Veteran trucking industry lawyer named chief counsel for FMCSA

Updated Feb 4, 2025
Jesse Elison
Jesse Elison
Taylor Nelson

A key appointment to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been announced.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy Friday, Jan. 31, announced a number of appointments within the department, which has more than 55,000 employees. 

Included in the list of political appointees was Jesse Elison, who will swerve as chief counsel of the FMCSA

No mention was made of who would be the new FMCSA administrator.

Elison is a lawyer with considerable experience in the trucking industry. According to an announcement by the Taylor Nelson law firm, which he joined last June, Elison previously was vice president of legal for the Bennett International Group, a Georgia-based heavy haul carrier. He also worked for Montana-based LTL carrier Watkins and Shepard Trucking, and bulk tank carrier Quality Carriers, which is located in Tampa, Florida. He also served transportation clients at other law firms.

He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. He also earned  a masters of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, and received a degree in English from  Brigham Young University.

Elison is also the author of two books. On Riverton Road is a novel about a rodeo bull rider, and My Best Mormon Life, a memoir.