Capital lease obligation period.

No definition available.

Name:	saia_CapitalLeaseObligationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	saia_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt instrument maximum authorized value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	saia_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of credit facility additional borrowing capacity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	saia_LineOfCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	saia_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of credit facility amended expiration month and year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	saia_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84164817&loc=d3e45280-112737

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate as being fixed or variable, and, if variable, identification of the index or rate on which the interest rate is based and the number of points or percentage added to that index or rate to set the rate, and other pertinent information, such as frequency of rate resets.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateTerms
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest expense incurred on long-term debt classified as other, including, but not limited to, interest on long-term notes and amortization of issuance costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpenseOtherLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding calculated at point in time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=saia_RestatedMasterShelfAgreementMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Debt and Financing Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 06, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 05, 2015	Jan. 31, 2008	Nov. 30, 2007	Apr. 30, 2005	Dec. 31, 2002
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit facility outstanding amount		$ 1,800,000	$ 1,800,000
Senior notes outstanding			7,143,000
Capital Leases, described below		$ 89,916,000	66,661,000
Lease expiration period		7 years
Cash paid for interest		$ 2,300,000	2,400,000	$ 3,000,000
Estimated fair value of total debt		$ 132,300,000	77,600,000
Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amendment line of credit facility expiration year and month	2020-03
Restated Master Shelf Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes outstanding			$ 7,100,000
Senior Notes under Master Shelf Agreement [Member] \| Restated Master Shelf Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes issued, value						$ 25,000,000	$ 25,000,000		$ 100,000,000
Senior notes authorized amount								$ 150,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Interest rate on notes						6.17%	6.14%
Senior credit facility, Interest rate terms description		The November 2007 issuance of $25 million Senior Notes had a fixed interest rate of 6.14 percent. The January 2008 issuance of $25 million Senior Notes had a fixed interest rate of 6.17 percent. Payments due for both $25 million issuances were interest only until June 30, 2011 and at that time semi-annual principal payments began with the final payments made on December 31, 2017.
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate for capital lease		3.07%	2.82%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity under credit agreement	$ 250,000,000
Additional borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility		$ 75,000,000
Credit Agreement with Banks		43,000,000	$ 0
Letter of credit facility outstanding amount		$ 33,900,000	$ 39,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate margin		1.125%
Letter of credit unused portion fee		0.20%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate margin		2.25%
Letter of credit unused portion fee		0.30%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member] \| LIBOR Rate Margin [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate margin		1.125%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member] \| LIBOR Rate Margin [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate margin		2.25%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member] \| Base Rate Margin [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate margin		0.125%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Restated Credit Agreement [Member] \| Base Rate Margin [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Rate margin		0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Credit Agreement Before Amendments [Member] \| Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity under credit agreement					$ 200,000,000