The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) has reached into the ranks of government for its new leader. Bruce Carlton, assistant administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, took the top job at the industry association on June 1. A career official at MarAd, Carlton has more than 30 years of experience in domestic and international freight transportation. He replaces John Ficker, who resigned from the post late last year.

Carlton's knowledge of the inner workings of Washington and of international regulatory bodies will serve him well in his new position. At MarAd, Carlton was responsible for overseeing international relations, policy development and implementation, economic analysis, and strategic planning. He negotiated transportation agreements with a number of countries and was instrumental in U.S. government efforts at the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Carlton, who clearly knows his way around Capitol Hill, has also testified before Congress numerous times.

Carlton earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in economics from Wayne State University in Detroit.