Document:

EX-10.1

EMPLOYEE NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

UNDER THE

SAIA, INC.

2011 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

THIS AGREEMENT, made as of May 2, 2011, by and between Saia, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Company”), and [      ] (“Optionee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Saia, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”) pursuant to which options for shares of the common stock of the Company may be
granted to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, Optionee is now an employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to Optionee certain nonqualified options to purchase
certain shares of its common stock under the terms of the Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements hereinafter set
forth, it is covenanted and agreed as follows:

1. Grant Subject to Plan. This option is granted under and is expressly subject to
all the terms and provisions of the Plan, and the terms of such Plan are incorporated herein by
reference. Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by
all the terms and provisions thereof. Terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed
thereto in the Plan. The Committee referred to in Section 5 of the Plan (“Committee”) has
been appointed by the Board of Directors, and designated by it, as the Committee to make grants of
options.

2. Grant and Terms of Option. Pursuant to action of the Committee, which action was
taken on May 2, 2011 (“Date of Grant”), the Company grants to Optionee the option to
purchase all or any part of [      ] ([      ]) shares of the common stock of the Company,
of the par value of $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), for a period ending on May 1, 2018
(the “Expiration Date”), at the purchase price of $16.39 per share; provided, however, that
the option granted hereunder shall be, and is hereby, subject to the following:

(a) This option shall become exercisable as to the entire number of shares to which this
option relates commencing on May 2, 2014.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the
Plan): (i) the outstanding options granted hereunder shall immediately vest and become
exercisable and shall remain outstanding in accordance with their terms; and (ii) notwithstanding
Section 2(b)(i) but after taking into account the accelerated vesting set forth therein, the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for cancellation of the outstanding options at the
time of the Change in Control in which case a payment of cash, property or a combination thereof
shall be made to the Optionee that is determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute
discretion and that is equivalent in value to the consideration to be paid per share of Common
Stock of the Company in the Change in Control, less the exercise price per share, and multiplied by
the number of outstanding options hereunder.

(c) In no event may this option or any part thereof be exercised after the Expiration Date.

(d) The purchase price for the shares subject to this option shall be paid in full upon the
exercise of the option, either (i) in cash, (ii) in the discretion of the Committee, by the tender
to the Company (either actual or by attestation) of shares of Common Stock already owned by
Optionee and registered in his or her name, having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash purchase
price for the option being exercised, (iii) in the discretion of the Committee, by any combination
of the payment methods specified in clauses (i) and (ii) hereof, or (iv) in the discretion of the
Committee, by means of a net exercise in which the Optionee shall receive the number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the aggregate number of shares being purchased less the number of shares
having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate purchase price of the shares being purchased;
provided, however, payment in full of the purchase price need not accompany the written notice of
exercise provided that the notice of exercise directs that the certificate or certificates for the
shares of Common Stock for which the option is exercised be delivered to a licensed broker
acceptable to the Company as the agent for the Optionee and, at the time such certificate or
certificates are delivered, the broker tenders to the Company cash (or cash equivalents acceptable
to the Company) equal to the purchase price for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to
the exercise of the option plus the amount (if any) of any withholding obligations on the part of
the Company.

(e) No shares of Common Stock may be tendered in exercise of this option if such shares were
acquired by Optionee through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option (within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) unless (i) such shares have been held
by Optionee for at least one year, and (ii) at least two years have elapsed since such Incentive
Stock Option was granted.

3. Adjustment for Changes in Capitalization. In the event that the Committee shall
determine that any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination,
repurchase or share exchange, stock split or stock dividend or other similar corporate transaction
or event affects the shares of Common Stock such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to
prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Optionee, then the Committee shall make such
adjustments in the number and kind of shares and in the exercise price under this option as the
Committee shall deem appropriate, and all such adjustments shall be conclusive.

4. Investment Purpose and Other Restrictions on Transfer. Optionee represents that,
in the event of the exercise by Optionee of the option hereby granted, or any part thereof, he or
she intends to purchase the shares acquired on such exercise for investment and not with a view to
resale or other distribution; except that the Company, at its election, may waive or release this
condition in the event the shares acquired on exercise of the option are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, or upon the happening of any other contingency which the Company shall
determine warrants the waiver or release of this condition. Optionee agrees that the certificates
evidencing the shares acquired by him or her on exercise of all or any part of this option, may
bear a restrictive legend, if appropriate, indicating any restrictions on the transfer thereof,
which legend may be in such form as the Company shall determine to be proper.

5. Non-Transferability. Neither the option hereby granted nor any rights thereunder
or under this Agreement may be assigned, transferred or in any manner encumbered except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, and any attempted assignment, transfer, mortgage, pledge or
encumbrance except as herein authorized, shall be void and of no effect. The option may be
exercised during Optionee’s lifetime only by Optionee or his or her guardian or legal
representative.

