Saia (SAIA) 8-K Saia Reports Second Quarter Earnings per Share of $0.53

Exhibit 99.1

Saia Reports Second Quarter Earnings per Share of $0.53

Revenues rose 12.9% on 6.9% LTL tonnage growth

JOHNS CREEK, GA. – July 30, 2014 – Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA), a leading transportation provider offering multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL), non-asset truckload and logistics services, today reported second quarter 2014 results. Despite favorable tonnage trends and improving yield, the operating results were negatively impacted by adverse claims and insurance experience.

Second Quarter 2014 Compared to Second Quarter 2013 Results

• Revenues were $330 million, an increase of 12.9%

• LTL tonnage increased 6.9% as LTL shipments were up 5.5% with a 1.4% increase in weight per shipment

• Operating income decreased to $22.7 million compared to $23.3 million

• Operating ratio was 93.1 compared to 92.0

• Diluted earnings per share were $0.53 compared to $0.54

• Claims and insurance expense was $8.3 million higher than the second quarter last year due primarily to accident severity.

“The higher accident severity in the second quarter masked the strong tonnage growth and favorable pricing trends that we achieved. LTL yield improved 4.9%, reflective of our customers’ recognition of the value proposition Saia provides,” said Saia President and Chief Executive Officer, Rick O’Dell.

“The 12.9% second quarter revenue increase was the highest that we have achieved at Saia in seven years. The top line growth driven by last year’s investment in sales and marketing resources coupled with effective yield management provided the opportunity to overcome a capacity constrained environment which significantly increased costs for driver recruiting, training and purchased transportation. This revenue momentum combined with our focus on service and operational excellence positions Saia well to capitalize on the unique market dynamics we are currently experiencing to improve customer and shareholder value in the future,” O’Dell added.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $95.7 million at June 30, 2014 resulting in net debt to total capital of 22.1%. This compares to total debt of $99.0 million and net debt to total capital of 25.5% at the end of last year’s second quarter.

Saia, Inc. Second Quarter 2014 Results

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Net capital expenditures in the first half of 2014 were $67 million compared to $71 million in the first half of 2013. The Company currently projects net capital expenditures for the full year of approximately $110 million. In July, Saia began taking delivery of some of the 800 additional linehaul trailers that will be put in service this year and provide additional capacity.

Conference Call

Management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 888-427-9376 or 719-457-2085 referencing conference ID #6869513. 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.saiacorp.com. A replay of the call will be offered two hours after the completion of the call through August 5, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The replay will be available by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820.

Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services. With headquarters in Georgia, Saia LTL Freight operates 147 terminals in 34 states. For more information on Saia, Inc. visit the Investor Relations section at www.saiacorp.com.

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 update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect the present expectation of future events of our management as of the date of this news release 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, risks, assumptions and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions including downturns in the business cycle; the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services; competitive initiatives and pricing pressures, including in connection with fuel surcharge; the Company’s need for capital and uncertainty of the current credit markets; the possibility of defaults under the Company’s debt agreements (including violation of financial covenants); possible issuance of equity which would dilute stock ownership; integration risks; the effect of litigation including class action lawsuits; cost and availability of qualified drivers, fuel, purchased transportation, real property, revenue equipment and other assets; governmental regulations, including but not limited to Hours of Service, engine emissions, the “Compliance, Safety, Accountability” (CSA) initiative, compliance with legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting, changes in interpretation of accounting principles and Homeland Security; dependence on key employees; inclement weather; labor relations, including the adverse impact should a portion of the Company’s workforce become unionized; effectiveness of Company-specific performance improvement initiatives; terrorism risks; self-insurance claims and other expense volatility; increased costs as a result of healthcare reform legislation and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings. As a result of these and other factors, no assurance can be given as to our future results and achievements. A forward looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances and those future events or circumstances may not occur.

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Saia, Inc. Second Quarter 2014 Results

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CONTACT: Saia, Inc.

