<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001724573</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001177702</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>SAIA INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-49983</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>11465 JOHNS CREEK PARKWAY</com:street1>
        <com:street2>STE 400</com:street2>
        <com:city>JOHNS CREEK</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>GA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>30097</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7702325067</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>EISNOR DI-ANN</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Wells Fargo Clearing Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 N. Jefferson</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>642</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>250534.11</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>26547937</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/08/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/02/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Director Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>642</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/02/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/08/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>EISNOR DI-ANN</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2735}]
144
0001724573
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001177702
SAIA INC
000-49983
11465 JOHNS CREEK PARKWAY
STE 400
JOHNS CREEK
GA
30097
7702325067
EISNOR DI-ANN
Director
Common
Wells Fargo Clearing Services
1 N. Jefferson
St. Louis
MO
63103
642
250534.11
26547937
11/08/2023
Nasdaq
Common
05/02/2022
Director Compensation
Issuer
N
642
05/02/2022
N/A
Y
11/08/2023
EISNOR DI-ANN