GSA’s DC-Based Vehicles Are Underutilized

The General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees the federal fleet, was found to have underutilized vehicles in its own internal fleet located at the agency’s headquarters and national capital region (NCR). The report was conducted by the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General using data from FY-2019 and published on Feb. 25.

A 2016 review found the GSA’s ideal fleet size should be 936 vehicles, with 250 in the NCR. In FY-2019, NCR had 148 vehicles, far lower than the recommended number. However, despite the reductions, NCR internal fleet vehicles were underutilized and did not meet minimum federal or internal mileage guidelines. Mileage guidelines range from 2,500 to 6,500 miles annually using internal numbers and 7,500 to 12,000 miles annually using federal numbers — the range covers passenger vehicles to heavy trucks. The report stated the NCR could save up to $1.2 million by reducing its fleet of underutilized vehicles.

The report also found its Executive Driver Program, for exclusive use of senior executives for round-trip travel in the D.C. area, is both underutilized and operating at higher costs than alternative transportation methods. It employs two drivers and has four vehicles; vehicles were driven between 825 and 2,313 miles annually in FY-2019, and the program cost about $83,000. In comparison, Uber or Lyft would have cost up to $30,000.

The report recommended the GSA remove underutilized vehicles from the NCR inventory and evaluate whether commercial transportation options would be more cost-effective than the Executive Driver Program.

GSA’s chief administrative services officer agreed with the findings and recommendations and noted that since 2010, GSA has reduced its fleet size by 32% and costs by $1.6 million.

Originally posted on Government Fleet