted weighted-average shares	14,238,276		14,602,432		14,608,857
	Share data:
	Earnings per share--basic	$	1.68	$	1.61	$	1.74
	Earnings per share--diluted	$	1.63	$	1.57	$	1.68

Operations_by_Business_Segment

Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information	Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information
	We provide a wide range of arboriculture, horticulture, environmental and consulting services to residential, utility, commercial and government entities throughout the United States and Canada. We have two reportable operating segments organized by type or class of customer: Residential and Commercial, and Utility.
	Residential and Commercial--Residential and Commercial provides services to our residential and commercial customers including: the treatment, preservation, maintenance, removal, planting of trees, shrubs and other plant life; the practice of landscaping, grounds maintenance, tree surgery, tree feeding and tree spraying; the application of fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides; and, natural resource management and consulting, forestry research and development, and environmental planning.
	Utility--Utility is principally engaged in providing services to our utility customers--investor-owned, municipal utilities, and rural electric cooperatives--including: the practice of line-clearing and vegetation management around power lines, rights-of-way and chemical brush control; and, natural resource management and consulting, forestry research and development and environmental planning.
	All other operating activities, including research, technical support and laboratory diagnostic facilities, are included in “All Other.”
	Measurement of Segment Profit and Loss and Segment Assets--We evaluate performance and allocate resources based primarily on operating income and also actively manage business unit operating assets. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies except that (a) we compute and recognize depreciation expense for our segments only by the straight-line method and (b) state income taxes are allocated to the segments. Corporate expenses are substantially allocated among the operating segments, but the nature of expenses allocated may differ from year-to-year. There are no intersegment revenues.
	S.    Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information (continued)
	Segment assets are those generated or directly used by each segment, and include accounts receivable, operating supplies, and property and equipment.
	Information on reportable segments and reconciliation to the consolidated financial statements follows:
		Utility		Residential		All			Reconciling				Consolidated
		Services		Commercial		Other			Adjustments
				Services
	Fiscal Year 2014
	Revenues	$	404,519	$	386,274	$	(882	)	$	—			$	789,911
	Income (loss) from operations	21,382		37,232		(6,037		)	(8,574		)	(a)	44,003
	Interest expense								(2,948		)		(2,948		)
	Interest income								295				295
	Other income (expense), net								(3,050		)		(3,050		)
	Income before income taxes												$	38,300
	Depreciation	$	23,225	$	14,544	$	—		$	3,201		(b)	$	40,970
	Amortization	174		1,896		—			—				2,070
	Capital expenditures	25,994		17,490		—			12,247				55,731
	Segment assets, total	150,002		144,413		—			86,589			(c)	381,004
	Fiscal Year 2013
	Revenues	$	376,520	$	334,878	$	2,450		$	—			$	713,848
	Income (loss) from operations	16,070		33,566		(2,869		)	(5,978		)	(a)	40,789
	Interest expense								(2,708		)		(2,708		)
	Interest income								311				311
	Other income (expense), net								(2,827		)		(2,827		)
	Income before income taxes												$	35,565
	Depreciation	$	22,261	$	13,286	$	—		$	2,684		(b)	$	38,231
	Amortization	359		1,440		—			181				1,980
	Capital expenditures	21,642		17,577		—			5,986				45,205
	Segment assets, total	145,021		122,542		—			65,815			(c)	333,378
	Fiscal Year 2012
	Revenues	$	375,300	$	303,420	$	1,433		$	—			$	680,153
	Income (loss) from operations	20,107		30,787		(1,366		)	(3,761		)	(a)	45,767
	Interest expense								(2,698		)		(2,698		)
	Interest income								200				200
	Other income (expense), net								(2,611		)		(2,611		)
	Income before income taxes												$	40,658
	Depreciation	$	22,844	$	12,236	$	—		$	2,285		(b)	$	37,365
	Amortization	465		1,058		—			219				1,742
	Capital expenditures	15,737		10,266		—			3,731				29,734
	Segment assets, total	150,294		122,298		—			58,340			(c)	330,932
	S.	Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information (continued)
	Reconciling adjustments from segment reporting to consolidated external financial reporting include unallocated corporate items:
	(a)	Reconciling adjustments from segment reporting to consolidated external financial reporting include reclassification of depreciation expense and allocation of corporate expenses.
	(b)	Adjustments to declining-balance method depreciation expense from straight-line method and depreciation and amortization of corporate assets.
	(c)	Corporate assets include cash, prepaid expenses, corporate facilities, enterprise-wide information systems and other nonoperating assets.
	Geographic Information--The following presents revenues and long-lived assets by geographic territory:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Revenues
	United States	$	706,145	$	637,524	$	607,339
	Canada	83,766		76,324		72,814
		$	789,911	$	713,848	$	680,153
		December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Long-lived assets, net
	United States	$	196,116	$	166,598	$	153,946
	Canada	17,692		14,764		15,237
		$	213,808	$	181,362	$	169,183

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments	Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments
	Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification 820, “Fair Value of Measurements and Disclosures (“Topic 820”)” defines fair value based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Market participants are defined as buyers or sellers in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability that are independent of the reporting entity, knowledgeable and able and willing to transact for the asset or liability.
	Valuation Hierarchy--Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels:
	Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access.
	Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated with observable market data.
	Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.
	T.	Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (continued)
	Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were as follows:
						Fair Value Measurements at
						December 31, 2014 Using:
			Total			Quoted prices in active markets			Significant			Significant
			Carrying						other observable			unobservable
			Value at						inputs			inputs
	Description		December 31, 2014			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent		$	13,684		$	13,684		$	—		$	—
	Defined benefit pension plan assets		21,567			19,125			2,442			—
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation		$	1,423		$	—		$	1,423		$	—
						Fair Value Measurements at
						December 31, 2013 Using:
			Total			Quoted prices in active markets			Significant			Significant
			Carrying						other observable			unobservable
			Value at						inputs			inputs
	Description		December 31, 2013			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent		$	12,716		$	12,716		$	—		$	—
	Defined benefit pension plan assets		25,754			24,028			1,726			—
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation		$	1,144		$	—		$	1,144		$	—
	The estimated fair value of the deferred compensation--classified as Level 2--is based on the value of the Company's common shares, determined by independent valuation.
	T.	Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (continued)
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments--The fair values of our current financial assets and current liabilities, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses among others, approximate their reported carrying values because of their short-term nature. The assets invested for self-insurance are money market funds--classified as Level 1--based on quoted market prices of the identical underlying securities in active markets. The estimated fair value of our derivative instruments are calculated based on market rates to settle the instruments, as discussed below, representing the amount we would receive upon sale or pay upon transfer. Financial instruments classified as noncurrent liabilities and their carrying values and fair values were as follows:
		December 31, 2014						December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Fair			Carrying			Fair
		Value			Value			Value			Value
	Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	$	44,500		$	44,500		$	20,000		$	20,000
	Senior unsecured notes	30,000			30,688			30,000			28,219
	Term loans, noncurrent	6,806			7,195			34			34
	Total	$	81,306		$	82,383		$	50,034		$	48,253
	The carrying value of our revolving credit facility approximates fair value--classified as Level 2--as the interest rates on the amounts outstanding are variable. The fair value of our senior unsecured notes and term loans--classified as Level 2--is determined based on expected future weighted-average interest rates with the same remaining maturities.
	Market Risk--In the normal course of business, we are exposed to market risk related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates and changes in fuel prices. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. In prior years, we have used derivative financial instruments to manage risk, in part, associated with changes in interest rates and changes in fuel prices. Presently, we are not engaged in any hedging or derivative activities.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	Letters of Credit
	At December 31, 2014, we were contingently liable to our principal banks in the amount of $61,540 for letters of credit outstanding primarily related to insurance coverage.
	Surety Bonds
	In certain circumstances, we have performance obligations that are supported by surety bonds in connection with our contractual commitments.
	Litigation
	We are party to a number of lawsuits, threatened lawsuits and other claims arising out of the normal course of business.
	With respect to all such matters, we record an accrual for a loss contingency when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In addition, narrative information is provided for matters as to which management believes a material loss is reasonably possible.
	Management has assessed all such matters, including the matter described below, based on current information and made a judgment concerning their potential outcome, giving due consideration to the nature of the claim, the amount and nature of damages sought and the probability of success.  Management's judgment is made subject to the known uncertainty of litigation and management's judgment as to estimates made may prove materially different from actual results.
	U.	Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
	California Fire Litigation: San Diego County--Davey Tree Surgery Company, a Davey subsidiary, and Davey Resource Group, a Davey division, along with the Company have previously been sued, together with a utility services customer, San Diego Gas & Electric ("SDG&E"), and its parent company, as defendants, and as cross-defendants in cross-complaints filed by SDG&E, in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of San Diego, arising out of a wildfire in San Diego County that started on October 22, 2007, referred to as the Rice Canyon fire.
	Numerous lawsuits related to the Rice Canyon fire were filed against SDG&E, its parent company, Sempra Energy, and Davey. The earliest of the lawsuits naming Davey was filed on April 18, 2008. The Court ordered that the lawsuits be organized into four groups based on type of plaintiff, namely insurance subrogation claimants, individual/business claimants, governmental claimants, and plaintiffs seeking class certification. Plaintiffs' motions seeking class certification were denied and the orders denying class certification were affirmed on appeal. SDG&E filed cross-complaints against Davey for contractual indemnity, declaratory relief, and breach of contract.
	During the third quarter 2012, Davey entered into a Settlement and Release Agreement (the “Agreement”) among Davey, SDG&E and Davey's insurers.
	Under the Agreement (a) Davey paid SDG&E an amount previously expensed and accrued as self-insurance, (b) Davey's insurers paid SDG&E amounts under Davey's insurance policies in effect during the period of the Rice Canyon fire, and (c) SDG&E dismissed its cross-complaints against Davey and agreed to defend and hold harmless Davey from any and all claims that are currently asserted against Davey.

