Walmart Names Saia LTL Freight National Carrier of the Year

JOHNS CREEK, GA--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2014) - Saia Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) is pleased to announce that Saia LTL Freight has been named Walmart's "LTL National Carrier of the Year" for 2013 because of the carrier's outstanding service, effective communication, and qualities that exemplify the retailer's mission of providing great value to consumers so that they can live better lives.

"We are extremely honored to be recognized by Walmart with this award," said Saia President and CEO Rick O'Dell. "It validates our efforts to provide the type of consistent, quality service that our customers have come to know and expect. The fourth quarter of 2013 represented the ninth consecutive quarter we have provided shippers with 98% on-time service -- a remarkable achievement made possible by the hard work and dedication of our workforce."

"Saia has continued to provide Walmart with exceptional service while maintaining excellent safety standards," stated Walmart's Vice President of Inbound Transportation Kevin X. Jones. "Working with companies like (Saia) is beneficial to Walmart accomplishing and exceeding our many goals. By honoring Saia with this award, we are continuing Sam Walton's legacy by following his (sixth rule) 'To celebrate your successes.' Walmart Transportation is pleased to share our success with you."

Saia is one of several carriers that transport goods for the retailer's vendors to its distribution centers. Frequently, these shipments are held to strict "must arrive by date" (MABD) standards. As such, Saia has developed a unique program -- Xtreme Assurance -- that enables vendors to meet these requirements.

"The pursuit of quality is evident in the actions of our employees every day at every terminal, every shop and every office across our network," explained O'Dell. "This recognition underscores our commitment to that pursuit."

About Saia Inc.

Saia Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA), with 2013 revenues of $1.1 billion, offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, and logistic services. The company operates 147 terminals in 34 states and is home to the industry-exclusive Customer Service Indicators and Xtreme Guarantee. With headquarters in Georgia, Saia employs 8,000 people nationwide. Saia LTL Freight has been recognized by the American Trucking Associations Safety Management Council with first place honors for its outstanding safety record. This year marks Saia's 90th anniversary. For more information on Saia Inc. or any of the service groups, visit www.saiacorp.com.