SAIA

Saia, Inc.

Saia, Inc. and subsidiary is a leading asset-based trucking company that provides a variety of transportation and supply chain solutions to a broad range of industries, including the retail, chemical and manufacturing industries.

We were organized in 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Yellow Corporation, now known as YRC Worldwide, (Yellow) to better manage its regional transportation business. We became an independent public company on September 30, 2002 as a result of a 100 percent tax-free distribution of shares to Yellow shareholders (the Spin-off). Each Yellow shareholder received one share of Saia stock for every two shares of Yellow stock held as of the September 3, 2002 record date. As a result of the Spin-off, Yellow does not own any shares of our capital stock.

On June 30, 2006, the Company completed the sale of the outstanding stock of Jevic Transportation, Inc. (Jevic), its hybrid less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL) carrier business to a private investment firm. The transaction included net cash proceeds of $41.3 million and $12.5 million in income tax benefits from structuring the transaction as an asset sale for tax purposes. Jevic has been reflected as a discontinued operation in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.

We are now a single segment company with one operating subsidiary, Saia Motor Freight Line, LLC (Saia Motor Freight). We serve a wide variety of customers by offering regional and interregional LTL, guaranteed and expedited services. None of our approximately 7,200 employees is represented by a union. In 2009, Saia generated revenue of $849.1 million and operating loss of $3.7 million from continuing operations. In 2008, Saia generated revenue of $1.0 billion and operating loss of $9.9 million from continuing operations, which includes a $35.5 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge.

Saia Motor Freight

Founded in 1924, Saia Motor Freight is a leading multi-regional LTL carrier that serves 34 states in the South, Southwest, Midwest, Pacific Northwest and West. Saia Motor Freight specializes in offering its customers a range of regional and interregional LTL services including time-definite and expedited options. Saia Motor Freight primarily provides its customers with solutions for shipments between 100 and 10,000 pounds, but also provides selected guaranteed, expedited and truckload service.

Saia Motor Freight has invested substantially in technology, training and business processes to enhance its ability to monitor and manage customer service, operations and profitability. These data capabilities enable Saia Motor Freight to provide its trademarked Customer Service Indicators® program, allowing customers to monitor service performance on a wide array of attributes. Customers can access the information via the Internet (www.saia.com) to help manage their shipments. The Customer Service Indicators® (CSIs) measure the following: on-time pickup; on-time delivery; claim free shipments; claims settled within 30 days; proof of delivery request turnaround; and invoicing accuracy. The CSIs provide both Saia Motor Freight and the customer with a report card of overall service levels.

As of December 31, 2009, Saia Motor Freight operated a network comprised of 147 service facilities. In 2009, the average Saia Motor Freight shipment weighed approximately 1,258 pounds and traveled an average distance of approximately 715 miles. In March 2001, Saia Motor Freight completed its integration of WestEx and Action Express affiliates into its operations and expanded its geographic reach to 21 states. On February 16, 2004, Saia Motor Freight acquired Clark Bros. Transfer, Inc. (Clark Bros.), a Midwestern LTL carrier serving 11 states with approximately 600 employees. The operations of Clark Bros. were integrated into Saia Motor Freight in May 2004 bringing the benefits of Saia Motor Freight transportation service to major Midwestern markets including Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City. On November 18, 2006, Saia Motor Freight acquired The Connection Company (the Connection), an LTL carrier serving four states (Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio) with approximately 700 employees. The operations of the Connection were integrated into Saia Motor Freight in February 2007. On February 1, 2007, Saia Motor Freight acquired Madison Freight Systems, Inc. (Madison Freight), an LTL carrier serving all of Wisconsin and parts of Illinois and Minnesota with approximately 200 employees. The operations of Madison Freight were integrated into the Saia Motor Freight network in March 2007.

Industry

The trucking industry consists of three segments including private fleets and two “for-hire” carrier groups. The private carrier segment consists of fleets owned and operated by shippers who move their own goods. The two “for-hire” carrier groups, TL and LTL, are based on the typical shipment sizes handled by transportation service companies. TL refers to providers generally transporting shipments greater than 10,000 pounds and LTL refers to providers generally transporting shipments less than 10,000 pounds. Saia is primarily an LTL carrier.

LTL transportation providers consolidate numerous orders, generally ranging from 100 to 10,000 pounds, from businesses in different locations. Orders are consolidated at individual locations within a certain radius from service facilities and then transported from the service facilities to the ultimate destination. As a result, LTL carriers require expansive networks of pickup and delivery operations around local service facilities and shipments are moved between origin and destination often through an intermediate distribution or “breakbulk” facility. Depending on the distance shipped, the LTL segment historically was classified into three subgroups:

Regional — Average distance is typically less than 500 miles with a focus on one- and two-day markets. Regional transportation companies can move shipments directly to their respective destination centers which increases service reliability and avoids costs associated with intermediate handling.

