Exhibit 99.1

Forward Air Corporation Announces Appointment of Three New Independent Directors

     GREENEVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2004--Forward Air
Corporation (Nasdaq/NM:FWRD), a leading high-service-level contractor to the air
cargo industry providing time-definite ground transportation services in the
United States and Canada, today announced that Richard W. Hanselman, C. John
Langley, Jr. and B. Clyde Preslar, have been appointed as non-management
directors. The Company's Board now consists of nine members, seven of whom are
non-management directors.
     Mr. Hanselman has been a director of ArvinMeritor, Inc., a global supplier
of a broad range of systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle
industry, since July 2000. He was a director of Arvin Industries, Inc. from 1983
until its merger with ArvinMeritor, Inc. Mr. Hanselman was the non-executive
chairman of the board of Health Net, Inc., a managed care provider, from May
1999 until December 2003, and he continues to serve as a director. He also
served as a director of predecessor corporations of Health Net, Inc. Mr.
Hanselman is an Honorary Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development.
     Dr. Langley is The Logistics Institute Professor of Supply Chain Management
and a member of the faculty of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering
at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He serves as Director of Supply Chain
Executive Programs at Georgia Tech and as Executive Director of the Supply Chain
Executive Forum. Prior to his September 2001 appointment with Georgia Tech, he
served as a Professor at the University of Tennessee where most recently he was
the Dove Distinguished Professor of Logistics and Transportation. Dr. Langley is
a director of UTi Worldwide Inc. and Averitt Express, Inc.
     Mr. Preslar has served as chief financial officer and vice president of
Lance, Inc., a snack food company, since April 1996. He also has been secretary
of Lance, Inc. since 2002. Mr. Preslar was director of finance while at Black &
Decker Corporation from July 1989 until April 1996. He also was with RJR Nabisco
from 1978 to 1989 where his last position was director of investor relations.
Mr. Preslar is a director of Standard Commercial Corporation.
     Bruce A. Campbell, President and CEO of the Company, commented, "We are
very pleased with the strengths and depth of experience that these gentlemen
bring to our Board of Directors. With these latest appointments, our Board is
now comprised of a majority of independent directors. Moreover, there are no
management directors on our Audit, Nominating or Compensation Committees. We
feel the composition of our Board and committee membership demonstrate Forward
Air's commitment to good corporate governance and enhanced shareholder value."

     Forward Air operates what it believes is the largest and most comprehensive
network of surface transportation of deferred airfreight. The Company provides
scheduled surface transportation through an expansive network of 80 terminals
located on or near major airports in the United States and Canada. The Company
provides these services as a cost-effective alternative to air transportation of
cargo that must be delivered at a specific time but is relatively less
time-sensitive than traditional airfreight or when air transportation is not
economical.

     This press release may contain statements that might be considered as
forward-looking statements or predictions of future operations. Such statements
are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on management's belief or
interpretation of information currently available. These statements and
assumptions involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual events may differ
from these expectations as specified from time to time in filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no duty to update these statements
as of any future date.


     CONTACT: Forward Air Corporation, Greeneville
              Andrew Clarke, 423-636-7000
              www.forwardair.com