6. Termination of Employment. In the event of the termination of employment of
Optionee for Cause, the determination of which shall be made in the sole discretion of the
Committee, the option granted may no longer be exercised on or after the date of such termination.
If the Optionee’s employment is terminated other than for Cause, death, Total Disability (as
defined in the Plan) or retirement, the determination of which shall be made in the sole discretion
of the Committee, to the extent it was eligible for exercise at the date of such termination of
employment, an option may be exercised until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after such
termination, or (ii) the Expiration Date. If the Optionee’s employment is terminated by the
Optionee’s retirement at or after age 55, the determination of which shall be made in the sole
discretion of the Committee, then the Committee shall have the discretion to cancel or vest any
unvested options then outstanding, and, to the extent it was or became eligible for exercise at the
date of such retirement from employment, an option may be exercised until the earlier of (i) one
hundred eighty (180) days after such retirement, or (ii) the Expiration Date.

7. Death or Total Disability of Optionee. In the event of the termination of the
Optionee’s employment by reason of the death or Total Disability of Optionee during the term of
this Agreement and while he or she is employed by the Company (or its parent or a subsidiary), this
option shall become fully vested (if not already fully vested) and may be exercised by the
Optionee, a legatee or legatees of Optionee under his or her last will, or by his or her personal
representatives or distributees, at any time until the earlier of (i) one hundred eighty days from
Optionee’s death or Total Disability or (ii) the Expiration Date.

8. Shares Issued on Exercise of Option. It is the intention of the Company that on
any exercise of this option it will transfer to Optionee shares of its authorized but unissued
stock or transfer treasury shares, or utilize any combination of treasury shares and authorized but
unissued shares, to satisfy its obligations to deliver shares on any exercise hereof.

9. Committee Administration. This option has been granted pursuant to a determination
made by the Committee, and such Committee or any successor or substitute committee authorized by
the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors itself, subject to the express terms of this
option, shall have plenary authority to interpret any provision of this option and to make any
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this option and the exercise of the
rights herein granted, and may waive or amend any provisions hereof in any manner not adversely
affecting the rights granted to Optionee by the express terms hereof; provided, however, subject to
Section 3 hereof, in no event may the exercise price of this option be decreased.

10. Option Not an Incentive Stock Option. It is intended that this option shall not
be treated as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

11. No Contract of Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
considered or construed as creating a contract of employment for any specified period of time.

12. Severability. Any word, phrase, clause, sentence or other provision herein which
violates or is prohibited by any applicable law, court decree or public policy shall be modified as
necessary to avoid the violation or prohibition and so as to make this Agreement enforceable as
fully as possible under applicable law, and if such cannot be so modified, the same shall be
ineffective to the extent of such violation or prohibition without invalidating or affecting the
remaining provisions herein.

13. Non-Waiver of Rights. The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any of the
provisions of this Agreement or to require at any time performance by Optionee of any of the
provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect
either the validity of this Agreement, or any part hereof, or the right of the Company thereafter
to enforce each and every provision in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

14. Entire Agreement; Amendments. Except as provided in the Plan and as otherwise
expressly set forth herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing specifically referring hereto, and signed by the
parties hereto. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between Optionee
and the Company to the extent that any such agreements or understandings conflict with the terms of
this Agreement.

15. Assignment. This Agreement shall be freely assignable by the Company to and shall
inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company, its successors and assigns and/or any
other entity which shall succeed to the business presently being conducted by the Company.

16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflicts of law which
might otherwise apply.

17. Stock Ownership Guidelines. Optionee acknowledges that the Board of Directors of
the Company has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines applicable to certain officers of the Company
and such Guidelines may be modified or amended in whole or in part at any time.

18. Forfeiture. Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the options granted hereunder
are subject to the terms of a forfeiture or clawback policy adopted by the Board of Directors.
Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that the Board may amend or modify such policy at any time
or may adopt a new policy replacing or supplementing such policy and that any such policy or
policies shall be binding on Optionee and the options granted hereunder.

19. Tax Withholding. Optionee shall pay, or make arrangements acceptable to the
Company for the payment of, any and all federal, state, and local tax withholding that in the
opinion of the Company is required by law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Optionee shall be
entitled to satisfy any tax withholding obligations hereunder through an election to have shares of
common stock of the Company withheld from any payments under this Agreement. Unless Optionee
satisfies any such tax withholding obligation by paying the amount in cash, by check, stock
withholding, or by other arrangements acceptable to the Company, the Company shall withhold a
portion of the stock payable upon an exercise equal to the tax withholding obligation. Any share
withholding pursuant to this Section 19 is intended to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e)
under the Exchange Act.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf
by the undersigned officer pursuant to due authorization, and Optionee has signed this Agreement to
evidence his or her acceptance of the option herein granted and of the terms hereof, all as of the
date hereof.

