Headquartered in Johns Creek, GA, Saia Trucking has more than 185 terminals and 12,000+ employees. The company has been in business since 1924, when Louis Saia, Sr. started selling produce out of the back of his family car.
By 1986, Saia had become one of the biggest regional LTL carriers in the U.S. and had 23 terminals across the Southeast.
The company remains a leader in the industry and is consistently hiring new drivers.
Saia Trucking Driver Requirements
To work for Saia Trucking, drivers must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a valid CDL A
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have at least 1 year of tractor-trailer experience
- Have doubles/triples, tankers and Hazmat endorsements
Saia Trucking Pay
How much do Saia CDL driving jobs pay? While the company doesn’t provide pay information on its website, we can find salary ranges on payment aggregators, driver surveys and job postings.
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According to Glassdoor, Saia drivers earn:
- $61,191 per year on average
- $51,000 per year on the lower end
- $74,000 per year on the higher end
Salary data from Indeed shows that Saia drivers earn:
- $70,947 per year (median)
- $36,000 per year (low-end)
- $113,000 per year (high-end)
Saia is also offering a sign-on bonus of $7,500 for drivers in some markets.
Saia LTL Freight Truck Driver Salary Stats
Saia offers local city driving positions in many parts of the country.
Recent job postings show the following salaries for local city Saia freight drivers:
- $27.22-$30.75/hour in Chester, VA
- $26.92-$30.41/hour in Hanahan, SC
- $31.85-$35.97/hour in Newark, NJ
Local drivers are responsible for:
- Sorting, handling, loading and unloading freight at customer locations
Local drivers are work Monday-Friday and are home daily. They get weekends off and are paid overtime after the 45-hour mark (depending on local laws).
OTR Saia Trucking Salary Stats
Along with local driving positions, Saia also has OTR driver positions.
Recent job postings show the following salaries or pay rates for OTR drivers:
- $0.66-$0.75/mile in St Peters, MO
- $0.69-$0.77/mile in Carlisle, PA
Line haul drivers for Saia are out for more extended periods of time and cover longer distances. About 89% of their drivers run 2,300-2,600 miles per week. Team drivers may cover 5,500 miles per week.
At 2,300-2,600 miles per week, solo drivers can expect to earn:
- $1,518-$1,716 per week at a pay rate of $0.66 (the low end in the example above).
- $1,771-$2,002 per week at a pay rate of $0.77 (the high end in the example above).
Line haul drivers are home weekly and receive two consecutive days off. Some runs allow these drivers to be home daily.
As you can see, location plays a big role in how much Saia pays its drivers. Drivers in areas with a higher cost of living generally earn more. Experience will also play a role. The more experience you have, the higher your pay will likely be.
Saia may also take other factors into consideration when it comes to salary. A recruiter can provide you with more insight into how much you will be paid as a driver.
Saia Trucking Benefits
Driving for Saia freight means that you receive the best benefits possible. There’s a reason that the average tenure in the company is eight years: people love the pay and benefits. The benefits include:
- 401(K) with company match; immediate vesting
- Credit union
- No employee contribution to health, RX and vision benefits after ten years
- Paid holiday and vacation time
- Direct deposit
- Paid disability and life insurance
- Educational scholarships
- Employee assistance programs
- Bereavement leave
- Stock purchase opportunities
- Wellness programs
- Safety programs
Depending on the position, you may also have home time every night. Local drivers choose their positions because they need to be home, and this is a great opportunity for anyone who has a family to enjoy the perks of a trucking career without missing out on family time.
Saia Dock to Driver Program
Saia Trucking wants its workers to succeed and move up in the company. The Dock to Driver program is an opportunity for any dock worker to land a job as a trucker. Plus, you have the peace of mind that through the program, you’ll have a job lined up once you get your CDL.
The way this program works is simple:
- Become employed as a dockworker
- Remain in your position for at least 90 days
- Apply to the Driver Academy for free
If you meet all of the above requirements, you will spend five weeks learning the ropes and go from being a dock worker to a trucker. Saia prepares you for life on the road, and the first two weeks are all about yard work.
This training will include backing up, parking between trailers and other key maneuvers that you’ll need to learn to be confident behind the wheel.
After the first two weeks, you’ll go on to the street for the next three weeks. The third week is the basics, followed by more advanced driving the next week and then going through the state requirements for becoming a driver.
Training employees is part of how Saia Trucking keeps loads moving and really helps employees learn a skill that they can take with them anywhere.
Saia trucking pay, benefits and training programs are just a few of the reasons that drivers stay with Saia so long. If you’re looking for a career where you’re always going to be in high demand, Saia may be the right choice for you.