Saia's contractual rate renewals averaged 10.8 percent in the third quarter of 2026, or 15.9 percent on a two-year stacked basis, according to figures FreightWaves published on October 29, 2026. Even so, the LTL carrier's revenue per hundredweight excluding fuel slipped 2.2 percent to $21.25 from $21.72.

Including fuel, revenue per hundredweight rose 7.4 percent to $27.66. Revenue per shipment excluding fuel rose 5.8 percent to $311.34 from $294.35. Higher shipment weights, up 8.1 percent to 1,465 pounds, and a 1.0 percent decline in length of haul to 885 miles weighed on the per-hundredweight measure. Saia put a 7.1 percent general rate increase into effect on July 6, 2026, three months earlier than last year's increase and 120 basis points larger.

Volume grew faster than pricing. Tonnage per day rose 8.9 percent to 26,906 tons, and total tonnage reached 1,722,000 tons, up 8.9 percent. Shipments per day rose 0.8 percent to 36,734. Monthly tonnage growth accelerated from 7.8 percent in July to 8.7 percent in August and 10.3 percent in September, and October to date is up about 10 percent.

Revenue totaled $982.5 million, up 17.0 percent. The adjusted operating ratio held at 87.6 percent, and adjusted earnings per share rose 21.4 percent to $3.41 from $2.81. Saia has opened 45 terminals since 2022 and now operates 219.

Source: FreightWaves -- https://www.freightwaves.com/news/saias-expanded-terminal-network-delivers-record-revenue-tonnage