SAIA, INC.

By

Richard D. O’Dell

President and Chief Executive Officer

ATTEST:

James A. Darby, Secretary

[      ], OptioneeEX-10.2

PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

UNDER

SAIA, INC.’S

2011 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

THIS AWARD AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of May 2, 2011 (the “Date of Grant”),
by and between Saia, Inc. (the “Company”), and [      ] (“Employee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) has adopted
and the stockholders of the Company have approved the Company’s 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”), pursuant to which performance unit awards may be granted to employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to Employee a performance unit award under the terms of
the Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the Plan, the Company and Employee agree as follows:

1. Grant of Award. Pursuant to action of the Committee (as hereinafter defined), the
Company grants to Employee the performance unit award described in this Award Agreement (the
“Award” or “Performance Unit Award”).

2. Award Subject to Plan. This Award is granted under and is expressly subject to all
the terms and provisions of the Plan, which terms are incorporated herein by reference. The
committee referred to in Section 5 of the Plan (“Committee”) has been appointed by the
Board of Directors, and designated by it, as the Committee to make awards.

3. Performance Period. The performance period for the Performance Unit Award is the
three (3) year period commencing February 2, 2011 and ending February 1, 2014 (the “Performance
Period”).

4. Performance Unit Award.

(a) General. Employee’s Performance Unit Award opportunity for the Performance
Period is the right to receive from 0% to 200% of        shares of the common stock, par value
$0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Target Incentive”).

(b) Amount of Target Incentive Payable to Employee for the Performance Period.
The amount of the Target Incentive payable to Employee for the Performance Period will be
based upon the percentile rank of the Company’s “Total Stockholder Return” (as
defined in Section 5 below) relative to the Total Stockholder Return of the “Peer
Companies” (as defined in Section 6 below) over the Performance Period, as follows:

	 	 	 	 	 
	If the Company’s Total Stockholder Return Over

The Performance Period As Compared to Peer

Companies

	 	Then the Percentage of

Target Incentive

Payable to Employee is

	 

	 	 	 	 
	Is at the 75th percentile or higher

	 	 	200	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	Is at the 50th percentile

	 	 	100	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	Is at the 25th percentile

	 	 	25	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	Is below the 25th percentile

	 	 	0	%
	 

	 	 	 	 

At the end of the Performance Period, the percentile rank of the Company’s Total Stockholder
Return will be calculated. Any Peer Company that is no longer publicly traded shall be
excluded from this calculation. The payout associated with the Company’s percentile rank
will be based on the chart above with payouts interpolated for performance between the 25th
and 50th percentile and the 50th and 75th percentile. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Performance Unit Award shall be payable unless the Company has positive Total Stockholder
Return for the Performance Period. In no event will the Committee have discretion to
increase the amounts payable hereunder.

(c) Payment of Performance Unit Award for the Performance Period. Subject to
early termination of this Award Agreement pursuant to Section 8 below, as soon as
practicable following the end of the Performance Period and the determination of the
Company’s Total Stockholder Return as compared to the Total Stockholder Return of the Peer
Companies over the Performance Period, and in any event, no later than 2 1/2 months after the
end of the Performance Period, the Company will deliver to Employee certificate(s)
evidencing the shares of common stock of the Company representing the percentage of the
Target Incentive earned by Employee hereunder, if any, as determined pursuant to Section
4(b) above. Prior to the issuance to Employee of certificate(s) for shares of common stock
earned under this Agreement, if any, Employee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the
Company (including without limitation, the right to payment of dividends or the right to
vote) with respect to shares represented by the Performance Unit Award. Notwithstanding
anything else to the contrary provided herein, the Company shall not be obligated to issue
any certificate representing the shares to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, unless
and until the Company is advised by its counsel that the issuance and delivery of such
certificate is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

5. Total Stockholder Return. Total Stockholder Return with respect to the Company and
each Peer Company means the increase (if any) in the fair market value of common stock of the
Company and such Peer Company, assuming reinvestment of dividends, over the Performance Period.
The measurement of change in fair market value over the Performance Period shall be based on the
average closing prices of the common stock for the last 60 trading days preceding February 2, 2011
and the last 60 trading days preceding the end of the Performance Period, assuming reinvestment of
dividends in common stock.

