An American less-than-truckload carrier providing freight transportation, logistics, and related supply-chain services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Saia is an American freight transportation company best known for less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. The company traces its origins to 1924, when Louis Saia Sr., a produce dealer in Houma, Louisiana, began delivering produce after recognizing that transportation could be more profitable than selling the goods themselves. The first vehicle was reportedly his passenger car, adapted by removing its rear seats. For roughly its first half-century, Saia operated primarily in Louisiana and Texas. By 1970, it had developed a regional network of terminals in those states and had become one of the larger LTL carriers serving the southeastern United States. Its later growth reflected both geographic expansion and a series of ownership changes. The Saia family sold the business to Preston Trucking in 1987. Yellow Corporation acquired Preston and its Saia & Smalley subsidiaries in 1993, and Saia merged with Smalley Transportation in 1995. That combination broadened the network into North Carolina, South Carolina, and western Texas. Saia regained independence in 2002 when Saia and Jevic Transportation were spun out of Yellow into SCS Transportation, a publicly traded company. The company then expanded through acquisitions, including Clark Brothers Transport in 2004, The Connection Company in 2006, and Madison Freight Systems in 2007. In 2006, SCS sold Jevic and announced that it would adopt the Saia name, move its headquarters from Kansas City, Missouri, to Duluth, Georgia, and concentrate on the stronger Saia operation. Saia subsequently traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol SAIA. The company has also developed capabilities outside traditional asset-based LTL freight. Its 2012 acquisition of Robart Transportation and the related RL Services Group added non-asset truckload brokerage, supply-chain support, data analysis, and operational services. In 2015, Saia acquired LinkEx, a Dallas-based third-party logistics provider focused on domestic and international intermodal shipment management and technology. Robart was later integrated into LinkEx, which continued as a wholly owned logistics subsidiary with operations in the United States and Mexico. Saia's principal operating groups are Saia LTL Freight, Saia Logistics Services, and LinkEx. The core LTL business moves palletized and other freight that does not require a full truck, combining shipments from multiple customers through a terminal network. Saia directly serves the contiguous 48 states and reaches Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada through partners. In 2023, the company was described as operating 194 terminals, employing more than 13,000 people, and handling more than 30,000 shipments per day. Its cross-border relationship with TST Overland Express, now TST-CF Express, supports freight movements into Canada. Saia continued expanding its physical network in late 2023 by purchasing 17 former Yellow Corporation terminals through Yellow's Chapter 11 bankruptcy sale. The transaction reinforced Saia's long-running strategy of increasing network density and terminal capacity. In 2025, the company also connected more than 10,000 security assets to one platform through SecuriThings. Saia's current positioning is that of a large, publicly traded domestic LTL carrier with complementary logistics and brokerage services, rather than a general consumer-facing delivery brand.
History
Saia began in 1924 in Houma, Louisiana, under Louis Saia Sr. The founder was a produce dealer who shifted toward delivery after seeing greater opportunity in transporting goods. His initial vehicle was a modified passenger car, setting the pattern for a business that would grow from local delivery into regional freight transportation. The company spent its early decades focused on Louisiana and Texas. By 1970, Saia had established terminals in both states and operated a network of 23 terminals across the Southeast, making it a significant regional LTL carrier. Its business model centered on consolidating freight from multiple shippers and moving it through a network of terminals rather than dedicating an entire truck to one shipment. Ownership changed in 1987, when the Saia family sold the business to Preston Trucking. Yellow Corporation bought Preston in 1993, bringing Saia and Smalley Transportation into its corporate structure. Saia merged with Smalley in 1995, adding terminals in North Carolina, South Carolina, and western Texas and extending the company's geographic reach. A major structural change occurred in 2002. Saia and Jevic Transportation were separated from Yellow in a spin-off that created SCS Transportation, an independent public company. Saia became the stronger operating business within the new group. Clark Brothers Transport was acquired in 2004, adding nine-state coverage and 16 terminals. In 2006, SCS sold Jevic to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners for $40 million. SCS then announced that it would rename itself Saia and relocate its corporate headquarters from Kansas City to Duluth, Georgia. Jevic ultimately ceased operations in 2008. Saia expanded its LTL footprint through the acquisitions of The Connection Company in 2006 and Madison Freight Systems in 2007. It also diversified into non-asset logistics. The 2012 purchase of Robart Transportation and its RL Services Group added truckload brokerage and supply-chain, data, and analytical services. Saia acquired LinkEx in 2015 for its intermodal logistics management and technology capabilities. Robart was subsequently folded into LinkEx, which continued as a wholly owned subsidiary with offices in Dallas, Atlanta, and Guadalajara. The modern Saia organization consists primarily of Saia LTL Freight, Saia Logistics Services, and LinkEx. It serves the contiguous United States directly and extends service to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico through partners. The company entered a cross-border arrangement with TST Overland Express in 2017. Its network and shipment volume grew further through the 2023 purchase of 17 former Yellow terminals during Yellow's bankruptcy proceedings. Saia also reported a large-scale security-technology deployment in 2025, linking more than 10,000 security assets through SecuriThings. The company remains an active Nasdaq-listed freight carrier headquartered in Duluth, Georgia.