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation

Quarterly Results of Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)	Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
	The following is a summary of the results of operations for each quarter of 2014 and 2013.
		Fiscal 2014, Three Months Ended
		29-Mar			29-Jun		27-Sep		31-Dec
	Revenues	$	157,387		$	213,183	$	216,604	$	202,737
	Gross profit (revenues less costs and expenses, operating)	48,156			82,900		77,613		72,565
	Income (loss) from operations	(4,725		)	23,815		17,144		7,769
	Net income (loss)	(6,180		)	14,046		9,657		5,646
	Net income (loss) per share--Basic	$	(.29	)	$	1.04	$	0.72	$	0.21
	Net income (loss) per share -- Diluted:	$	(.29	)	$	1.01	$	0.69	$	0.22
	ESOT Valuation per share	$	26.4		$	26.4	$	27.8	$	30.1
		Fiscal 2013, Three Months Ended
		30-Mar			29-Jun		28-Sep		31-Dec
	Revenues	$	143,265		$	195,638	$	194,772	$	180,173
	Gross profit (revenues less costs and expenses, operating)	42,205			76,046		69,114		63,837
	Income (loss) from operations	(6,009		)	23,230		14,881		8,687
	Net income (loss)	(4,612		)	13,436		8,644		5,385
	Net income (loss) per share -- Basic	$	(.33	)	$	0.97	$	0.63	$	0.34
	Net income (loss) per share -- Diluted	$	(.33	)	$	0.94	$	0.61	$	0.35
	ESOT Valuation per share	$	23.2		$	23.2	$	23.9	$	26.4
	Fourth quarters 2014 and 2013 include a decrease in casualty insurance expense that had the effect of increasing the fourth quarter gross profit for 2014 and 2013 by approximately $3,875 and $3,951, respectively.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]	Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation--The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Davey Tree and our wholly-owned subsidiaries and were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation [Policy Text Block]	Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation--The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, accounts receivable valuation, depreciable lives of fixed assets, self-insurance accruals, and revenue recognition. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Property and Equipment [Policy Text Block]	Property and Equipment--Property and equipment are stated at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed for financial reporting purposes by the straight-line method for land improvements, building and leasehold improvements and by the declining-balance method for equipment, based on the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
	Land improvements	5 to 20 years
	Buildings	5 to 20 years
	Equipment	3 to 10 years
	Leasehold improvements	Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life; ranging from 5-to-20 years
Intangible Assets [Policy Text Block]	Intangible Assets--Intangible assets with finite lives, primarily customer lists, noncompete agreements and tradenames, are amortized by the straight-line method based on their estimated useful lives, ranging from one-to-ten years.
Long-Lived Assets [Policy Text Block]	Long-Lived Assets--We assess potential impairment to our long-lived assets, other than goodwill, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances have made recovery of the asset’s carrying value unlikely and the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated future undiscounted cash flow. In the event the assessment indicates that the carrying amounts
	B.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	may not be recoverable, an impairment loss would be recognized to reduce the asset’s carrying amount to its estimated fair value based on the present value of the estimated future cash flows.
Goodwill [Policy Text Block]	Goodwill--Goodwill is recorded when the cost of acquired businesses exceeds the fair value of the identified net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but tested for impairment annually or when events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. Annually, we perform the impairment tests for goodwill during the fourth quarter. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the reporting-unit level, which for us are also our business segments. Impairment of goodwill is tested by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying value, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. The fair values of the reporting units are estimated using discounted projected cash flows. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. We conducted our annual impairment tests and determined that no impairment loss was required to be recognized in 2014 or for any prior periods. There were no events or circumstances from the date of our assessment through December 31, 2014 that would impact this conclusion.
Self-Insurance Accruals [Policy Text Block]	Self-Insurance Accruals--We are generally self-insured for losses and liabilities related primarily to workers’ compensation, vehicle liability and general liability claims. We use commercial insurance as a risk-reduction strategy to minimize catastrophic losses. Ultimate losses are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred using certain actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and based on Company-specific experience.
	Our self-insurance accruals include claims for which the ultimate losses will develop over a period of years. Accordingly, our estimates of ultimate losses can change as claims mature. Our accruals also are affected by changes in the number of new claims incurred and claim severity. The methods for estimating the ultimate losses and the total cost of claims were determined by third-party consulting actuaries; the resulting accruals are reviewed by management, and any adjustments arising from changes in estimates are reflected in income.
	The workers' compensation accruals are discounted as the amount and timing of cash payments related to those accruals are reliably determinable given the nature of workers' compensation benefits and the level of historical claim volume to support the actuarial assumptions and judgments used to derive the expected loss payment pattern. The workers' compensation accruals are discounted using an interest rate that approximates the long-term investment yields over the expected payment pattern of unpaid losses.
	Our self-insurance accruals are based on estimates and, while we believe that the amounts accrued are adequate and not excessive, the ultimate claims may be in excess of or less than the amounts provided.
Stock-Based Compensation [Policy Text Block]	Stock-Based Compensation--Stock-based compensation cost for all share-based payment plans is measured at fair value on the date of grant and recognized over the employee service period on the straight-line recognition method for awards expected to vest. The fair value of all stock-based payment plans—stock option plans, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, and performance-based restricted stock units as well as our Employee Stock Purchase Plan—is determined by the number of awards granted and the price of our common stock. The fair value of each award is estimated on the date of grant using a binomial option-pricing model. The binomial model considers a range of assumptions related to volatility, risk-free interest rate and employee exercise behavior. Expected volatilities utilized in the binomial model are based on historical volatility of our share prices and other factors. Similarly, the dividend yield is based on historical experience and expected future changes. The binomial model also incorporates exercise and forfeiture assumptions based on an analysis of historical data. The expected life of the stock-based awards is derived from the output of the binomial model and represents the period of time that awards granted are expected to be outstanding.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Policy Text Block]	Defined Benefit Pension Plans--We record annual expenses relating to our defined benefit pension plans based on calculations that include various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates and expected long-term rates of return on plan assets. Actuarial assumptions are reviewed annually with modifications made to the assumptions, if necessary, based on current rates and trends. The effects of the actuarial gains or losses are amortized over future service periods. The funded status (that is, the projected benefit obligation less the fair value of plan assets) for each plan is reported in our balance sheet
	B.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	using a December 31 measurement date. Changes in the funded status of the plans are recognized in the year in which the changes occur and reported in comprehensive income (loss).
Income Taxes [Policy Text Block]	Income Taxes--We compute taxes on income in accordance with the tax rules and regulations where the income is earned. The income tax rates imposed by these taxing authorities vary. Taxable income may differ from pretax income for financial reporting purposes. We compute and recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of our assets and liabilities. Changes in tax rates and laws are reflected in income in the period when such changes are enacted. We account for uncertain tax positions by recognizing the financial statement effects of a tax position only when, based upon the technical merits, it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination.
Earnings Per Share [Policy Text Block]	Earnings Per Share--Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing the income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share except that the weighted-average number of shares is increased to include the effect of stock awards that were granted and outstanding during the period.
Revenue Recognition [Policy Text Block]	Revenue Recognition--Revenues from residential and commercial services are recognized as the services are provided and amounts are determined to be collectible. Revenues from contractual arrangements, primarily with utility services customers, are recognized based on costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. During the performance of such contracts, estimated final contract prices and costs are periodically reviewed and revisions are made, as required, to the revenue recognized. On cost-plus-fee contracts, revenue is recognized to the extent of costs incurred plus a proportionate amount of fees earned, and on time-and-material contracts, revenue is recognized to the extent of billable rates times hours worked, plus material and other reimbursable costs incurred. Revisions arise in the normal course of providing services to utility services customers and generally relate to changes in contract specifications and cost allowability. Such revisions are recorded when realization is probable and can be reliably estimated.
Concentration of Credit Risk [Policy Text Block]	Concentration of Credit Risk--Credit risk represents the accounting loss that would be recognized if the counterparties failed to perform as contracted. The principal financial instruments subject to credit risk follow:
	Cash--To limit our exposure, we transact our business and maintain banking relationships and our derivative contracts with high credit-quality financial institutions.
	Accounts Receivable--Our residential and commercial customers are located geographically throughout the United States and Canada and, as to commercial customers, within differing industries; thus, minimizing credit risk. The credit exposure of utility services customers is directly affected by conditions within the utility industries as well as the financial condition of individual customers. One utility customer approximated 8% of revenues during 2014, 9% in 2013 and 10% in 2012. To reduce credit risk, we evaluate the credit of customers, but generally do not require advance payments or collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer’s financial condition.
Currency Translation Adjustments [Policy Text Block]	Currency Translation Adjustments--All assets and liabilities of our Canadian operations are translated into United States dollars at year-end exchange rates while revenues and expenses are translated at weighted-average exchange rates in effect during the year. Translation adjustments are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity.
Interst Rate Risk Management [Policy Text Block]	Interest Rate Risk Management--We have entered into interest rate contracts, from time-to-time, with the objective of altering interest rate exposures related to variable rate debt. In the interest rate contracts, we have agreed with a financial institution to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated on an agreed-upon notional principal amount.
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Policy Text Block]	Comprehensive Income (Loss)--Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. GAAP are included in
	B.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	comprehensive income but are excluded from net income as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to shareholders’ equity, net of tax.
Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]	The net assets of the businesses acquired are accounted for under the acquisition method and were recorded at their fair values at the dates of acquisition.
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block]	We are party to a number of lawsuits, threatened lawsuits and other claims arising out of the normal course of business.
	With respect to all such matters, we record an accrual for a loss contingency when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In addition, narrative information is provided for matters as to which management believes a material loss is reasonably possible.
	Management has assessed all such matters, including the matter described below, based on current information and made a judgment concerning their potential outcome, giving due consideration to the nature of the claim, the amount and nature of damages sought and the probability of success.  Management's judgment is made subject to the known uncertainty of litigation and management's judgment as to estimates made may prove materially different from actual results.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	Depreciation is computed for financial reporting purposes by the straight-line method for land improvements, building and leasehold improvements and by the declining-balance method for equipment, based on the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
	Land improvements	5 to 20 years
	Buildings	5 to 20 years
	Equipment	3 to 10 years
	Leasehold improvements	Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life; ranging from 5-to-20 years

