Saia to expand into Northeast in 2017; move seen as stepping stone to national coverage

Trucker Saia Inc. plans to expand into the northeastern U.S. during the first half of 2017, a move that brings the less-than-truckload carrier into one of the country's most hotly competitive LTL markets and sets the stage for a nationwide expansion in 2018.

Johns Creek, Ga.-based Saia will open three to five terminals in the second quarter in an effort to target major markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, both densely populated commerce centers. Saia currently serves 34 states, but its network does not currently extend east of Ohio or north of Virginia.

Ray Ramu, Saia's chief customer officer, said in a statement yesterday that the Northeast represents a $7 billion-a-year market opportunity. Ramu said the company will add resources to its existing network in order to handle the expected increase in freight flows to and from the Northeast.

Saia is believed to be the last major regional LTL carrier to be pursuing coverage across the continental U.S.