- 2025
Security assets integrated with SecuriThings
[1]More than 10,000 security assets were connected to one management platform.
- 2023
17 former Yellow terminals acquired
[1]Saia bought 17 terminals in Yellow Corporation's Chapter 11 bankruptcy sale for $235.7 million.
- 2017
Canadian cross-border partnership
[1]Saia partnered with TST Overland Express for cross-border freight services into Canada.
- 2015
LinkEx acquired
[1]The purchase added third-party logistics and intermodal shipment-management capabilities.
- 2012
Robart Transportation acquired
[1]Saia entered non-asset logistics more substantially through the acquisition of Robart Transportation and RL Services Group.
- 2007
Madison Freight Systems acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Saia's freight network in Wisconsin and surrounding markets.
- 2006
Corporate rebrand to Saia
[1]After selling Jevic, SCS announced plans to adopt the Saia name and move its headquarters to Duluth, Georgia.
- 2006
The Connection Company acquired
[1]Saia expanded its LTL network through the purchase of the Columbus, Ohio-based carrier.
- 2004
Clark Brothers Transport acquired
[1]The acquisition added operations covering nine states and 16 terminals.
- 2002
Spin-off and return to independence
[1]Saia and Jevic were spun out of Yellow into the publicly traded SCS Transportation.
Products and positioning
A large U.S. LTL carrier combining a dense terminal network with logistics, brokerage, intermodal, and cross-border capabilities.
Less-than-truckload freight
Saia LTL Freight
Saia's core operating service transports palletized and other freight that does not require an entire truck. Shipments from multiple customers are consolidated and routed through a terminal network. The service covers the contiguous United States directly and uses partner carriers for selected destinations beyond that footprint, including Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Logistics and brokerage
Saia Logistics Services
Saia Logistics Services provides non-asset transportation and supply-chain support alongside the company's owned-and-operated freight network. Its capabilities include arranging truckload movements, coordinating transportation, and supporting shipment planning and analysis without requiring Saia to own every vehicle used in the movement.
Third-party logistics · 2002
LinkEx
LinkEx is Saia's wholly owned logistics subsidiary. Acquired in 2015, it manages domestic and international intermodal shipments and supplies technology and coordination services for shippers. Following the acquisition, Robart's operations were merged into LinkEx, which maintained offices in Dallas, Atlanta, and Guadalajara.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire former Yellow terminalsM&ABackground
Yellow Corporation entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, making portions of its terminal network available for sale.
Action taken
Saia purchased 17 former Yellow terminals in the bankruptcy sale for $235.7 million.
Aftermath
The transaction increased Saia's terminal presence and network density.
Purchase price. 235.7 million USD (2023)
2015
Acquire LinkExM&ABackground
Saia sought to expand its non-asset logistics and intermodal management capabilities.
Action taken
Saia acquired Dallas-based LinkEx, an intermodal logistics provider, for $25 million.
Aftermath
LinkEx became a wholly owned subsidiary and absorbed Saia's earlier Robart logistics operation.
2006
Refocus the public company around SaiaStrategyBackground
SCS Transportation determined that Saia was the stronger operating business after years of weak profitability at Jevic Transportation.
Action taken
SCS sold Jevic, planned to change its corporate name to Saia, and moved its headquarters from Kansas City to Duluth, Georgia.
Aftermath
The reorganization returned the Saia name to the public-company identity and concentrated resources on the LTL carrier.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Saia completes RouteMax Mobile App deployment[2]
Saia completed deployment of the new RouteMax Mobile App to more than 3,000 city drivers across the United States. The app is described as supporting driver tasks, route optimization and communications with dispatchers and customers.
Sources3 sources
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