Accounts_Receivable_Net_and_Su1

Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Schedule of accounts receivable [Table Text Block]
	E.	Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
	Accounts receivable, net, consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Accounts receivable	$	98,657	$	93,156
	Receivables under contractual arrangements	15,362		14,309
		114,019		107,465
	Less allowances for doubtful accounts	2,421		2,209
		$	111,598	$	105,256
Schedule of other current assets [Table Text Block]	The following items comprise the amounts included in the balance sheets:
		December 31,
	Other current assets	2014		2013
	Refundable income taxes	$	2,122	$	5,317
	Deferred income taxes	8,927		7,715
	Note receivable	4,319		—
	Other	759		813
	Total	$	16,127	$	13,845
Schedule of other assets, noncurrent [Table Text Block]
		December 31,
	Other assets, noncurrent	2014		2013
	Assets invested for self-insurance	$	13,684	$	12,716
	Investment--cost-method affiliate	1,168		1,168
	Deferred income taxes	1,705		—
	Other	2,305		3,033
	Total	$	18,862	$	16,917
Schedule of accrued liabilities [Table Text Block]
		December 31,
	Accrued expenses	2014		2013
	Employee compensation	$	19,195	$	18,578
	Accrued compensated absences	8,034		6,953
	Self-insured medical claims	2,722		2,503
	Customer advances, deposits	2,030		2,191
	Taxes, other than income	2,054		5,730
	Other	890		903
	Total	$	34,925	$	36,858
Other liabilities, noncurrent [Table Text Block]
		December 31,
	Other liabilities, noncurrent	2014		2013
	Pension and retirement plans	$	16,311	$	7,760
	Deferred income taxes	—		2,564
	Other	2,657		1,956
	Total	$	18,968	$	12,280

Supplemental_Operating_Informa1

Supplemental Operating Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Table Text Block]	Other nonoperating (expense) income, net, included in the statements of operations follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Other nonoperating expense, net	$	(3,050	)	$	(2,827	)	$	(2,611	)

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa1

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Supplemental Cash Flow Informations [Table Text Block]	Supplemental cash flow information follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
	Supplemental cash flow information	2014			2013			2012
	Interest paid	$	2,948		$	2,732		$	2,683
	Income taxes paid, net	13,577			20,133			11,131
	Noncash transactions:
	Debt issued for purchases of businesses	$	2,080		$	30		$	100
	Detail of acquisitions:
	Assets acquired:
	Receivables	$	1,852		$	—		$	474
	Operating supplies	61			—			209
	Prepaid expense	213			—			47
	Equipment	1,726			—			1,826
	Deposits and other	558			—			—
	Intangibles	8,443			110			3,812
	Liabilities assumed	(1,078		)	—			(1,868		)
	Debt issued for purchases of businesses	(2,080		)	(30		)	(100		)
	Cash paid	$	9,695		$	80		$	4,400

Identified_Intangible_Assets_a1

Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]	The carrying amount of the identified intangibles and goodwill acquired in connection with our investments in businesses were as follows:
		Weighted-Average Amortization			December 31, 2014							December 31, 2013
		Period (Years)			Carrying			Accumulated				Carrying			Accumulated
					Amount			Amortization				Amount			Amortization
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Customer lists/relationships	2.5	years		$	16,076		$	12,560			$	14,429		$	11,398
	Employment-related	2.8	years		7,026			5,776				5,631			5,474
	Tradenames	3.3	years		5,286			4,153				4,525			3,754
	Total				28,388			$	22,489			24,585			$	20,626
	Less accumulated amortization				22,489							20,626
	Identified intangibles, net				5,899							3,959
	Unamortized intangible assets:
	Goodwill	Not amortized			28,164							23,602
					$	34,063						$	27,561
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]	The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill, by segment, for the year ended December 31, 2014 follow:
		Balance at				Acquisitions			Translation				Balance at
		January 1,							and Other				December 31,
		2014							Adjustments				2014
	Utility	$	3,064			$	360		$	—			$	3,424
	Residential and Commercial	20,538				4,264			(62		)		24,740
	Total	$	23,602			$	4,624		$	(62	)		$	28,164
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	Estimated future aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets--The estimated aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets, as of December 31, 2014, in each of the next five years follows:
			Estimated Future
			Amortization Expense
	Year ending December 31, 2015		$	1,876
	2016		1,670
	2017		1,210
	2018		473
	2019		338

ShortTerm_and_LongTerm_Debt_Ta

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]	Short-term debt consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	8,281	$	8,434
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	Long-term debt consisted of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Revolving credit facility
	Swing-line borrowings	$	7,500	$	—
	LIBOR borrowings	37,000		20,000
		44,500		20,000
	Senior unsecured notes	30,000		30,000
	Term loans	15,087		8,468
		89,587		58,468
	Less current portion	8,281		8,434
		$	81,306	$	50,034

SelfInsurance_Accruals_Tables

Self-Insurance Accruals (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Self-Insurance Accruals [Abstract]
Schedule of Self-Insurance Accruals [Table Text Block]	Components of our self-insurance accruals for workers’ compensation, vehicle liability and general liability follow:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Workers' compensation	$	32,982		$	35,199
	Present value discount	1,658			1,796
		31,324			33,403
	Vehicle liability	4,940			4,885
	General liability	22,629			18,424
	Total	58,893			56,712
	Less current portion	23,007			22,057
	Noncurrent portion	$	35,886		$	34,655
Schedule of Changes in Self-Insurance Accruals [Table Text Block]	The changes in our self-insurance accruals and the discount rate used for the workers’ compensation accrual are summarized in the table below.
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Balance, beginning of year	$	56,712		$	61,733
	Provision for claims	30,340			27,084
	Payment of claims	28,159			32,105
	Balance, end of year	$	58,893		$	56,712
	Workers' compensation discount rate	2		%	2		%

Operating_Lease_Obligations_Ta

Operating Lease Obligations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leases, Operating [Abstract]
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block]	Minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases, as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:
	Minimum lease obligations	Operating Lease
		Obligations
	Year ending December 31, 2015	$	5,813
	2016	4,470
	2017	2,918
	2018	1,764
	2019	868
	2020 and after	1,398
	Total minimum lease payments	$	17,231

Common_Shares_and_Preferred_Sh1

Common Shares and Preferred Shares (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Stock by Class [Table Text Block]	Common Shares Outstanding--The table below reconciles the activity of the common shares outstanding:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Shares outstanding, beginning of year	13,438,611		13,726,002
	Shares purchased	(727,436	)	(931,078	)
	Shares sold	287,536		299,330
	Stock subscription offering, employee cash purchases	49,940		25,837
	Options exercised	116,282		318,520
		(273,678	)	(287,391	)
	Shares outstanding, end of year	13,164,933		13,438,611

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	The following summarizes the components of other comprehensive income (loss) accumulated in shareholders’ equity:
		Foreign			Interest			Defined			Accumulated
		Currency			Rate Cash			Benefit			Other
		Translation			Flow Hedges			Pension			Comprehensive
		Adjustments						Plans			Income/(Loss)
	Balance at January 1, 2012	$	2,950		$	(77	)	$	(9,217	)	$	(6,344	)
	Unrealized gains (losses)	561			—			—			561
	Unrealized gains in fair value	—			123			—			123
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	—			—			1,268			1,268
	Tax effect	—			—			(507		)	(507		)
	Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	—			—			(3,712		)	(3,712		)
	Tax effect	—			(46		)	1,542			1,496
	Net of tax amount	561			77			(1,409		)	(771		)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	3,511		$	—		$	(10,626	)	$	(7,115	)
	Unrealized gains (losses)	(1,864		)	—			—			(1,864		)
	Unrealized gains in fair value	—			—			—			—
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	—			—			1,401			1,401
	Tax effect	—			—			(532		)	(532		)
	Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	—			—			6,306			6,306
	Tax effect	—			—			(2,589		)	(2,589		)
	Net of tax amount	(1,864		)	—			4,586			2,722
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,647		$	—		$	(6,040	)	$	(4,393	)
	Unrealized gains (losses)	(2,798		)	—			—			(2,798		)
	Unrealized gains in fair value	—			—			—			—
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	—			—			2,786			2,786
	Tax effect	—			—			(1,095		)	(1,095		)
	Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	—			—			(9,923		)	(9,923		)
	Tax effect	—			—			3,900			3,900
	Net of tax amount	(2,798		)	—			(4,332		)	(7,130		)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(1,151	)	$	—		$	(10,372	)	$	(11,523	)

