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

Exhibit 99.1

Saia Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings per Share of $0.53

JOHNS CREEK, GA. – January 30, 2015 – Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA), a leading transportation provider offering multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL), non-asset truckload and logistics services, today reported record fourth quarter and full year 2014 results. Diluted earnings per share were $0.53 for the fourth quarter and include a $0.04 per share positive impact from tax credits for the full year 2014, enacted in the fourth quarter. The Company earned $0.32 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2013 Results

• Revenues were $310 million, an increase of 10.7%

• Operating income increased 40% to $20.6 million compared to $14.7 million

• Diluted earnings per share were $0.53 including $0.04 in tax credits enacted in the fourth quarter compared to $0.32

• Operating ratio was 93.4 compared to 94.7

• LTL tonnage increased 4.3% as LTL shipments were up 7.2% and average weight per LTL shipment fell by 2.7%

• LTL revenue per hundredweight increased by 6.0%

“Demand in the quarter was consistent with seasonal expectations and I am pleased with the work of our team to deliver 98% on-time service in the quarter. Our significant year-over-year increase in earnings per share was achieved through our balanced approach towards adding tonnage at a reasonable price,” said Saia President and Chief Executive Officer Rick O’Dell.

“We are proud of Saia’s 90 year operating history celebrated in 2014 and it is gratifying to close that year with record revenue and earnings,” O’Dell added.

2014 Results Compared to 2013 Results

• LTL tonnage increased 6.3%, while yield improved 4.4%

• Revenues were $1.3 billion compared to $1.1 billion

• Operating income was $85.7 million compared to $74.4 million

• Net income was $52.0 million compared to $43.6 million

• Diluted earnings per share were $2.04 compared to $1.73, which included $0.04 in tax credits enacted in 2013 retroactive to 2012

• Operating ratio was 93.3 compared to 93.5

Saia, Inc. Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

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Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $83.0 million at December 31, 2014. Net of the Company’s $4.4 million cash balance at quarter end, net debt to total capital was 17.7%. This compares to total debt of $76.9 million and net debt to total capital of 20.1% at December 31, 2013.

Net capital expenditures in 2014 were $112 million inclusive of equipment acquired with capital leases. This compares to $122 million in the prior year. The Company currently plans net capital expenditures in 2015 of approximately $125 million. This expenditure level reflects primarily replacement of revenue equipment, and investments in real estate projects and technology.

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 888-359-3624 or 719-325-2495 referencing conference ID #5368032. 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 February 5, 2015 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; loss of significant customers; 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

Saia, Inc. Fourth Quarter 2014 Results

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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; cyber security risks; effectiveness of Company-specific performance improvement initiatives; terrorism risks; self-insurance claims and other expense volatility; increased costs as a result of recently enacted 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.

# # #

CONTACT:    Saia, Inc.

                           Doug Col

                           dcol@saia.com

                           678.542.3910

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4,367		$	159
Accounts receivable, net		128,367			117,937
Prepaid expenses and other		56,902			52,157
Total current assets		189,636			170,253
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Cost		891,145			797,527
Less: accumulated depreciation		407,505			365,301
Net property and equipment		483,640			432,226
OTHER ASSETS		13,169			14,322
Total assets	$	686,445		$	616,801
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	42,388		$	50,799
Wages and employees’ benefits		28,777			35,248
Other current liabilities		50,176			47,667
Current portion of long-term debt		9,138			7,143
Total current liabilities		130,479			140,857
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, less current portion		73,897			69,740
Deferred income taxes		78,406			69,916
Claims, insurance and other		36,757			31,496
Total other liabilities		189,060			171,152
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock		25			24
Additional paid-in capital		223,713			213,648
Deferred compensation trust		(2,189	)		(2,246	)
Retained earnings		145,357			93,366
Total stockholders’ equity		366,906			304,792
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	686,445		$	616,801

