Saia (SAIA) 8-K Saia, Inc. Reports Third-Quarter 2007 Earnings Revenues were $248 million, an increase of 10 percent

EXHIBIT 99.1

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Saia, Inc. Reports Third-Quarter 2007 Earnings
Revenues were $248 million, an increase of 10 percent

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – October 26, 2007 – Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA), a leading multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, today reported third-quarter 2007 results.   

Third-Quarter 2007 Compared to Third-Quarter 2006 Results from Continuing Operations

• Revenues were $248 million, an increase of 10 percent over the prior year.

• Operating income was $12.7 million compared to $14.0 million in the prior year quarter.

• Earnings per share were $0.43 vs. $0.52 in the prior year quarter. 

• Operating ratio was 94.9 vs. 93.8 in the prior year quarter.

• LTL tonnage was up 9.5 percent over prior year as LTL shipments were up 11.5 percent with a 1.7 percent reduction in weight per shipment.

• LTL yield was up approximately 1% over the prior year.

Additional points

• Accident expense was $2.3 million, or $0.10 per share, higher than prior year due to increased severity.

• Results included a pre-tax gain of $1.7 million from the sale of real estate.

• Equity-based compensation was a benefit of $3.4 million, or $0.15 per share compared to an expense of $1.9 million, or $0.08 per share, in the prior year quarter.

• On a pro-forma basis including results from The Connection Company and Madison Freight Systems acquisitions, tonnage decreased 7 percent. The tonnage decrease reflects a 2 percent decline in shipment count and a 5 percent decrease in weight per shipment.

• Pro-forma yield increased 8 percent due primarily to the impact of mix changes (increasing length of haul and declining weight per shipment.)

“While acquisitions and expanded geography provided revenue growth, reduced bills per pick-up and weight per shipment challenge our ability to achieve targeted productivity and cost performance. Our margins were also impacted by accident severity and our commitment to service lanes to and from our expanded Midwest geography. While we are growing these lanes, we did not achieve targeted density and associated margins due primarily to the current economic environment,” said Rick O’Dell, president and chief executive officer.

Saia, Inc. Third-Quarter 2007 Earnings
Page 2

“We believe our focus on growing business to achieve density benefits in our existing geography combined with cost management will allow us to improve margins over time. However, the current environment requires we better align costs, both fixed and variable, with volumes. Saia employees continue to prove their commitment and ability by providing excellent service to our customers,” continued O’Dell.

Year-to-Date 2007 Results Compared to Year-to-Date 2006 from Continuing Operations

• Revenues were $732 million, an increase of 12 percent.

• Operating income was $34.3 million, a decrease of 13 percent.

• Net income was $16.4 million, a decrease of 20 percent.

• Earnings per share were $1.15, a decrease of 17 percent.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $151.6 million at September 30, 2007 with net debt to total capital of 42.7 percent as a result of the Company’s $3.8 million cash balance at quarter end. This compares to total debt of $110.0 million with net debt to total capital of 32.8 percent at December 31, 2006.

During the quarter, Saia repurchased shares for $17.8 million and completed its $25 million authorized stock repurchase program.

Net capital expenditures from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were $54.5 million.  This compares to $67.9 million in the prior year period.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 1-877-558-9192 or dial 706-758-1748 for international calls. Callers should dial in five to ten minutes in advance of the conference call. This call will be webcast live via the Company web site at www.saia.com. A replay of the call will be available two hours after the completion of the call through November 2, 2007. The replay is available by dialing 1-800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291 and using conference code 20306058.

The webcast is also being distributed through the Thomson StreetEvents Network. Individual investors can listen to the call at www.earnings.com, Thomson’s individual investor portal, powered by StreetEvents. Institutional investors can access the call via Thomson StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com), a password-protected event management site.

Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) is a less-than-truckload provider of regional, interregional and guaranteed services covering 34 states. With headquarters in Georgia, and a network of 151 terminals, Saia employs 8,400 people. For more information, visit the Investors section at www.saia.com.

Saia, Inc. Third-Quarter 2007 Earnings
Page 3

The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand the future prospects of a company and make informed investment decisions. This news release contains these types of statements, which are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe,” “should” and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect the present expectation of future events of our management and are subject to a number of important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. These factors and risks include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions; integration risks; indemnification obligations associated with the sale of Jevic Transportation, Inc.; the effect of ongoing litigation including class action lawsuits; cost and availability of qualified drivers, fuel, purchased transportation, property, revenue equipment and other operating assets; governmental regulations, including but not limited to Hours of Service, engine emissions, compliance with recent legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting and Homeland Security; dependence on key employees; inclement weather; labor relations; effectiveness of company-specific performance improvement initiatives; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures; terrorism risks; self-insurance claims, equity-based compensation and other expense volatility; the Company’s determination from time to time whether to purchase any shares under the repurchase program; and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

