General Questions

Is there any type of freight Saia does not transport?

Although we ship an array of freight, there are certain articles that Saia cannot ship, including (but not limited to) antiques, works of art, explosives, temperature controlled material, currency, and hazardous waste. For complete details, view our Rules and Special Charges information page, or contact your local Saia Motor Freight facility.

What type of equipment is offered by Saia?

To view a list of our equipment, please click here.

How do I calculate the density of my freight?

To obtain the cubic dimensions of a shipment: measure length, width and height. Next multiple length, width and height to calculate the cubic dimension in inches. To convert cubic inches to cubic feet, divide cubic inches by 1728 (the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot). To determine density, divide the weight of the shipment by the number of cubic feet.

How do I determine what class my freight is?

Freight classification is the description of goods used as a standard to uniformly identify and rate items of transport by a carrier. Saia uses the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), which takes into consideration the different qualities of an article of freight, along with the other cost factors to determine the classification.

Who do I call for special handling needs?

You may call Saia’s Centralized Customer Service department at 1-800-765-7242 ext. 4050

I have billing questions, who do I contact?

You may contact our Rates Department at 1-800-950-7242 ext. 2350

How should I package my freight?

All freight should be packaged according to the NMFC classification requirements for each described item being shipped. In any case, all freight must be packaged in a manner suitable to withstand the rigors of LTL general commodities transportation. If the product is of a nature requiring specific handling, such instructions or other markings should be on the outer packaging itself (eg. this end up, fragile-top load only, do not double stack, directional arrows, etc.). Large shipments of multiple packages should be palletized and stretchwrapped, bundled, tied, or banded together. None of the product itself should ever be exposed and should always be contained within a carton, crate, or other protective device or container.

How should I label my freight?

Each package of every shipment must have a label to signify the shipper and consignee, the COMPLETE physical address of each (to include ZIP CODE), and such label must be clearly legible. These labels should be placed in a conspicuous place on each item shipped. Additional information such as shipper and consignee phone number, bill of lading number, purchase order number, carrier pro number, and date shipped are items that when printed as part of the shipping label, assist the carrier in matching the freight to the proper shipment and/or owner of the goods.

What kind of expedited services does Saia offer?

We offer Saia Guaranteed Select^® please click here for more details.