Saia tonnage climbs 7.6% quarter-to-date on upward freight trends

Saia (NASDAQ:SAIA) reported solid expansion across its core less-than-truckload (LTL) operational metrics for April and May 2026, driven by an acceleration in daily tonnage and ongoing improvements in freight weight profiles compared to the prior year.

For the month of April, the transportation operator recorded a 5.6% increase in LTL shipments per workday compared with April 2025.

Tonnage per workday for the month advanced 6.9% year-over-year, while the average weight per individual shipment edged up 1.3% over the same period.

The upward volume trajectory intensified into May, highlighted by a larger composition of heavier industrial freight.

While the growth of shipments per workday moderated slightly to a 3.7% year-over-year increase, tonnage per workday expanded 8.4% compared to May 2025.

This volume lift was substantially supported by a 4.5% increase in average weight per shipment during the month.

On a quarter-to-date basis, Saia’s cumulative indicators reflect broad structural growth for the second quarter of 2026.

Total shipments per workday increased 4.6% relative to the corresponding quarter-to-date timeframe in 2025.

Concurrently, total tonnage per workday climbed 7.6%, and the company's overall weight per shipment increased 2.9% year-over-year.