ARTICLE I NAME CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS The name of this organization shall be the AMERICAN POLYGRAPH The objectives of the APA shall be to advance the use of the polygraph as a profession and as a means of promoting social welfare by the encouragement of the use of the polygraph in its broadest and Est liberal manner; by promotion of research into instrumentation and techniques; by the improvement of the qualifications of polygraph examiners through high standards of professional ethics, conduc:, education and achievement; to unify polygraph examiners throughout the world and rekindle their interest in the use of the polygraph and in the APA; by the increase and diffusion of polygraph techology through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions and publications; thereby to advance scientific, professional, and public acceptance of the contributions of polygraph techniques to the promotion of the public welfare and to keep the APA informed of member sentiment and urge the membership's active participation in civic and community affairs where the polygraph is concerned; and to publicize the name and prestige of the APA. Associate, Affiliate, Honorary, Life and Corporate. (Amended 1/748/75 and 8/77-8/78). To qualify for full privileges and standing as a member, a. b. C. d. The applicant must have completed a course of The applicant must have administered at least 200 The applicant must have demonstrated proficiency in the conduct of polygraph examinations to the satisfaction of the Membership Committee. The applicant must possess, as a minimum, a degree at the baccalaureate level from a college or university accredited by the Regional Accreditation Boarċ. The CHAIRMAN. We will turn to you, Mr. Matthews. Mr. MATTHEWS. Thank you, Mr Chairman. I am Herbert R. Matthews, president of Benton Bros. Film Express, a medium-size general commodity trucking company serving Georgia and Florida. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am here today representing the American Trucking Association, the national association of the trucking industry, to express the motor carrier industry's strong opposition to the proposed ban on the use of polygraphs in S. 1815. It is our industry's as well as my own personal belief from experience that the public safety of our Nation's highways will be sorely compromised without the use of the polygraph as a preemployment screening tool. S. 1815 would run counter to the tremendous efforts to improve truck and highway safety currently underway by the Department of Transportation in partnership with the trucking industry here and across the country. Our trucks log over 138 billion miles per year on the Nation's roads; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Consider the types of cargo we carry: 250,000 shipments of hazardous materials per day; 45,000 shipments of arms, ammunitions, explosives, and chemical weapons per year We also carry the bulk of controlled drug shipments and high-value items such as computers. Finally, our drivers have direct access to millions of homes, businesses, and military establishments all over the country. The safety of American highways, the national security, and security of property are at stake if polygraph use is banned. The application process is inadequate to reveal, because there is no national driver's license. Bad drivers can spread their poor driving record over many licenses without fear of detection. That is very important. Likewise, alcohol and drug abuse, which is a severe problem for our industry, cannot be identified by traditional means. Undetected theft from previous employers, terrorist connections, and other relevant information is not disclosed by any other source. The polygraph is an effective tool in justifiably probing all of these areas. As a matter of fact, sir, in my own company, of those who falsify the employment applications, 50 percent do so because of drug problems, and 32 percent do so because of alcohol problems. These individuals represent the most serious threat to public safety. Yet, without the polygraph, they would be driving my trucks on the highways in Georgia and Florida. No one wants to place an 80,000-pound truck in the hands of a wreckless driver, a drug addict or a criminal, especially one carrying hazardous or sensitive cargo. ATA strongly urges the committee not to take away an important safety tool that helps prevent this from happening. If S. 1815 is enacted, we believe an exemption for the motor carrier industry is necessary in the national interest. Mr. Chairman, I have supplied a detailed written statement for the record, which I believe provides a compelling case for an exemption for the trucking industry. I thank you, and I would like to add one comment. I heard Congressman Pat Williams coin a new word this morning: "gadget." In my opinion, every American in the United States ought to write him a note and say, "Thank God for the 'gadget.'" Thank you, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, sir. [The prepared statement of Mr. Matthews follows:] Before the UNITED STATES SENATE AND HUMAN RESOURCES APRIL 23, 1986 Statement of the AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS On S.1815-EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT Herbert R. Matthews AP Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources. I am Herbert R. Matthews, President of Benton Brothers Film Express, an interstate motor carrier of general commodities with significant operations in Georgia and Florida. I am here today, representing the American Trucking Associations, to present the views of the trucking industry on the important issues involved with the use of the polygraph. ATA is the national trade association of the trucking industry. Through its 51 affiliated trucking associations located in every state and the District of Columbia, 11 affiliated conferences, and several thousand individual motor carriers, ATA represents every type and class of motor carrier in the country: for-hire and private; regulated and exempt. The American trucking industry provides an essential transportation service to the largest economy in the world. It is, in fact the largest form of transportation in the country, employing more people and handling more freight than any other mode. Each year, five million trucks, operated by thousands of truck drivers, log more than 138 billion miles on our |