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block]	Stock-based compensation expense under all share-based payment plans—our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, stock option plans, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, and performance-based restricted stock units—included in the results of operations follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans	$	1,860			$	1,411			$	1,508
	Income tax benefit	549				348				383
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Activity [Table Text Block]	Purchases under the plan, at 85% of the fair market value of the common shares, have been as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Number of employees participating	1,684				1,500				1,157
	Shares purchased during the year	115,029				118,444				136,947
	Weighted-average per share purchase price paid	$	23.07			$	20.01			$	17.2
	Cumulative shares purchased since 1982	8,751,255				8,636,226				8,517,782
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Appreciation Rights Award Activity [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the SSARs as of December 31, 2014:
	Stock-Settled		Number of			Weighted-				Weighted-		Unrecognized		Aggregate
	Stock Appreciation Rights		Rights			Average Award Date Value				Average		Compensation Cost		Intrinsic Value
										Remaining Contractual Life
	Unvested, January 1, 2014		283,453			$	3.15
	Granted		127,050			4.88
	Forfeited		—			—
	Vested		(107,232	)		3.26
	Unvested, December 31, 2014		303,271			$	3.84			2.0 years		$	865	$	8,431
	Employee SSARs		286,294			$	3.92			2.0 years		$	838	$	7,959
	Nonemployee Director SSARs		16,977			$	2.29			1.8 years		$	27	$	472
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes
	Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units as of December 31, 2014:
	Performance-Based		Number of			Weighted-				Weighted-		Unrecognized		Aggregate
	Restricted Stock Units		Stock Units			Average				Average		Compensation		Intrinsic
						Grant Date Value				Remaining		Cost		Value
										Contractual Life
	Unvested, January 1, 2014		95,558			$	19.03
	Granted		39,476			24.64
	Forfeited		—			—
	Vested		(17,325	)		17.48
	Unvested, December 31, 2014		117,709			$	21.14			2.7 years		$	1,456	$	3,272
	Employee PRSUs		103,139			$	20.78			2.9 years		$	1,236	$	2,867
	Nonemployee Director PRSUs		14,570			$	23.61			1.8 years		$	220	$	405
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	The fair values of stock-based awards granted were estimated at the dates of grant with the following weighted-average assumptions:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Volatility rate	11.2	%		11.3	%		11.7	%
	Risk-free interest rate	2.6	%		2.1	%		1.6	%
	Expected dividend yield	1.1	%		1.5	%		1.5	%
	Expected life of awards (years)	9.4			9.4			9.1
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes activity under the stock option plans for the year ended December 31, 2014:
	Stock Options		Number of			Weighted-				Weighted-		Unrecognized		Aggregate
			Options			Average				Average		Compensation		Intrinsic
			Outstanding			Exercise				Remaining		Cost		Value
						Price				Contractual
										Life
	Outstanding, January 1, 2014		662,246			$	16.68
	Granted		183,500			26.4
	Exercised		(74,715	)		13.11
	Forfeited		(900	)		24.98
	Outstanding, December 31, 2014		770,131			$	19.33			6.3 years		$	1,509	$	6,523
	Exercisable, December 31, 2014		388,851			$	14.7			3.9 years				$	5,094
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]	Information regarding the stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 is summarized below:
	Stock Options			Number			Weighted-Average		Weighted-				Number	Weighted-
	Exercise Price			Outstanding			Remaining		Average				Exercisable	Average
							Contractual Life		Exercise					Exercise
									Price					Price
	Employee options:
	$11.25			170,047			1.4 years		$	11.25			170,047	$	11.25
	16			113,234			4.8 years		16				113,234	16
	16.6			108,900			5.8 years		16.6				69,420	16.6
	23.2			194,950			8.5 years		23.2				36,150	23.2
	26.4			183,000			9.5 years		26.4				—	26.4
				770,131			6.3 years		$	19.33			388,851	$	14.7

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_

Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations [Table Text Block]	The change in benefit obligations and the fair value of plans assets follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Change in benefit obligation
	Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	31,888			$	36,045
	Service cost	51				222
	Interest cost	1,618				1,515
	Actuarial (gains)/losses	4,838				(4,272		)
	New longevity assumptions	3,229				—
	Settlements	(4,319		)		—
	Benefits paid	(1,429		)		(1,622		)
	Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	35,876			$	31,888
	Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	35,475			$	31,599
Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Change in fair value of plan assets
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	25,754			$	22,957
	Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses	136				3,793
	Employer contributions	1,425				626
	Settlements	(4,319		)		—
	Benefits paid	(1,429		)		(1,622		)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	21,567			$	25,754
Schedule of Net Funded Status [Table Text Block]
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Funded status of the plans
	Fair value of plan assets	$	21,567			$	25,754
	Projected benefit obligation	35,876				31,888
	Funded status of the plans	$	(14,309	)		$	(6,134	)
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets
	Current liability	$	(38	)		$	(37	)
	Noncurrent liability	(14,271		)		(6,097		)
	Funded status of the plans	$	(14,309	)		$	(6,134	)
Schedule of Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]	Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), related to our defined benefit pension plans follow:
		At December 31, 2014								At December 31, 2013
		Pretax				Net of Tax				Pretax			Net of Tax
	Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	17,093			$	10,339			$	9,942		$	5,995
	Unrecognized prior service cost	55				33				69			45
		$	17,148			$	10,372			$	10,011		$	6,040
Schedule of Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to be Recognized over Next Fiscal Year [Table Text Block]	The total amortization associated with these amounts that is expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit expense for 2015 follows:
	P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
		Year ending December 31, 2015
		Pretax				Net of Tax
	Amortization of Costs Expected to be Recognized Next Year
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	1,546			$	928
	Unrecognized prior service cost	14				8
		$	1,560			$	936
Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]	The aggregate projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets for plans in which the fair value of plan assets is less than either the projected benefit obligation or accumulated benefit obligation follow:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	For pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
	Projected benefit obligation	$	35,876			$	31,888
	Accumulated benefit obligation	35,475				31,599
	Fair value of plan assets	21,567				25,754
Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]	The actuarial assumptions follow. The discount rates were used to measure the year-end benefit obligation and compute pension expense for the subsequent year.
		December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Actuarial assumptions
	Discount rate	4.3	%		5.2	%		4.25	%
	Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.5			7.75			7.75
Components of pension expense (income) [Table Text Block]	Net periodic benefit expense (income) associated with the defined benefit pension plans included the following components:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Components of pension expense (income)
	Service costs--increase in benefit obligation earned	$	51			$	222			$	185
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	1,618				1,515				1,657
	Expected return on plan assets	(1,993		)		(1,760		)		(1,701		)
	Settlement loss	2,065				—				219
	Amortization of net actuarial loss	708				1,388				1,041
	Amortization of prior service cost	14				14				14
	Net pension expense of defined benefit pension plans	$	2,463			$	1,379			$	1,415
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]	The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 31, 2014 by asset category, using the three-level hierarchy of fair value inputs, were as follows:
							Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2014 Using:
	Description		Total Carrying				Quoted prices				Significant			Significant
			Value at				in				other observable			unobservable
			31-Dec-14				active markets				inputs			inputs
							(Level 1)				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Asset Category
	Money market funds		$	2,442			$	—			$	2,442		$	—
	U.S. large-cap equities
	Growth		2,625				2,625				—			—
	Value		2,088				2,088				—			—
	U.S. small/mid-cap equities
	Growth		1,623				1,623				—			—
	Value		1,844				1,844				—			—
	International equities
	Growth		2,128				2,128				—			—
	Value		2,124				2,124				—			—
	Fixed income		3,747				3,747				—			—
	Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds		2,946				2,946				—			—
			$	21,567			$	19,125			$	2,442		$	—
	The fair values of our pension plan assets at December 31, 2013 by asset category, using the three-level hierarchy of fair value inputs, were as follows:
	P.	Defined Benefit Pension Plans (continued)
							Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013 Using:
	Description		Total Carrying				Quoted prices				Significant			Significant
			Value at				in				other observable			unobservable
			31-Dec-13				active markets				inputs			inputs
							(Level 1)				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Asset Category
	Money market funds		$	1,726			$	—			$	1,726		$	—
	U.S. large-cap equities
	Growth		3,639				3,639				—			—
	Value		2,971				2,971				—			—
	U.S. small/mid-cap equities
	Growth		1,813				1,813				—			—
	Value		1,959				1,959				—			—
	International equities
	Growth		2,718				2,718				—			—
	Value		2,622				2,622				—			—
	Fixed income		4,423				4,423				—			—
	Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds		3,883				3,883				—			—
			$	25,754			$	24,028			$	1,726		$	—
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]	The benefits, as of December 31, 2014, expected to be paid to defined-benefit plan participants in each of the next five years, and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter, follow:
			Participants Benefits
	Estimated future payments
	Year ending December 31, 2015		$	1,117
	2016		1,268
	2017		1,454
	2018		1,529
	2019		1,618
	Years 2020 to 2024		9,233
Schedule of Multiemployer Plans [Table Text Block]
	Pension Fund		EIN/Pension		Pension				FIB/RP		Davey Tree							Surcharge	Expiration
			Plan Number		Protection Act				Status		Contributions							Imposed	Dates of
					Zone Status				Pending										Bargaining
					2014		2013		Implemented		2014			2013		2012			Agreement
	National Electric Benefit Fund		53-0181657/001		Green		Green		No		$	743		$	755	$	417	No	Ranging from December 31, 2014 to
																			31-Dec-17
	Eighth District Electrical Pension Fund		84-6100393/001		Green		Green		No		105			100		75		No	31-Dec-17
											$	848		$	855	$	492