6. Peer Companies. The Peer Companies are the following: Airtransport Services Group,
Arkansas Best Corp., Celadon Group Inc., CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Con-Way, Inc., Covenant
Transport, Inc., FEDEX Corp., Forward Air Corp., Frozen Food Express Industries, Genesee & Wyoming,
Inc., Heartland Express, Inc., Horizon Lines, Inc., Hub Group, Inc., J. B. Hunt Transport Svcs.,
Inc., Kansas City Southern, Kirby Corporation, Knight Transportation, Inc., Landstar Systems, Inc.,
Marten Transport, Ltd., Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Pacer International, Inc., P.A.M.
Transportation Services, Inc., Patriot Transportation Holdings, Inc., Quality Distribution, Inc.,
Ryder System Inc., United Parcel Service, Inc., Universal Truckload Services, USA Truck Inc., UTI
Worldwide Inc., Vitran Corporation, Werner Enterprises, Inc. and YRC Worldwide, Inc.

7. Termination of Employment.

(a) Except as set forth in subsection (b), this Award Agreement will terminate and be
of no further force or effect on the date that Employee is no longer employed by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, if such termination is a voluntary termination or an involuntary
termination for Cause (as defined in the Plan). If the Employee is involuntarily terminated
other than for Cause (as defined in the Plan), or terminates employment due to death, Total
Disability (as defined in the Plan) or retirement at or after age 55 (the determination of
which shall be made in the sole discretion of the Committee), after completing at least 50%
of the Performance Period, Employee shall be entitled to a pro rata portion of the
Performance Unit Award determined pursuant to Section 4(b) above, payable in accordance with
the terms of Section 4(c).

(b) Employee will be entitled to receive any Performance Unit Award payable under
Section 4 of this Award Agreement if Employee’s employment terminates after the Performance
Period but before Employee’s receipt of such Performance Unit Award payment for the
Performance Period, except in the event of a termination for Cause in which case no Award
shall be payable.

8. Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) of
the Company during the Performance Period, then upon the effectiveness of such Change in Control,
this Award Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect and the Employee shall
receive the percentage of the Target Incentive based on Total Stockholder Return of the Company and
each Peer Company calculated as of the date of such Change in Control, prorated to reflect the
actual number of months of service from the commencement of the Performance Period to the date of
such Change in Control. Contemporaneously with the Change in Control, the Company will deliver to
Employee certificate(s) evidencing the shares of common stock of the Company representing the
percentage of the Target Incentive earned by Employee hereunder, if any.

9. Forfeiture. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Award granted hereunder is
subject to the terms of a forfeiture or clawback policy adopted by the Board of Directors.
Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that the Board may amend or modify such policy at any time
or may adopt a new policy replacing or supplementing such policy and that any such policy or
policies shall be binding on Employee and the Award granted hereunder.

10. Tax Withholding. Employee shall pay, or make arrangements acceptable to the
Company for the payment of, any and all federal, state, and local tax withholding that in the
opinion of the Company is required by law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Employee shall be
entitled to satisfy any tax withholding obligations hereunder through an election to have shares of
common stock of the Company withheld from any payments under this Agreement. Unless Employee
satisfies any such tax withholding obligation by paying the amount in cash, by check, stock
withholding, or by other arrangements acceptable to the Company, the Company shall withhold a
portion of the Performance Unit Award equal to the tax withholding obligation. Any share
withholding pursuant to this Section 10 is intended to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e)
under the Exchange Act.

11. Non-Transferability. Employee shall not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or
otherwise encumber or dispose of the Performance Unit Award (or any rights hereunder) nor sell,
transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any of the shares of common stock
issuable under this Agreement prior to the delivery to Employee of certificates for shares of
common stock payable pursuant to Section 4(c) or Section 8.

12. Definitions; Copy of Plan. To the extent not specifically defined in this Award
Agreement, all capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement will have the same meanings ascribed
to them in the Plan. By signing this Award Agreement, Employee acknowledges receipt of a copy of
the Plan.

13. Committee Administration. The Committee shall have the sole responsibility for
construing and interpreting this Agreement, and for resolving all questions arising hereunder. Any
decision or action taken by the Committee arising out of, or in connection with, the construction,
administration, interpretation or effect of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding upon all
persons.

14. Stock Ownership Guidelines. Employee acknowledges that the Board of Directors of
the Company has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines applicable to certain officers of the Company
and such Guidelines may be modified or amended in whole or in part at any time.

15. Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law which might otherwise apply.

16. Entire Agreement; Amendments. Except as provided in the Plan and as otherwise
expressly set forth herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be effective unless in writing specifically referring hereto, and signed by the
parties hereto. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between Employee
and the Company to the extent that any such agreements or understandings conflict with the terms of
this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have executed this Award Agreement as of
the Date of Grant.

SAIA, INC.

By

Richard D. O’Dell

President and Chief Executive Officer

ATTEST:

James A. Darby, Secretary

[      ], Employee

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