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Mark Hazelwood is a veteran transportation and energy executive whose career spans more than four decades in the truck stop, travel center, petroleum, and trucking industries. Beginning at age 13 washing dishes at a truck stop restaurant managed by his mother in Eaton, Ohio, Mark built his career from the ground up and ultimately became one of the industry’s most experienced executives and strategists.
After working for TravelCenters of America from 1977 to 1984 and subsequently for Lykins Petroleum, Mark joined Pilot in 1985 as a District Manager overseeing its seven-location dual travel center division. From the beginning, he envisioned developing a nationwide network of travel centers and played a significant role in the company’s expansion and evolution.
Mark was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Development in 1988, Executive Vice President in 1998, and President in 2012. During his tenure, he held leadership responsibilities across sales, real estate, development, mergers and acquisitions, and facility revenue.
Throughout his career, Mark has developed and advanced strategies and concepts that helped shape the modern travel center and trucking industries. His areas of leadership and innovation have included industry relationship development, Transflo bill-of-lading imaging, fuel hedging strategies for trucking fleets, Z-Con RF fueling technology, site selection and development, mergers and acquisitions, store design and layouts, national quick-service restaurant strategy, full-service restaurant programs, and dealer network development.
From 2010 to 2014, Mark served on the board of Electronic Funds Source (EFS), where he contributed industry insight, relationships, and strategic acquisition and merger ideas during a period of significant growth for the company. He also served on the Flying J Shell board during a period of substantial expansion.
Mark is the founder and current CEO of People Data and Analytics (PDA), an organization created to improve driver retention and strengthen relationships between professional drivers and motor carriers. PDA provides comprehensive recruiting and driver-enrichment programs designed to connect the right professional driver with the right fleet. Once a driver joins a PDA partner fleet, PDA serves as an independent voice for the driver, helping improve communication and addressing issues including compensation, home time, working conditions, and other quality-of-life priorities.
Mark also currently serves as Chairman of Eco Flaps and ELDS, continuing his leadership and involvement in businesses focused on innovation and solutions within the transportation industry.
Across his career, Mark has focused on identifying opportunities, building relationships, developing businesses, and challenging conventional approaches within the transportation industry. His experience encompasses operations, sales, petroleum, real estate development, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, technology, and professional driver recruitment and retention.