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]	Income before income taxes was attributable to the following sources:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	United States	$	30,380			$	29,203			$	35,414
	Canada	7,920				6,362				5,244
	Total	$	38,300			$	35,565			$	40,658
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	The provision for income taxes follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Currently payable:
	Federal	$	13,159			$	7,089			$	15,853
	State	2,524				2,183				2,239
	Canadian	2,127				1,724				1,578
	Total current	17,810				10,996				19,670
	Deferred taxes	(2,679		)		1,716				(3,607		)
	Total taxes on income	$	15,131			$	12,712			$	16,063
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	A reconciliation of the expected statutory U.S. federal rate to our actual effective income tax rate follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Statutory U.S. federal tax rate	35	%		35	%		35	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.9			3.6			3.9
	Effect of Canadian income taxes	(1.7	)		(1.6	)		(1.0	)
	Nondeductible expenses	1.9			1.9			1.4
	ESOP dividend deduction	(.7	)		(.8	)		(.7	)
	Audit settlements and uncertain tax adjustments	1.6			(2.2	)		1.8
	All other, net	(.5	)		(.2	)		(.9	)
	Effective income tax rate	39.5	%		35.7	%		39.5	%
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and LIabilities, Current [Table Text Block]	Significant components of our current net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Accrued compensation obligations	$	3,090			$	1,883
	Self-insurance accruals	8,107				7,693
	Prepaid expenses	(3,160		)		(2,565		)
	Other, net	1,102				908
		9,139				7,919
	Less deferred tax asset valuation allowance	212				204
	Net deferred income tax assets--current	$	8,927			$	7,715
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities, Noncurrent [Table Text Block]	Significant components of our noncurrent net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Self-insurance accruals	$	12,554			$	12,129
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,388				895
	Accrued stock compensation	1,642				1,550
	Defined benefit pension plans	4,573				1,873
	Foreign tax credit carryforward	768				768
	Other future deductible amounts, net	2,030				1,737
		22,955				18,952
	Less deferred tax asset valuation allowance	556				564
		22,399				18,388
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Intangibles	269				234
	Property and equipment	20,425				20,718
		20,694				20,952
	Net deferred tax assets--noncurrent	$	1,705
	Net deferred tax liabilities--noncurrent					$	2,564
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]	The balance of unrecognized benefits and the amount of related interest and penalties at December 31, were as follows:
		December 31,
		2014				2013
	Unrecognized tax benefits	$	1,949			$	1,221
	Portion, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate	1,512				942
	Accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits	77				41
	Accrued penalties on unrecognized benefits	—				—
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]	The changes in our unrecognized tax benefits are summarized in the table below:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2012
	Balance, beginning of year	$	1,221			$	2,638			$	1,825
	Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	587				370				667
	Additions for tax positions of prior years	234				133				149
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(79		)		(1,155		)		(3		)
	Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities	—				(460		)		—
	Lapses in statutes of limitations	(14		)		(305		)		—
	Balance, end of year	$	1,949			$	1,221			$	2,638

Earnings_Per_Share_Information1

Earnings Per Share Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	Earnings per share is computed as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Income available to common shareholders:
	Net income	$	23,169	$	22,853	$	24,595
	Weighted-average shares:
	Basic:
	Outstanding	13,337,198		13,639,356		13,867,771
	Partially-paid share subscriptions	484,025		531,325		234,595
	Basic weighted-average shares	13,821,223		14,170,681		14,102,366
	Diluted:
	Basic from above	13,821,223		14,170,681		14,102,366
	Incremental shares from assumed:
	Exercise of stock subscription purchase rights	54,824		34,273		5,750
	Exercise of stock options and awards	362,229		397,478		500,741
	Diluted weighted-average shares	14,238,276		14,602,432		14,608,857
	Share data:
	Earnings per share--basic	$	1.68	$	1.61	$	1.74
	Earnings per share--diluted	$	1.63	$	1.57	$	1.68

Operations_by_Business_Segment1

Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information Operations by business segment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	Information on reportable segments and reconciliation to the consolidated financial statements follows:
		Utility		Residential		All			Reconciling				Consolidated
		Services		Commercial		Other			Adjustments
				Services
	Fiscal Year 2014
	Revenues	$	404,519	$	386,274	$	(882	)	$	—			$	789,911
	Income (loss) from operations	21,382		37,232		(6,037		)	(8,574		)	(a)	44,003
	Interest expense								(2,948		)		(2,948		)
	Interest income								295				295
	Other income (expense), net								(3,050		)		(3,050		)
	Income before income taxes												$	38,300
	Depreciation	$	23,225	$	14,544	$	—		$	3,201		(b)	$	40,970
	Amortization	174		1,896		—			—				2,070
	Capital expenditures	25,994		17,490		—			12,247				55,731
	Segment assets, total	150,002		144,413		—			86,589			(c)	381,004
	Fiscal Year 2013
	Revenues	$	376,520	$	334,878	$	2,450		$	—			$	713,848
	Income (loss) from operations	16,070		33,566		(2,869		)	(5,978		)	(a)	40,789
	Interest expense								(2,708		)		(2,708		)
	Interest income								311				311
	Other income (expense), net								(2,827		)		(2,827		)
	Income before income taxes												$	35,565
	Depreciation	$	22,261	$	13,286	$	—		$	2,684		(b)	$	38,231
	Amortization	359		1,440		—			181				1,980
	Capital expenditures	21,642		17,577		—			5,986				45,205
	Segment assets, total	145,021		122,542		—			65,815			(c)	333,378
	Fiscal Year 2012
	Revenues	$	375,300	$	303,420	$	1,433		$	—			$	680,153
	Income (loss) from operations	20,107		30,787		(1,366		)	(3,761		)	(a)	45,767
	Interest expense								(2,698		)		(2,698		)
	Interest income								200				200
	Other income (expense), net								(2,611		)		(2,611		)
	Income before income taxes												$	40,658
	Depreciation	$	22,844	$	12,236	$	—		$	2,285		(b)	$	37,365
	Amortization	465		1,058		—			219				1,742
	Capital expenditures	15,737		10,266		—			3,731				29,734
	Segment assets, total	150,294		122,298		—			58,340			(c)	330,932
Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]	Geographic Information--The following presents revenues and long-lived assets by geographic territory:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Revenues
	United States	$	706,145	$	637,524	$	607,339
	Canada	83,766		76,324		72,814
		$	789,911	$	713,848	$	680,153
		December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Long-lived assets, net
	United States	$	196,116	$	166,598	$	153,946
	Canada	17,692		14,764		15,237
		$	213,808	$	181,362	$	169,183

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi1

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]	Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, were as follows:
						Fair Value Measurements at
						December 31, 2014 Using:
			Total			Quoted prices in active markets			Significant			Significant
			Carrying						other observable			unobservable
			Value at						inputs			inputs
	Description		December 31, 2014			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent		$	13,684		$	13,684		$	—		$	—
	Defined benefit pension plan assets		21,567			19,125			2,442			—
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation		$	1,423		$	—		$	1,423		$	—
						Fair Value Measurements at
						December 31, 2013 Using:
			Total			Quoted prices in active markets			Significant			Significant
			Carrying						other observable			unobservable
			Value at						inputs			inputs
	Description		December 31, 2013			(Level 1)			(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Assets:
	Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent		$	12,716		$	12,716		$	—		$	—
	Defined benefit pension plan assets		25,754			24,028			1,726			—
	Liabilities:
	Deferred compensation		$	1,144		$	—		$	1,144		$	—
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	Financial instruments classified as noncurrent liabilities and their carrying values and fair values were as follows:
		December 31, 2014						December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Fair			Carrying			Fair
		Value			Value			Value			Value
	Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	$	44,500		$	44,500		$	20,000		$	20,000
	Senior unsecured notes	30,000			30,688			30,000			28,219
	Term loans, noncurrent	6,806			7,195			34			34
	Total	$	81,306		$	82,383		$	50,034		$	48,253
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation1

Quarterly Results of Operations Quarterly Results of Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]	The following is a summary of the results of operations for each quarter of 2014 and 2013.
		Fiscal 2014, Three Months Ended
		29-Mar			29-Jun		27-Sep		31-Dec
	Revenues	$	157,387		$	213,183	$	216,604	$	202,737
	Gross profit (revenues less costs and expenses, operating)	48,156			82,900		77,613		72,565
	Income (loss) from operations	(4,725		)	23,815		17,144		7,769
	Net income (loss)	(6,180		)	14,046		9,657		5,646
	Net income (loss) per share--Basic	$	(.29	)	$	1.04	$	0.72	$	0.21
	Net income (loss) per share -- Diluted:	$	(.29	)	$	1.01	$	0.69	$	0.22
	ESOT Valuation per share	$	26.4		$	26.4	$	27.8	$	30.1
		Fiscal 2013, Three Months Ended
		30-Mar			29-Jun		28-Sep		31-Dec
	Revenues	$	143,265		$	195,638	$	194,772	$	180,173
	Gross profit (revenues less costs and expenses, operating)	42,205			76,046		69,114		63,837
	Income (loss) from operations	(6,009		)	23,230		14,881		8,687
	Net income (loss)	(4,612		)	13,436		8,644		5,385
	Net income (loss) per share -- Basic	$	(.33	)	$	0.97	$	0.63	$	0.34
	Net income (loss) per share -- Diluted	$	(.33	)	$	0.94	$	0.61	$	0.35
	ESOT Valuation per share	$	23.2		$	23.2	$	23.9	$	26.4
	Fourth quarters 2014 and 2013 include a decrease in casualty insurance expense that had the effect of increasing the fourth quarter gross profit for 2014 and 2013 by approximately $3,875 and $3,951, respectively.

