Description

This is your chance to be part of a community dedicated to driving progress in the trucking industry. Join us for an immersive experience that celebrates the spirit of trucking and sets the course for a successful future.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 79th Annual North Dakota Motor Carriers Association Convention!



Featuring:

Fun Pianos


Get ready to rock with Fun Pianos at our convention this year! Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with high-energy dueling pianos, interactive music, and non-stop fun. Whether you're singing along or dancing in your seat, Fun Pianos promises to be the highlight of our event. Don't miss out on this lively and engaging entertainment experience! Money raised during Fun Pianos will benefit the NDMCA Foundation!

Emily Clayton

Emily Clayton is a Senior Economic Analyst with American Trucking Associations, the leading trade association for the trucking industry, reporting directly to the Chief Economist, Bob Costello. Since joining ATA in 2022, Emily has worked on macroeconomic issues impacting the trucking industry, as well as the publication of economic reports. Prior to joining ATA, she graduated from American University with a master’s degree in applied economics.

Dr. Steve Wood

Steve M. Wood, Ph.D. is a Litigation Consultant at Courtroom Sciences, Inc., a national litigation consulting and litigation support firm based in Irving, Texas. Dr. Wood uses his social psychological expertise to help clients understand the juror decision-making process and maximize the likelihood of favorable case outcomes. He also assists clients with a myriad of case-related activities, including pre-trial research, witness effectiveness training, case theme development, supplemental juror questionnaires, and jury selection. His work has been published in various peer-reviewed academic journals, as well as several scholarly magazines, and he also serves as co-host of The Litigation Psychology Podcast.

Avoiding Nuclear Verdicts and Nuclear Settlements: The Mongoose Method
The trucking and transportation industry is being rocked by nuclear verdicts and nuclear settlements. Award amounts for injuries and deaths are growing, increasing insurance premiums, litigation costs, reputational damage, and even driving some companies completely out of business. Plaintiff reptile attacks of drivers, safety directors, and other corporate representatives during deposition and trial testimony have only exacerbated the large verdicts phenomenon.

There are several factors to blame, including: problem witnesses; growth of Reptile tactics; egregious corporate conduct; punitive jurors; judicial hellholes; and aggressive plaintiff’s attorneys combined with conservatism of defense attorneys. This presentation will outline the influence of these factors on nuclear verdicts and inflated settlements in litigation and provide practical solutions to avoid nuclear fallout for defendants.

Craig Price

Craig Price is a Field Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration where he leads field operations in 12 western states, including North Dakota. Craig started his career as a SD Highway Patrol State Trooper in 1997 and served the state for over 26 years. During his law enforcement career, Craig served as the 13^th Superintendent of the SD Highway Patrol from 2011 to 2019 and as the 3^rd Director of Public Safety from 2019 until his retirement in 2023. As the Director of Public Safety, Craig served on the Governor’s Cabinet.