With original operation occurring in Louisiana and Texas for the first fifty years, expansion came after 1980 when coverage began reaching into more states within the South.

Saia ranks within the top ten of LTL carriers in the United States,[2] with revenues of over $1.8 billion in 2020.

[3] The sale came after years of low profitability at Jevic and allowed SCS to focus on its more successful Saia unit.

[4] Jevic, originally founded in 1981 by Harry Mulschlegel, would shut down in 2008 after being unable to improve its fortunes as an independent company.

[2] Saia expanded further with the acquisitions of two LTL carriers: Columbus, Ohio–based The Connection Company in 2006[6][7] and Madison Freight Systems (MFS) of Waunakee, Wisconsin in 2007.

[11] In December 2023, Saia acquired 17 terminals of former parent company Yellow Corporation in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy sale for $235.7 million.