Our_Business_Reportable_segmen

Our Business Reportable segments (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Number of Reportable Segments	2

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$0	$0	$0
Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Intangible assets, estimated useful life	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Intangible assets, estimated useful life	10 years
Land improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P5Y
Land improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P20Y
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P5Y
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P20Y
Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P3Y
Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P10Y
Leasehold improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P5Y
Leasehold improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, estimated useful lives	P20Y

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Concentration of Risk (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Rate	Rate	Rate
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	8.00%	9.00%	10.00%

Business_Combinations_Details

Business Combinations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, consideration transferred	$12,853,000	$110,000	$6,368,000
Business combination, recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, liabilities	1,078,000	0	1,868,000
Investments in businesses, debt issued	2,080,000	30,000	100,000
Goodwill, acquired during period	4,624,000	0	1,820,000
Excess of purchase price over the estimated fair value, tax deductible amount	$4,624,000	$0	$258,000

Accounts_Receivable_Net_and_Su2

Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Accounts Receivable, Net and Supplemental Balance Sheet Information(Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable	$98,657	$93,156
Receivables under contractual arrangements	15,362	14,309
Accounts receivable, gross, current	114,019	107,465
Less allowances for doubtful accounts	2,421	2,209
Accounts receivable, net	111,598	105,256
Other current assets
Refundable income taxes	2,122	5,317
Deferred income taxes	8,927	7,715
Note receivable	4,319	0
Other	759	813
Other current assets, total	16,127	13,845
Other assets, noncurrent
Assets invested for self-insurance	13,684	12,716
Investment--cost-method affiliate	1,168	1,168
Deferred income taxes	1,705	0
Other	2,305	3,033
Other assets, noncurrent, total	18,862	16,917
Accrued expenses
Employee compensation	19,195	18,578
Accrued compensated absences	8,034	6,953
Self-insured medical claims	2,722	2,503
Customer advances, deposits	2,030	2,191
Taxes, other than income	2,054	5,730
Other	890	903
Accrued expenses, total	34,925	36,858
Other liabilities, noncurrent
Pension and retirement plans	16,311	7,760
Deferred income taxes	0	2,564
Other	2,657	1,956
Other liabilities, noncurrent, total	$18,968	$12,280

Supplemental_Operating_Informa2

Supplemental Operating Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Other nonoperating expense, net	($3,050)	($2,827)	($2,611)
Foreign currency gain (loss)	($235)	($146)	$11

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa2

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Supplemental cash flow information
Interest paid	$2,948	$2,732	$2,683
Income taxes paid, net	13,577	20,133	11,131
Noncash transactions
Debt issued for purchases of businesses	2,080	30	100
Detail of acquisitions:
Receivables	1,852	0	474
Operating supplies	61	0	209
Prepaid expense	213	0	47
Equipment	1,726	0	1,826
Deposits and other	558	0	0
Intangibles	8,443	110	3,812
Liabilities assumed	1,078	0	1,868
Debt issued for purchases of businesses	-2,080	-30	-100
Cash paid	$9,695	$80	$4,400

Identified_Intangible_Assets_a2

Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets [line Items]
Amortized intangible assets, carrying amount	$28,388	$24,585
Accumulated amortization	22,489	20,626
Identified intangibles, net	5,899	3,959
Goodwill	28,164	23,602
Intangible assets and goodwill net	34,063	27,561
Customer lists/relationships
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets [line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, remaining amortization period	2 years 6 months
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	16,076	14,429
Accumulated amortization	12,560	11,398
Employment-related
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets [line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, remaining amortization period	2 years 9 months 18 days
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	7,026	5,631
Accumulated amortization	5,776	5,474
Tradenames
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets [line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, remaining amortization period	3 years 3 months 18 days
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	5,286	4,525
Accumulated amortization	$4,153	$3,754

Identified_Intangible_Assets_a3

Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net Schedule of Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, balance at January 1, 2013	$23,602,000
Goodwill, acquisitions	4,624,000	0	1,820,000
Goodwill, translation and other adjustments	-62,000
Goodwill, balance at December 31, 2013	28,164,000	23,602,000
Utility
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, balance at January 1, 2013	3,064,000
Goodwill, acquisitions	360,000
Goodwill, translation and other adjustments	0
Goodwill, balance at December 31, 2013	3,424,000
Residential and Commercial
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, balance at January 1, 2013	20,538,000
Goodwill, acquisitions	4,264,000
Goodwill, translation and other adjustments	-62,000
Goodwill, balance at December 31, 2013	$24,740,000

Identified_Intangible_Assets_a4

Identified Intangible Assets and Goodwill, Net (Future Amortization of Intangibles) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Year ending December 31, 2015	$1,876
2015	1,670
2016	1,210
2017	473
2018	$338

ShortTerm_and_LongTerm_Debt_Sh

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Short-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Short-term Debt [Abstract]
Current portion of long-term debt	8,281	$8,434
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	7,281
Minimum [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Line of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	0.75%
Maximum [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Line of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate	1.50%

ShortTerm_and_LongTerm_Debt_Lo

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 22, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	$44,500	$20,000
Senior unsecured notes	30,000	30,000	30,000
Term loans	15,087	8,468
Long-term debt	89,587	58,468
Less current portion	8,281	8,434
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	81,306	50,034
Swing-line borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	7,500	0
LIBOR borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	$37,000	$20,000

ShortTerm_and_LongTerm_Debt_Na

Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 22, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes, interest rate	5.09%
Revolving credit facility, current borrowing capacity	175,000
Letter of credit sublimit	100,000
Swing line commitment	15,000
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	210,000
Senior unsecured notes	30,000	30,000	30,000
Number of principal payments	5
Anniversary when principal payments begin	6
Unused commitments under credit facility	70,964
Committed under credit facility	7,281
Revolving credit facility borrowings	44,500	20,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	61,540
Term loans, weighted average interest rate	3.03%	2.04%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2014	8,281
2015	7,234
2016	6,803
2017	6,150
2018	6,159
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.10%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.25%
Line of credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Committed under credit facility	104,036
Previous agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, current borrowing capacity	140,000
Letter of credit sublimit	100,000
Letter of credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	59,536
Base rate [Member] | Line of credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, variable rate, base rate calculation	0.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Line of credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, variable rate, base rate calculation	1.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Line of credit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings interest rate margin adjustment range	0.75%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Line of credit [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings interest rate margin adjustment range	1.50%

SelfInsurance_Accruals_Details

Self-Insurance Accruals (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	Rate	Rate
Self-Insurance Accruals [Abstract]
Workers' compensation	$32,982	$35,199
Present value discount	1,658	1,796
Workers' compensation, net of discount	31,324	33,403
Vehicle liability	4,940	4,885
General liability	22,629	18,424
Total	58,893	56,712
Less current portion	23,007	22,057
Noncurrent portion	35,886	34,655
Loss Contingency Accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	56,712	61,733
Provision for claims	30,340	27,084
Payment of claims	28,159	32,105
Balance, end of year	$58,893	$56,712
Workers' compensation discount rate	2.00%	2.00%

Operating_Lease_Obligations_De

Operating Lease Obligations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Leases, Operating [Abstract]
Operating leases, maximum lease terms	P5Y
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Year ending December 31, 2015	$5,813
2016	4,470
2017	2,918
2018	1,764
2019	868
2020 and after	1,398
Total minimum lease payments	17,231
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$6,554	$6,167	$5,860

Common_Shares_and_Preferred_Sh2

Common Shares and Preferred Shares Common shares outstanding (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Preferred shares
Preferred stock, shares authorized	4,000,000
Preferred stock, par value	$0
Preferred stock, shares issued	0
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized	24,000,000	24,000,000
Common stock, par value	$1	$1
Common stock, shares issued	21,456,880	21,456,880	21,456,880
Treasury stock, shares	8,291,947	8,018,269	7,730,878
Common shares, direct sales	13,061
Common shares, value, direct sales	$346
Stock issued during period, shares, employee retirement plan	53,857
Stock issued during period, value, employee retirement plan	1,444
Common shares, employer matching contribution, shares	105,589
Employee retirement plan, employer match	2,922	2,788	2,643
Stock issued during period, shares, employee stock purchase plan	115,029
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares outstanding, beginning of year	13,438,611	13,726,002
Shares purchased	-727,436	-931,078
Shares sold	287,536	299,330
Stock subscription offering, employee cash purchases	49,940	25,837
Options exercised	116,282	318,520
Increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding	-273,678	-287,391
Shares outstanding, end of year	13,164,933	13,438,611	13,726,002
Per Share Amounts and Common Shares Outstanding [Abstract]
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, options, exercisable, number	388,851
Stock subscription offering, number of partially-paid subscriptions	476,197
Stock subscription offering, number of rights outstanding	195,029
Treasury stock [Member]
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Shares purchased, value	$19,598	$21,887	$18,103
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares purchased	-727,000	-931,000	-892,000
Shares sold	287,000	299,000	327,000

Common_Shares_and_Preferred_Sh3

Common Shares and Preferred Shares Stock Subscription (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stock subscription offering [Abstract]
Stock subscription offering, subscription price	$19.70
Stock subscription offering, number of shares subscribed	637,714
stock subscription offering, value of shares subscribed	$12,563,000
Stock subscription offering, minimum financed amount	5,000
Stock subscription offering, down payment	10.00%
Stock subscription offering, term	7 years
Stock subscription offering interest rate	2.00%
Stock subscription offering, minimum amount to receive right	$5,000
stock subscription offering, number of shares purchased to receive one right	3
Stock subscription offering, number of rights issued	211,800
Stock subscription offering, portion exercisable per year	14.29%
Stock subscription offering, right expiration term	P7Y

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the year	($4,393)	($7,115)	($6,344)
Unrealized gains (losses)	-2,798	-1,864	561
Unrealized gains in fair value	0	0	123
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	2,786	1,401	1,268
Tax effect	-1,095	-532	-507
Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	-9,923	6,306	-3,712
Tax effect	3,900	-2,589	1,496
Net of tax amount	-7,130	2,722	-771
Balance at the end of the year	-11,523	-4,393	-7,115
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the year	1,647	3,511	2,950
Unrealized gains (losses)	-2,798	-1,864	561
Unrealized gains in fair value	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Tax effect	0	0	0
Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	0	0	0
Tax effect	0	0	0
Net of tax amount	-2,798	-1,864	561
Balance at the end of the year	-1,151	1,647	3,511
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the year	0	0	-77
Unrealized gains (losses)	0	0	0
Unrealized gains in fair value	0	0	123
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Tax effect	0	0	0
Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	0	0	0
Tax effect	0	0	-46
Net of tax amount	0	0	77
Balance at the end of the year	0	0	0
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Increase (decrease) in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the year	-6,040	-10,626	-9,217
Unrealized gains (losses)	0	0	0
Unrealized gains in fair value	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	2,786	1,401	1,268
Tax effect	-1,095	-532	-507
Unrecognized amounts from defined benefit pension plans	-9,923	6,306	-3,712
Tax effect	3,900	-2,589	1,542
Net of tax amount	-4,332	4,586	-1,409
Balance at the end of the year	($10,372)	($6,040)	($10,626)

