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Motor Vehicles: Better Management of the Military Services' Vehicles Could Save Millions

NSIAD-91-132 Published: May 24, 1991. Publicly Released: Jun 04, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the military services' management of their nontactical transportation, focusing on the: (1) potential for reducing the cost of motor vehicles used by the military services; (2) completion of statutorily required cost analyses comparing the services' costs with General Services Administration (GSA) and private contractors' costs; (3) vehicle utilization; and (4) special purchase requirements for military vehicles.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Since the military services believe they can save millions of dollars by converting from more costly service vehicle fleet management to the GSA fleet, Congress may wish to consider reviewing the use of one or more of the financial alternatives for handling any significant expansion of the GSA motor vehicle fleet.
Closed – Not Implemented
This is a matter for congressional consideration, no action will be taken by Congress.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the service secretaries to evaluate their vehicle use according to established DOD standards to ensure that vehicles are used effectively and excess vehicles are made available to activities needing additional vehicles.
Closed – Implemented
OSD issued guidance to the services reemphasizing the established DOD motor vehicle utilization goals to ensure that vehicles are used efficiently and emphasizing the need to continue to examine methods to reduce costs through increased standardization and elimination of special requirements. The services are analyzing the potential benefits of converting to GSA or commercial sector vehicles.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should direct the service secretaries to continue to review vehicle requirements and eliminate, where possible, unnecessary specifications so as to enable their vehicles to be bought at lower cost.
Closed – Implemented
OSD issued guidance to the services reemphasizing the established DOD motor vehicle utilization goals to ensure that vehicles are used effectively and emphasizing the need to continue to examine methods to reduce costs through increased standardization and elimination of special requirements. The services are analyzing the potential benefits of converting to GSA or commercial sector vehicles.

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Topics

Federal property managementInteragency relationsMilitary cost controlMilitary land vehiclesMilitary personnelMilitary procurementMotor poolsMotor vehiclesPurchase ordersMilitary forces