Interregional — Average distance is usually between 500 and 1,500 miles with a focus on serving two- and three-day markets.

National — Average distance is typically in excess of 1,500 miles with a focus on service in three- to five-day markets. National providers rely on intermediate shipment handling through hub and spoke networks, which require numerous satellite service facilities, multiple distribution facilities and a relay network. To gain service and cost advantages, they occasionally ship directly between service facilities reducing intermediate handling.

Over the last several years, there has been a blurring of the above subgroups as individual companies are increasingly attempting to serve multiple markets. For example, a number of companies are focusing on serving one- and two-day lanes, as well as serving three and more day markets between adjacent regions. Saia operates as a traditional LTL carrier with a primary focus on regional and interregional LTL lanes.

The TL segment is the largest portion of the “for-hire” truck transportation market. TL carriers primarily transport large shipments from origin to destination with no intermediate handling. Although a full truckload can weigh over 40,000 pounds, it is common for carriers to haul two or three shipments exceeding 10,000 pounds each at one time making multiple delivery stops.

Because TL carriers do not require an expansive network to provide point-to-point service, the overall cost structure of TL participants is typically lower and more variable relative to LTL service providers. The TL segment is comprised of several major carriers and numerous small entrepreneurial players. At the most basic level, a TL company can be started with capital for rolling stock (a tractor and a trailer), insurance, a driver and little else. As size becomes a factor, capital is needed for technology infrastructure and some limited facilities. Saia Motor Freight participates in the TL market as a means to fill empty miles in lanes that are not at capacity.

Capital requirements are significantly different in the traditional LTL segment versus the TL segment. In the LTL sector, substantial amounts of capital are required for a network of service facilities, shipment handling equipment and revenue equipment (both for city pick-up, delivery and linehaul). In addition, investment in effective technology has become increasingly important in the LTL segment largely due to the number of transactions and number of customers served on a daily basis. Saia Motor Freight picks up approximately 26,000 shipments per day, each of which has a shipper and consignee, and occasionally a third party, all of who need access to information in a timely manner. More importantly, technology plays a key role in improving customer service, operations efficiency and compliance, safety and yield management. Due to the significant infrastructure spending required, the cost structure is relatively prohibitive to new startup or small entrepreneurial operations. As a result, the LTL segment is more concentrated than the TL segment with a few large national carriers and several large regional carriers.

Business Strategy

Saia has grown over the last decade through a combination of organic growth and the integration or “tuck-in” of smaller trucking companies. In 2001, Saia integrated WestEx and Action Express, regional LTL companies which had been acquired by Yellow in 1994 and 1998, respectively. WestEx operated in California and the Southwest and Action Express operated in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain states. In 2004, Saia acquired and integrated Clark Bros., a Midwestern LTL carrier serving 11 states. Saia has integrated this company which had contiguous regional coverage with minimal overlap. In late 2006, Saia acquired the Connection which operated in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Saia integrated the operations of the Connection during February 2007. Saia acquired Madison Freight Systems in February 2007 and integrated their operations in March 2007. Madison Freight operated in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.

Seasonality

Our revenues are subject to seasonal variations. Customers tend to reduce shipments after the winter holiday season and operating expenses tend to be higher as a percent of revenue in the winter months primarily due to lower capacity utilization and weather effects. Generally, the first quarter is the weakest while the second and third quarters are the strongest. Quarterly profitability is also impacted by the timing of salary and wage increases which has varied in recent years.

Labor

Most LTL companies, including Saia, and virtually all TL companies are not subject to collective bargaining agreements.

In recent years, due to competition for quality employees, the compensation divide between union and non-union carriers has closed dramatically. However, there are still significant differences in benefit costs and work rule flexibility. Benefit costs for union carriers remain significantly above those paid by non-union carriers and union carriers may be subject to certain contingent multi-employer pension liabilities. In addition, non-union carriers have more work rule flexibility with respect to work schedules, routes and other similar items. Work rule flexibility is a major consideration in the regional LTL sector as flexibility is important to meet the service levels required by customers. Due to a challenging economy and company specific issues, a large LTL union carrier has implemented salary and wage reductions as high as 15% and suspended certain benefits thus resulting in lower costs than many non-union competitors.

Our employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit. We believe this provides for better communications and employee relations, stronger future growth prospects, improved efficiencies and customer service capabilities.