The_Davey_401KSOP_and_Employee1

The Davey 401KSOP and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), initial shares in ESOP	120,000
Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), shares adjusted for stock splits	11,520,000
Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), initial value in ESOP	$2,700
Defined contribution plan, eligible age	21
Defined contribution plan, service requirement for eligibility	1 year
Employee retirement plan, employer match	$2,922	$2,788	$2,643
First 1% [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent	100.00%
1% to 4% [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent	50.00%
Minimum [Member] | 1% to 4% [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution threshold, percent	1.00%
Maximum [Member] | First 1% [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution threshold, percent	1.00%
Maximum [Member] | 1% to 4% [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution threshold, percent	4.00%

StockBased_Compensation_Detail

Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Outstanding Stock Maximum	10.00%	5.00%
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation [Abstract]
Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans		$1,860	$1,411	$1,508
Income tax benefit		549	348	383
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Shares purchased during the year		115,029
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions and Methodology [Abstract]
Volatility rate		11.20%	11.30%	11.70%
Risk-free interest rate		2.60%	2.10%	1.60%
Expected dividend yield		1.10%	1.50%	1.50%
Expected life of awards (years)		9 years 4 months 24 days	9 years 4 months 24 days	9 years 1 month 6 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning balance	662,246	662,246
Granted, Stock Options		183,500
Exercised		-74,715
Forfeited		900
Outstanding, ending balance		770,131	662,246
Exercisable, ending balance		388,851
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price		$14.70
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Granted, weighted average exercise price		$26.40
Exercised, weighted average exercise price		$13.11
Forfeited, weighted average exercise price		$24.98
Outstanding, weighted average exercise price, ending balance		$19.33	$16.68
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term		6 years 3 months 4 days
Exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		3 years 10 months 13 days
Outstanding, unrecognized compensation cost		1,509
Outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value		6,523
Exercisable, aggregate intrinisic value		5,094
Proceeds and Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation		354	242	402
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Employee stock purchase, discount from market price, purchase date		15.00%
Number of employees participating		1,684	1,500	1,157
Shares purchased during the year		115,029	118,444	136,947
Weighted-average per share purchase price paid		$23.07	$20.01	$17.20
Cumulative shares purchased since 1982		8,751,255	8,636,226	8,517,782
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation [Abstract]
Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans		463	417	415
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Employee stock purchase plan, service period		1 year
Employee stock purchase plan, percentage of market price, purchase date		85.00%
Employee stock purchase, discount from market price, purchase date		15.00%
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, vesting period		10 years
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation [Abstract]
Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans		398	234	166
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Number outstanding		770,131
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)			6 years 3 months 4 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price		$19.33
Number exercisable		388,851
Exercisable options, weighted average exercise price		$14.70
Stock Options [Member] | $11.25 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Lower range limit		$11.25
Upper range limit		$11.25
Number outstanding		170,047
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)			1 year 5 months 5 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price		$11.25
Number exercisable		170,047
Exercisable options, weighted average exercise price		$11.25
Stock Options [Member] | $16.00 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Lower range limit		$16
Upper range limit		$16
Number outstanding		113,234
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)			4 years 10 months 2 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price		$16
Number exercisable		113,234
Exercisable options, weighted average exercise price		$16
Stock Options [Member] | $16.60 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Lower range limit		$16.60
Upper range limit		$16.60
Number outstanding		108,900
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)			5 years 10 months 2 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price		$16.60
Number exercisable		69,420
Exercisable options, weighted average exercise price		$16.60
Stock Options [Member] | $23.20 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Lower range limit		$23.20
Upper range limit		$23.20
Number outstanding		194,950
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)			8 years 5 months 23 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price		$23.20
Number exercisable		36,150
Exercisable options, weighted average exercise price		$23.20
Stock Options [Member] | $ 16.40 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Number outstanding		183,000
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)			9 years 6 months
Number exercisable		0
Exercisable options, weighted average exercise price		$26.40
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, vesting period		5 years
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation [Abstract]
Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans		384	315	185
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested, beginning balance	283,453	283,453
Granted		127,050
Forfeited		0
Vested		-107,232
Unvested, ending balance		303,271	283,453
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unvested, weighted average award date value, beginning balance	$3.15	$3.15
Granted, weighted average award date value		$4.88
Forfeited, weighted average award date value		$0
Vested, weighted average award date value		$3.26
Unvested, weighted average award date value, ending balance		$3.84	$3.15
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		2 years
Unrecognized compensation cost		865
Aggregate intrinsic value		8,431
Employee SSARs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested, ending balance		286,294
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unvested, weighted average award date value, ending balance		$3.92
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		2 years
Unrecognized compensation cost		838
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Nonvested		7,959
Nonemployee Director SSARs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested, ending balance		16,977
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unvested, weighted average award date value, ending balance		$2.29
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		1 year 9 months 18 days
Unrecognized compensation cost		27
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Nonvested		472
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation [Abstract]
Compensation expense, all share-based payment plans		615	445	644
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested, beginning balance	95,558	95,558
Granted		39,476
Forfeited		0
Vested		-17,325
Unvested, ending balance		117,709	95,558
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unvested, weighted average award date value, beginning balance	$19.03	$19.03
Granted, weighted average award date value		$24.64
Forfeited, weighted average award date value		$0
Vested, weighted average award date value		$17.48
Unvested, weighted average award date value, ending balance		$21.14	$19.03
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		2 years 7 months 28 days
Unrecognized compensation cost		1,456
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Nonvested		3,272
Employee PRSUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested, ending balance		103,139
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unvested, weighted average award date value, ending balance		$20.78
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		2 years 10 months 24 days
Unrecognized compensation cost		1,236
Aggregate intrinsic value		2,867
Nonemployee Director PRSUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Unvested, ending balance		14,570
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Unvested, weighted average award date value, ending balance		$23.61
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)		1 year 9 months 18 days
Unrecognized compensation cost		220
Aggregate intrinsic value		$405
Director Stock Option [Member] | $ 16.40 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Lower range limit		$16.40
Upper range limit		$16.40

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_1

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Change in benefit obligation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$31,888	$36,045
Service cost	51	222	185
Interest cost	1,618	1,515	1,657
Actuarial (gains)/losses	4,838	-4,272
New longevity assumptions	3,229		0
Settlements	-4,319	0
Benefits paid	-1,429	-1,622
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	35,876	31,888	36,045
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$35,475	$31,599

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_2

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Change in fair value of plan assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$25,754	$22,957
Actual return on plan assets, net of expenses	136	3,793
Employer contributions	1,425	626
Settlements	-4,319	0
Benefits paid	-1,429	-1,622
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$21,567	$25,754

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_3

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Funded status of the plans (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$21,567	$25,754	$22,957
Projected benefit obligation	35,876	31,888	36,045
Funded status of the plans	($14,309)	($6,134)

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_4

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Current liability	($38)	($37)
Noncurrent liability	-14,271	-6,097
Funded status of the plans	($14,309)	($6,134)

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_5

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income
Unrecognized net actuarial loss, Pretax	$17,093	$9,942
Unrecognized net actuarial loss, net of tax	10,339	5,995
Unrecognized prior service cost, pretax	55	69
Unrecognized prior service cost, net of tax	33	45
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, pretax	17,148	10,011
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	10,372	6,040
Amortization of Costs Expected to be Recognized Next Year
Unrecognized net actuarial loss, pretax	1,546
Unrecognized net actuarial loss, net of tax		928
Unrecognized prior service cost, pretax	14
Unrecognized prior service cost, net of tax		8
Amortiztion of costs expected to be recognized next year, pretax	1,560
Amortization of costs expected to be recognized next year, net of tax		936
For pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation	35,876	31,888	36,045
Accumulated benefit obligation	35,475	31,599
Fair value of plan assets	$21,567	$25,754	$22,957

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_6

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Actuarial Assumptions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Rate	Rate	Rate
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate	4.30%	5.20%	4.25%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.50%	7.75%	7.75%
Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target plan asset allocations range minimum	55.00%
Defined benefit plan, target plan asset allocations range maximum	65.00%
Fixed Income and Cash [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target plan asset allocations range minimum	20.00%
Defined benefit plan, target plan asset allocations range maximum	30.00%
Alternative Investments [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target plan asset allocations range minimum	0.00%
Defined benefit plan, target plan asset allocations range maximum	15.00%
Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Risk Management Practices, Investment Evaluation Period	3 years
Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Risk Management Practices, Investment Evaluation Period	5 years

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_7

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Components of Pension Expense (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Service costs--increase in benefit obligation earned	$51	$222	$185
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	1,618	1,515	1,657
Expected return on plan assets	-1,993	-1,760	-1,701
Settlement loss	2,065	0	219
Amortization of net actuarial loss	708	1,388	1,041
Amortization of prior service cost	14	14	14
Net pension expense of defined benefit pension plans	$2,463	$1,379	$1,415

