***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Saia, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

Earnings per share were $0.34 on an 11% increase in revenue

JOHNS CREEK, GA – April 27, 2012 – Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA), a leading multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, today reported improved first quarter 2012 results on stronger revenue, improving pricing and solid cost execution.

First Quarter 2012 Compared to First Quarter 2011 Results

“Saia’s excellent service quality and continued progress with yield in an improving environment provided the foundation of our margin improvement in the quarter. This higher yield combined with continued cost optimization initiatives throughout our network were the primary drivers of the 240 basis point improvement in our operating ratio. Meaningful margin improvement was achieved in the quarter in spite of some expected higher wage and benefit costs necessary to support our workforce and customer requirements. On the other hand, we benefited from the mild winter weather this year. I am pleased with our progress on many fronts that contributed to materially improved margins for the quarter,” said Rick O’Dell, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Saia’s service was 98 percent on-time and we saw improvements in essentially every quality metric we measure. I believe that our fundamental execution on quality, yield management and efficiency initiatives has never been better and the stage is set for further progress. Saia’s balance sheet is strong and we are making major investments in technology and equipment that are also contributing to the enhancement of our company image while building on our operational efficiencies. I believe that Saia’s targeted marketing, strong service offering, focused pricing discipline and consistent cost execution provide a solid foundation for long-term profitable growth and increased shareholder and customer value,” O’Dell said.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $86.5 million at March 31, 2012 resulting in net debt to total capital of 27.7 percent. This compares to total debt of $90.0 million and net debt to total capital of 24.6 percent at March 31, 2011.

Saia, Inc. First-Quarter 2012 Earnings

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Net capital expenditures for the first three months of 2012 were $39 million. This compares to $6 million of capital expenditures over the same period in 2011. The Company is planning net capital expenditures in 2012 of approximately $80 million. This expenditure level reflects replacement tractors and trailers and the Company’s continued investment in technology.

Conference Call

Management will hold a conference call to discuss first-quarter results today at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 1-800-548-7911 or 719-325-4907 referencing conference ID #4755613. 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 offered two hours after the completion of the call. The replay will be available by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820.

The webcast is also being distributed over CCBN’s Investor Distribution Network to both institutional and individual investors. Individual investors can listen to the call through CCBN’s individual investor center at www.companyboardroom.com or by visiting any of the investor sites in CCBN’s Individual Investor Network. Institutional investors can access the call via CCBN’s password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com).

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 148 terminals, the carrier employs 8,000 people. For more information, please visit the Investor Relations section of the website at www.saia.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 publicly 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; indemnification obligations associated with the 2006 sale of Jevic Transportation, Inc.; 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

Saia, Inc. First-Quarter 2012 Earnings

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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 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.

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Saia, Inc. and Subsidiary

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiary

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiary

Financial Information

For the Quarters Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)