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Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Quarters and Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Fourth Quarter						Years
	2014			2013			2014			2013
OPERATING REVENUE	$	309,648		$	279,655		$	1,272,321		$	1,139,094
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wages and employees’ benefits		162,854			144,019			639,633			572,487
Purchased transportation		22,214			17,952			99,610			72,975
Fuel, operating expenses and supplies		73,347			73,405			314,788			306,364
Operating taxes and licenses		9,027			8,530			36,028			36,513
Claims and insurance		6,912			7,409			37,563			25,494
Depreciation and amortization		14,758			13,799			59,022			51,564
Operating gains, net		(36	)		(151	)		(16	)		(721	)
Total operating expenses		289,076			264,963			1,186,628			1,064,676
OPERATING INCOME		20,572			14,692			85,693			74,418
NONOPERATING EXPENSES:
Interest expense		1,007			1,584			4,564			6,490
Other, net		(50	)		(37	)		(99	)		(217	)
Nonoperating expenses, net		957			1,547			4,465			6,273
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		19,615			13,145			81,228			68,145
Income tax expense		6,046			5,081			29,237			24,518
NET INCOME	$	13,569		$	8,064		$	51,991		$	43,627
Average common shares outstanding — basic		24,624			24,246			24,505			24,154
Average common shares outstanding — diluted		25,565			25,289			25,463			25,205
Basic earnings per share	$	0.55		$	0.33		$	2.12		$	1.81
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.53		$	0.32		$	2.04		$	1.73

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Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Years
	2014			2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	102,170		$	101,312
Net cash provided by operating activities		102,170			101,312
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment		(97,750	)		(126,358	)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		2,905			4,338
Net cash used in investing activities		(94,845	)		(122,020	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of long-term debt		(7,143	)		(22,143	)
Borrowings (repayment) of revolving credit agreement, net		(3,317	)		38,327
Proceeds from stock option exercises		7,623			4,948
Other financing activities		(280	)		(586	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(3,117	)		20,546
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		4,208			(162	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		159			321
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	4,367		$	159
NON-CASH ITEMS:
Acquisition of property and equipment financed with capital leases	$	16,886		$	—

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Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Financial Information

For the Quarters Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(Unaudited)

											Fourth Quarter
		Fourth Quarter						% Change			Amount/Workday				% Change
		2014			2013						2014		2013
Workdays												62		62
Operating ratio			93.4	%		94.7	%
Tonnage (1)	LTL		926			888			4.3			14.94		14.32		4.3
	TL		195			187			4.1			3.14		3.02		4.1
Shipments (1)	LTL		1,597			1,490			7.2			25.77		24.04		7.2
	TL		28			27			4.5			0.45		0.43		4.5
Revenue/cwt. (2)	LTL	$	15.33		$	14.46			6.0
	TL	$	6.16		$	5.73			7.5
Revenue/shipment (2)	LTL	$	177.72		$	172.22			3.2
	TL	$	858.96		$	802.35			7.1
Pounds/shipment	LTL		1,159			1,191			(2.7	)
	TL		13,940			13,992			(0.4	)
Length of Haul			773			746			3.7

(1) In thousands

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

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Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Financial Information

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(Unaudited)

										Year Over Year
		Year Over Year						% Change		Amount/Workday				% Change
		2014			2013					2014		2013
Workdays											253		253
Operating ratio			93.3	%		93.5	%
Tonnage (1)	LTL		3,902			3,670			6.3		15.42		14.51		6.3
	TL		853			708			20.6		3.37		2.80		20.6
Shipments (1)	LTL		6,646			6,260			6.2		26.27		24.74		6.2
	TL		122			102			19.1		0.48		0.40		19.1
Revenue/cwt. (2)	LTL	$	14.96		$	14.33			4.4
	TL	$	5.87		$	5.84			0.5
Revenue/shipment (2)	LTL	$	175.71		$	168.06			4.5
	TL	$	821.46		$	807.21			1.8
Pounds/shipment	LTL		1,174			1,173			0.1
	TL		13,993			13,821			1.2
Length of Haul			763			741			3.0

(1) In thousands

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

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