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_8

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	$21,567	$25,754
Fair value of plan assets	21,567	25,754	22,957
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	19,125	24,028
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,442	1,726
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Money market funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	2,442	1,726
Money market funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Money market funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,442	1,726
Money market funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. large-cap equities, growth [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	2,625	3,639
U.S. large-cap equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,625	3,639
U.S. large-cap equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. large-cap equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. large-cap equities, value [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	2,088	2,971
U.S. large-cap equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,088	2,971
U.S. large-cap equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. large-cap equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, growth [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	1,623	1,813
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	1,623	1,813
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, value [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	1,844	1,959
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	1,844	1,959
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
U.S. small/mid-cap equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equities, growth [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	2,128	2,718
International equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,128	2,718
International equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equities, growth [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equities, value [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	2,124	2,622
International equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,124	2,622
International equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
International equities, value [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	3,747	4,423
Fixed income | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	3,747	4,423
Fixed income | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fixed income | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total Carrying Value at December 31, 2014	2,946	3,883
Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,946	3,883
Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Multiclass world-allocation mutual funds | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$0	$0

Defined_Benefit_Pension_Plans_9

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Expected Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Year ending December 31, 2015	$1,117
2016	1,268
2017	1,454
2018	1,529
2019	1,618
Years 2020 to 2024	9,233
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Current Fiscal Year	$1,038

Recovered_Sheet1

Defined Benefit Pension Plans Multiemployer Pension Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Multiemployer Plan, Period Contributions	$848	$855	$492
National Electric Benefit Fund [Member]
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Number of collective-bargaining agreements	8
Multiemployer Plan, Period Contributions	743	755	417
Eighth District Electrical Pension Fund [Member]
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Number of collective-bargaining agreements	1
Multiemployer Plan, Period Contributions	$105	$100	$75

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes	$38,300	$35,565	$40,658
Provision for income taxes
Federal	13,159	7,089	15,853
State	2,524	2,183	2,239
Canadian	2,127	1,724	1,578
Total current	17,810	10,996	19,670
Deferred taxes	-2,679	1,716	-3,607
Total taxes on income	15,131	12,712	16,063
Tax rate reconciliation
Statutory U.S. federal tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.90%	3.60%	3.90%
Effect of Canadian income taxes	-1.70%	-1.60%	-1.00%
Nondeductible expenses	1.90%	1.90%	1.40%
ESOP dividend deduction	-0.70%	-0.80%	-0.70%
Audit settlements and uncertain tax adjustments	1.60%	-2.20%	1.80%
All other, net	-0.50%	-0.20%	-0.90%
Effective income tax rate	39.50%	35.70%	39.50%
Current deferred tax assets and liabilities, net
Accrued compensation obligations	3,090	1,883
Self-insurance accruals	8,107	7,693
Prepaid expenses	-3,160	-2,565
Other, net	1,102	908
Deferred tax assets, current, gross	9,139	7,919
Less deferred tax asset valuation allowance	212	204
Net deferred income tax assets--current	8,927	7,715
Noncurrent deferred tax assets and liabilities, net
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals, Self Insurance	12,554	12,129
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,388	895
Accrued stock compensation	1,642	1,550
Defined benefit pension plans	4,573	1,873
Foreign tax credit carryforward	768	768
Other future deductible amounts, net	2,030	1,737
Deferred tax assets, gross, noncurrent	22,955	18,952
Less deferred tax asset valuation allowance	556	564
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	22,399	18,388
Intangibles	269	234
Property and equipment	20,425	20,718
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent	20,694	20,952
Net deferred tax assets--noncurrent	1,705	0
Net deferred tax liabilities--noncurrent	0	2,564
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	30,459
Unrecognized benefits and related interest and penalties
Unrecognized tax benefits	1,949	1,221	2,638
Portion, if recognized, would reduce tax expense and effective tax rate	1,512	942
Accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits	77	41
Accrued penalties on unrecognized benefits	0	0
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance, beginning of year	1,221	2,638	1,825
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	587	370	667
Additions for tax positions of prior years	234	133	149
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	-79	-1,155	-3
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities	0	-460	0
Lapses in statutes of limitations	-14	-305	0
Balance, end of year	1,949	1,221	2,638
United States [Member]
Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes	30,380	29,203	35,414
Canada [Member]
Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes	$7,920	$6,362	$5,244

Earnings_Per_Share_Information2

Earnings Per Share Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$5,646	$9,657	$14,046	($6,180)	$5,385	$8,644	$13,436	($4,612)	$23,169	$22,853	$24,595
Weighted-average shares, basic
Outstanding									13,337,198	13,639,356	13,867,771
Partially-paid share subscriptions									484,025	531,325	234,595
Basic weighted-average shares									13,821,223	14,170,681	14,102,366
Weighted-average shares, diluted
Exercise of stock subscription purchase rights									54,824	34,273	5,750
Exercise of stock options and awards									362,229	397,478	500,741
Diluted weighted-average shares									14,238,276	14,602,432	14,608,857
Earnings per share--basic:	$0.21	$0.72	$1.04	($0.29)	$0.34	$0.63	$0.97	($0.33)	$1.68	$1.61	$1.74
Earnings per share--diluted:	$0.22	$0.69	$1.01	($0.29)	$0.35	$0.61	$0.94	($0.33)	$1.63	$1.57	$1.68

Operations_by_Business_Segment2

Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information Operations by Busines Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments										2
Revenues										$789,911		$713,848		$680,153
Income (loss) from operations	7,769		17,144	23,815	-4,725	8,687	14,881	23,230	-6,009	44,003		40,789		45,767
Interest expense										2,948		2,708		2,698
Interest income										295		311		200
Other										-3,050		-2,827		-2,611
Income before income taxes										38,300		35,565		40,658
Depreciation										40,970		38,231		37,365
Amortization										2,070		1,980		1,742
Capital expenditures										55,731		45,205		29,734
Segment assets, total	381,004					333,378				381,004		333,378		330,932
Utility Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										404,519		376,520		375,300
Income (loss) from operations										21,382		16,070		20,107
Depreciation										23,225		22,261		22,844
Amortization										174		359		465
Capital expenditures										25,994		21,642		15,737
Segment assets, total	150,002					145,021				150,002		145,021		150,294
Residential Commercial Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										386,274		334,878		303,420
Income (loss) from operations										37,232		33,566		30,787
Depreciation										14,544		13,286		12,236
Amortization										1,896		1,440		1,058
Capital expenditures										17,490		17,577		10,266
Segment assets, total	144,413					122,542				144,413		122,542		122,298
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										-882		2,450		1,433
Income (loss) from operations										-6,037		-2,869		-1,366
Depreciation										0		0		0
Amortization										0		0		0
Capital expenditures										0		0		0
Segment assets, total	0					0				0		0		0
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues										0		0		0
Income (loss) from operations										-8,574	[1]	-5,978		-3,761	[1]
Interest expense										2,948		2,708		2,698
Interest income										295		311		200
Other										-3,050		-2,827		-2,611
Depreciation										3,201	[2]	2,684	[2]	2,285	[2]
Amortization										0		181		219
Capital expenditures										12,247		5,986		3,731
Segment assets, total	$86,589	[3]				$65,815				$86,589	[3]	$65,815		$58,340	[3]
[1]	Reconciling adjustments from segment reporting to consolidated external financial reporting include reclassification of depreciation expense and allocation of corporate expenses.
[2]	Adjustments to declining-balance method depreciation expense from straight-line method and depreciation and amortization of corporate assets.
[3]	Corporate assets include cash, prepaid expenses, corporate facilities, enterprise-wide information systems and other nonoperating assets.

Operations_by_Business_Segment3

Operations by Business Segment and Geographic Information Geographic Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$789,911	$713,848	$680,153
Long-lived assets, net	213,808	181,362	169,183
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	706,145	637,524	607,339
Long-lived assets, net	196,116	166,598	153,946
Canada [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	83,766	76,324	72,814
Long-lived assets, net	$17,692	$14,764	$15,237

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi2

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 22, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	$21,567	$25,754	$22,957
Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	44,500	20,000
Senior unsecured notes	30,000	30,000		30,000
Long-term debt	81,306	50,034
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	19,125	24,028
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	2,442	1,726
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent	13,684	12,716
Defined benefit pension plan assets	19,125	24,028
Deferred compensation	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets	2,442	1,726
Deferred compensation	1,423	1,144
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent	0	0
Defined benefit pension plan assets	0	0
Deferred compensation	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	44,500	20,000
Senior unsecured notes	30,688	28,219
Term loans, noncurrent	7,195	34
Long-term debt	82,383	48,253
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, noncurrent	44,500	20,000
Senior unsecured notes	30,000	30,000
Term loans, noncurrent	6,806	34
Long-term debt	81,306	50,034
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets invested for self-insurance, classified as other assets, noncurrent	13,684	12,716
Defined benefit pension plan assets	21,567	25,754
Deferred compensation	$1,423	$1,144

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Letters of credit issued	$61,540

Quarterly_Results_of_Operation2

Quarterly Results of Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$202,737	$216,604	$213,183	$157,387	$180,173	$194,772	$195,638	$143,265	$789,911	$713,848	$680,153
Gross profit (revenues less costs and expenses, operating)	72,565	77,613	82,900	48,156	63,837	69,114	76,046	42,205
Income (loss) from operations	7,769	17,144	23,815	-4,725	8,687	14,881	23,230	-6,009	44,003	40,789	45,767
Net income (loss)	5,646	9,657	14,046	-6,180	5,385	8,644	13,436	-4,612	23,169	22,853	24,595
Net income (loss) per share--Basic	$0.21	$0.72	$1.04	($0.29)	$0.34	$0.63	$0.97	($0.33)	$1.68	$1.61	$1.74
Net income (loss) per share -- Diluted:	$0.22	$0.69	$1.01	($0.29)	$0.35	$0.61	$0.94	($0.33)	$1.63	$1.57	$1.68
ESOT Valuation per share	$30.10	$27.80	$26.40	$26.40	$26.40	$23.90	$23.20	$23.20
Decrease in casualty insurance expense	$3,875				$3,951