Facing tough comparisons to a year ago, less-than-truckload carrier Saia’s tonnage declines moderated in February as daily shipment counts turned positive. The Johns Creek, Georgia-based company reported Tuesday that tonnage was down 2.7% year over year in February, an improvement from January’s 7% decline. The February result was driven by a 0.3% increase in daily shipments, which was more than offset by a 3% decline in weight per shipment. Both months were up against low-double-digit increases in 2025. On a two-year-stacked comparison, Saia’s (NASDAQ: SAIA) tonnage was up 9.5% in February (up 6.8% in January). Saia’s prior-year comps begin to ease in April (plus-4.4%), turning negative by May. Management from the company previously indicated that January shipments, which were down 2.1% y/y, would have increased without the severe winter storms. (January tonnage would have been down approximately 4% to 4.5%.) The update follows positive manufacturing data released on Monday. The Purchasing Managers’ Index registered a 52.4 reading in February, 20 basis points lower than January. (A reading above 50 signals expansion while one below 50 indicates contraction.) This was the second straight positive report for the dataset, which has largely been in negative territory for over three years. The new orders subindex—an indicator of future activity—came in at 55.8. Inflections in PMI data usually lead LTL volumes by a few months.