# # #

CONTACT:	Saia, Inc.
	Renée McKenzie, Treasurer
	RMcKenzie@Saia.com 678.542.3910

Saia, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

	September 30,			December 31,
	2007			2006
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,771		$	10,669
Accounts receivable		118,156			95,779
Prepaid expenses and other		33,213			27,236
Total current assets		155,140			133,684
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Cost		564,849			518,052
Less: Accumulated depreciation		221,637			203,220
Net property and equipment		343,212			314,832
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS		41,298			38,884
Total assets	$	539,650		$	487,400
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and checks outstanding	$	41,765		$	39,389
Wages and employees’ benefits		37,163			45,752
Other current liabilities		45,690			30,027
Current portion of long-term debt		12,793			11,356
Current liabilities of discontinued operations		—			117
Total current liabilities		137,411			126,641
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt		138,840			98,628
Deferred income taxes		48,891			45,259
Claims, insurance and other		16,405			13,717
Total other liabilities		204,136			157,604
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock		15			15
Additional paid-in capital		201,509			199,257
Treasury stock		(32,087	)		(8,861	)
Deferred compensation trust		(2,331	)		(1,877	)
Retained earnings		30,997			14,621
Total shareholders’ equity		198,103			203,155
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	539,650		$	487,400

Saia, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

	Third Quarter						Nine Months
	2007			2006			2007			2006
OPERATING REVENUE	$	247,823		$	226,118		$	732,412		$	655,577
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employees’ benefits		129,261			122,421			394,302			352,988
Purchased transportation		20,710			18,461			55,951			53,569
Fuel, operating expenses and supplies		58,699			48,997			165,002			142,660
Operating taxes and licenses		8,626			6,860			25,709			21,512
Claims and insurance		10,000			7,652			28,261			20,751
Depreciation and amortization		9,785			8,260			28,602			23,689
Operating gains, net		(1,911	)		(857	)		(2,134	)		(1,181	)
Integration charges		—			—			2,427			—
Restructuring charges		—			369			—			2,049
Total operating expenses		235,170			212,163			698,120			616,037
OPERATING INCOME		12,653			13,955			34,292			39,540
NONOPERATING EXPENSES:
Interest expense		2,644			2,241			7,200			7,142
Other, net		(60	)		(569	)		(339	)		(782	)
Nonoperating expenses, net		2,584			1,672			6,861			6,360
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		10,069			12,283			27,431			33,180
Income tax provision		4,120			4,602			11,055			12,616
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS		5,949			7,681			16,376			20,564
Loss from discontinued operations, net		—			2			—			(46,447	)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	5,949		$	7,683		$	16,376		$	(25,883	)
Average common shares outstanding — basic		13,651			14,612			14,006			14,557
Average common shares outstanding — diluted		13,861			14,906			14,242			14,874
Basic earnings per share-continuing operations	$	0.44		$	0.53		$	1.17		$	1.41
Basic loss per share-discontinued operations		—			—			—			(3.19	)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	0.44		$	0.53		$	1.17		$	(1.78	)
Diluted earnings per share-continuing operations	$	0.43		$	0.52		$	1.15		$	1.38
Diluted loss per share-discontinued operations		—			—			—			(3.12	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.43		$	0.52		$	1.15		$	(1.74	)

Saia, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

	2007			2006
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash from operating activities-continuing operations	$	30,641		$	45,386
Net cash from operating activities-discontinued operations		—			16,268
Net cash from operating activities		30,641			61,654
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(60,148	)		(69,829	)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		5,674			1,959
Acquisition of business		(2,344	)		—
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary		—			41,200
Net investment in discontinued operations		—			(5,359	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(56,818	)		(32,029	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from long-term debt		47,529			—
Repayment of long-term debt		(6,402	)		(2,500	)
Repurchase of common stock		(23,226	)		—
Proceeds from stock option exercises		1,378			3,826
Net cash from financing activities		19,279			1,326
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS		(6,898	)		30,951
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		10,669			16,865
CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	3,771		$	47,816

Saia, Inc.
Financial Information
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

									Third Quarter
		Third Quarter				%			Amount/Workday				%
		2007		2006		Change			2007		2006		Change
Workdays										63		63
Operating ratio			94.9		93.8
F/S Revenue	LTL		230,638		209,726		10.0			3,660.9		3,329.0		10.0
	TL		17,185		16,392		4.8			272.8		260.2		4.8
	Total		247,823		226,118		9.6			3,933.7		3,589.2		9.6
Revenue excluding	LTL		230,658		209,627		10.0			3,661.2		3,327.4		10.0
revenue recognition	TL		17,187		16,384		4.9			272.8		260.1		4.9
adjustment	Total		247,845		226,011		9.7			3,934.0		3,587.5		9.7
Tonnage	LTL		950		867		9.5			15.08		13.77		9.5
	TL		185		175		6.2			2.94		2.77		6.2
	Total		1,135		1,042		8.9			18.02		16.54		9.0
Shipments	LTL		1,739		1,559		11.5			27.60		24.75		11.5
	TL		25		24		3.8			0.40		0.38		4.2
	Total		1,764		1,583		11.4			28.00		25.13		11.4
Revenue/cwt.	LTL		12.14		12.09		0.4
	TL		4.64		4.69		(1.2	)
	Total		10.92		10.85		0.6
Revenue/cwt.	LTL		10.49		10.40		0.8
(excluding fuel surcharge)	TL		4.55		4.61		(1.2	)
	Total		9.52		9.43		0.9
Revenue/shipment	LTL		132.64		133.53		(0.7	)
	TL		683.03		653.32		4.5
	Total		140.49		141.70		(0.9	)
Pounds/shipment	LTL		1,093		1,112		(1.7	)
	TL		14,727		14,398		2.3
	Total		1,287		1,316		(2.2	)