B-129264, OCTOBER 10, 1956, 36 COMP. GEN. 297

B-129264, OCTOBER 10, 1956, 36 COMP. GEN. 297

TRAVEL EXPENSES - RENTAL OF TRAILER FOR GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT - REIMBURSEMENT THE RENTAL OF A TRAILER FOR TRANSPORTATION OF GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT BY AN EMPLOYEE WHOSE TRAVEL ORDERS AUTHORIZED TRAVEL BY PRIVATELY-OWNED AUTOMOBILE IS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF PARAGRAPH 11, STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, FOR HIRE OF SPECIAL CONVEYANCES AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRAILER RENTAL AND THE ADDITIONAL TOLL INCIDENT TO TRANSPORTATION OF THE TRAILER OVER A TOLL HIGHWAY MAY BE MADE PROVIDED THERE IS ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL THAT THE HIRE OF THE TRAILER IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

TO CHIEF OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, OCTOBER 10, 1956:

YOUR LETTER OF AUGUST 7, 1956, CMLRD-1BW-6-D.1, FORWARDED HERE ON SEPTEMBER 18 BY THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF FINANCE, FINEK 248.7 REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER PAYMENT MAY BE MADE ON THE VOUCHER THEREWITH ENCLOSED IN FAVOR OF MR. FUQUA M. HENDRICKS, A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AT FORT DETRICK, MARYLAND, IN THE AMOUNT OF $26.65 REPRESENTING THE RENTAL OF A TRAILER AT $25 AND A TOLL OF $1.65 INCURRED ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. TRAVEL VIA THE TOLL HIGHWAY HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

TRAVEL ORDER DATED MAY 16, 1956, DIRECTED MR. HENDRICKS TO PROCEED FROM FORT DETRICK, MARYLAND, TO RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, THENCE TO CROOKSTON, MINNESOTA, AND RETURN TO FORT DETRICK, INCIDENT TO A TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. INASMUCH AS HE WAS TRANSPORTING ,APPROXIMATELY 500-1200 POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT" TO AND FROM, ON AND BETWEEN TEST SITES AND AS GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DESTINATION POINTS HIS TRAVEL ORDERS AUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION BY PRIVATELY-OWNED VEHICLE AT THE RATE OF 8 CENTS PER MILE AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. MR. HENDRICKS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TWO EMPLOYEES, THEIR BAGGAGE, AND AN ADDITIONAL 150 POUNDS OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM CROOKSTON, MINNESOTA. APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES WEST OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A TIRE BLEW OUT BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE WEIGHT. UPON REACHING MILWAUKEE A TRAILER WAS RENTED AND UTILIZED FOR THE BALANCE OF THE RETURN TRIP RESULTING IN THE COST OF $25 RENTAL AND A $1.65 PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE TOLL. THE GOVERNMENT EQUIPMENT WAS NOT SHIPPED BY COMMERCIAL MEANS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PACKING FACILITIES, THE EXPECTED NEED OF CERTAIN OF THE EQUIPMENT AT FORT DETRICK PRIOR TO TIME COMMERCIAL SHIPMENT COULD BE OBTAINED AND THE DELICATE NATURE OF SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT. RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN FURNISHED COVERING THE EXPENSES CLAIMED.

PARAGRAPH 11 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS PROVIDES FOR THE HIRE OF SPECIAL CONVEYANCES SUCH AS BOATS, AUTOMOBILES, TAXICABS, ETC., WHEN "AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.' WHILE THE REGULATION DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY REFER TO THE HIRE OF A TRAILER, THE PHRASE "OR OTHER SUCH CONVEYANCE" IS DEEMED SUFFICIENTLY BROAD IN SCOPE TO INCLUDE TRAILERS. MOREOVER, THE FACTS PRESENTED WOULD APPEAR SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT THE HIRING OF A SPECIAL CONVEYANCE. ACCORDINGLY, IF THE HIRE OF THE SPECIAL CONVEYANCE IN THIS CASE IS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT, PAYMENT THEREFOR WOULD APPEAR PROPER.