Financial Release

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/30/14 -- 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.

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.

CONTACT:
Saia, Inc.
Doug Col
dcol@saia.com
678.542.3910

Source: Saia, Inc.