What Saia LTL Freight Inc does

Saia LTL Freight Inc (legal entity Saia, Inc.; NASDAQ: SAIA) is a less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation carrier operating a network of 214 U.S. terminals. Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, the company serves shippers and logistics service providers through direct B2B enterprise sales relationships, transporting partial-truckload freight across the United States. The core product is LTL transportation priced via quote-based contracts with weight-tier and fuel surcharge mechanics; ancillary capabilities include a small in-fleet deployment of Tesla Semi electric trucks and integration with the project44 visibility platform.

Revenue is generated transactionally on a per-shipment, volume-and-weight basis with embedded fuel surcharges. Q1 2026 revenue reached $806.2 million, a record first-quarter figure, growing 2.4% year-over-year, while operating income for the quarter was $66.8 million. Contractual renewal pricing improved 6.6% in January 2026 and 5.9% in February 2026, and April 2026 volumes accelerated with shipments up 5.5% and tonnage up 6.5% — the first quarterly shipment growth in legacy terminals in approximately five quarters. The revenue model is supplemented by a $3.5 million fuel surcharge headwind in Q1 2026 driven by diesel price spikes.

Operationally, the company combines a high-density terminal network with ongoing geographic expansion (e.g., the 74-door York, Pennsylvania terminal opened April 20, 2026) and a workforce of 10,000+ reduced 6.3% year-over-year as of Q1 2026. Technology direction is being reset under newly appointed CIO Tarak Patel (joined October 2025 from Smurfit WestRock), with current partnerships including Tesla (electric linehaul, January 2025) and project44 (visibility and data quality integration, top 1% performer recognition in 2026). Other relationships include a continuing community logistics partnership with Wreaths Across America (December 2025).

Name

Saia LTL Freight Inc

Legal name

Saia, Inc.

Website

https://saia.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Saia LTL Freight Inc is a U.S. less-than-truckload freight carrier operating 214 terminals nationwide, serving shippers and logistics service providers with transactional LTL transportation services, fuel surcharges, and select electric linehaul via a Tesla Semi partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LTL Freight Transportation

NAICS

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers (TLADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interregional/Long-Haul LTL Network Carriers (TLADAEAC)

Keywords

• Less-than-truckload freight
• LTL shipping services
• Freight transportation
• Logistics services
• Truckload shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. LTL Freight Transportation: Less-than-truckload freight transportation services charged based on shipment volume, tonnage, and weight. Revenue of $806.2 million in Q1 2026, a record for any first quarter, representing 2.4% year-over-year increase. Pricing includes fuel surcharges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Saia LTL Freight Inc provides less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation services across the United States through a network of 214 terminal facilities. The company picks up, consolidates, line-hauls, and delivers partial truckload shipments for business shippers, charging based on shipment volume, weight, tonnage, and applicable fuel surcharges. Saia also invests in sustainability through a Tesla Semi electric truck fleet partnership.

Product overview

Saia LTL Freight Inc operates as a less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier offering transportation services through a network of 214 facilities across the United States. The company provides core LTL freight services for partial truckload shipments, and has expanded its offerings to include Tesla Semi electric trucks as part of its sustainability initiatives. The company's network includes terminals throughout the country, with recent expansion including a new 74-door facility in York, Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LTL Freight Services Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation services providing pick-up, line-haul, and delivery of partial truckload shipments for business shippers and logistics service providers across the United States, supported by 214 terminal facilities and a fleet including Tesla Semi electric trucks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record Q1 revenue of $806.2 million, up 2.4% year-over-year
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• project44coreTechnology or Integration · 20 May 2026Saia recognized in project44's 2026 Preferred Carriers Program as part of top 1% of 259,000+ active carriers across 52 countries. project44 is a visibility and supply chain execution platform that integrates with carriers for data quality and shipment tracking.
• Wreaths Across AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2025Saia LTL Freight continuing its partnership with Wreaths Across America for the 2025 holiday season, transporting wreaths to cemeteries nationwide including Arlington National Cemetery.
• TeslacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2025Saia LTL Freight partnership with Tesla to introduce two Tesla Semi electric trucks into its fleet, marking a milestone as the carrier celebrates its 100th anniversary. During a demonstration period conducted last year, Saia rigorously tested the Tesla Semi evaluating its range, payload capacity, grade performance, and driver comfort before committing to the partnership. The collaboration reflects Saia's commitment to sustainability and innovation in logistics operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• R+L Carriers: Privately held LTL and truckload carrier with a sizable U.S. LTL network. Competes with Saia on regional LTL freight services, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast.
• Estes Express Lines: Privately held LTL carrier operating one of the largest U.S. LTL networks, particularly strong on East Coast and Midwest lanes. Direct competitor to Saia in regional and national LTL freight.
• ArcBest Corporation: Parent of ABF Freight, a major unionized LTL carrier serving national and regional lanes. Competes directly with Saia on LTL freight services for B2B shippers.
• XPO Inc. Pure-play LTL carrier spun out of XPO Logistics, operating a national LTL network across the U.S. Directly comparable to Saia on network LTL freight services and target shipper base.
• Old Dominion Freight Line: Largest pure-play LTL carrier in the United States with a dense national network and premium service standards. Closest direct competitor to Saia, competing head-to-head on interregional lanes and pricing.
• Saia Inc. The subject company itself, included as a peer reference point for the U.S. public LTL market.
• TForce Freight (TFI International): LTL carrier owned by TFI International, formed from the acquisition of UPS Freight. Directly competes with Saia in LTL freight services across the U.S. and Canada.

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Freight: Largest U.S. LTL carrier as a segment of FedEx Corporation, with the densest national network. Competes with Saia on virtually all U.S. LTL lanes but operates as part of a broader integrated logistics portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Saia_Inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaiaLTLFreight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saia LTL Freight Inc