Doug Col

dcol@saia.com

678.542.3910

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	June 30,			December 31,
	2014			2013
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,788		$	159
Accounts receivable, net		148,850			117,937
Prepaid expenses and other		43,877			52,157
Total current assets		194,515			170,253
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Cost		863,193			797,527
Less: accumulated depreciation		389,041			365,301
Net property and equipment		474,152			432,226
OTHER ASSETS		14,024			14,322
Total assets	$	682,691		$	616,801
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	62,885		$	50,799
Wages and employees’ benefits		34,502			35,248
Other current liabilities		48,922			47,667
Current portion of long-term debt		7,143			7,143
Total current liabilities		153,452			140,857
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, less current portion		88,597			69,740
Deferred income taxes		68,472			69,916
Claims, insurance and other		41,932			31,496
Total other liabilities		199,001			171,152
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock		25			24
Additional paid-in capital		216,926			213,648
Deferred compensation trust		(2,223	)		(2,246	)
Retained earnings		115,510			93,366
Total stockholders’ equity		330,238			304,792
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	682,691		$	616,801

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Quarters and Six Months Ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Second Quarter						Six Months
	2014			2013			2014			2013
OPERATING REVENUE	$	330,399		$	292,557		$	630,129		$	566,352
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employees’ benefits		160,204			144,309			310,426			281,163
Purchased transportation		27,926			19,338			49,917			36,109
Fuel, operating expenses and supplies		81,276			78,154			161,235			157,156
Operating taxes and licenses		8,993			9,330			17,968			18,909
Claims and insurance		14,177			5,883			23,695			11,478
Depreciation and amortization		15,087			12,386			28,928			24,020
Operating gains, net		(5	)		(102	)		(12	)		(274	)
Total operating expenses		307,658			269,298			592,157			528,561
OPERATING INCOME		22,741			23,259			37,972			37,791
NONOPERATING EXPENSES:
Interest expense		1,177			1,618			2,493			3,146
Other, net		(35	)		(29	)		(65	)		(95	)
Nonoperating expenses, net		1,142			1,589			2,428			3,051
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		21,599			21,670			35,544			34,740
Income tax expense		8,031			8,170			13,400			12,085
NET INCOME	$	13,568		$	13,500		$	22,144		$	22,655
Average common shares outstanding - basic		24,484			24,163			24,434			24,073
Average common shares outstanding - diluted		25,447			25,218			25,396			25,123
Basic earnings per share	$	0.55		$	0.56		$	0.91		$	0.94
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.53		$	0.54		$	0.87		$	0.90

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Six Months
	2014			2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	46,875		$	31,982
Net cash provided by operating activities		46,875			31,982
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(67,077	)		(72,092	)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		421			1,273
Net cash used in investing activities		(66,656	)		(70,819	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of long-term debt		(3,571	)		(11,071	)
Borrowings of revolving credit agreement, net		22,422			49,386
Proceeds from stock option exercises		2,559			3,659
Other financing activities		—			(586	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		21,410			41,388
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		1,629			2,551
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		159			321
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	1,788		$	2,872

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Financial Information

For the Quarters Ended June 30, 2014 and 2013

(Unaudited)

											Second Quarter
		Second Quarter						%			Amount/Workday				%
		2014			2013			Change			2014		2013		Change
Workdays												64		64
Operating Ratio (1)			93.1	%		92.0	%
Tonnage (2)	LTL		1,021			955			6.9			15.96		14.92		6.9
	TL		228			178			28.1			3.56		2.78		28.1
Shipments (2)	LTL		1,732			1,642			5.5			27.07		25.65		5.5
	TL		33			26			25.9			0.51		0.40		25.9
Revenue/cwt. (3)	LTL	$	14.85		$	14.16			4.9
	TL	$	5.70		$	5.84			(2.4	)
Revenue/shipment (3)	LTL	$	175.09		$	164.68			6.3
	TL	$	798.13		$	804.16			(0.7	)
Pounds/shipment	LTL		1,179			1,163			1.4
	TL		14,000			13,763			1.7
Length of Haul			759			743			2.2

(1) The operating ratio is the calculation of operating expenses divided by operating revenue.

(2) In thousands

(3) Revenue does not include the adjustment required for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy and other revenue.