FEDERAL FLEETS

Overall Increase in 

Number of Vehicles 

Masks That Some 

Agencies Decreased 

Their Fleets

Report to the Ranking Member, 

Committee on the Budget, U.S. Senate

August 2012

GAO-12-780

United States Government Accountability Office

GAO
United States Government Accountability Office

Highlights of GAO-12-780, a report to the 

Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, 

U.S. Senate

August 2012

FEDERAL FLEETS

Overall Increase in Number of Vehicles Masks That 

Some Agencies Decreased Their Fleets

Why GAO Did This Study

The federal fleets consist of about 

449,000 civilian and non-tactical 

military (i.e., non-combat) cars, trucks, 

and other vehicles, excluding postal 

vehicles. Various legislation and 

policies have been aimed at reducing 

the size and changing the composition

of federal fleets as a means of 

improving U.S. energy efficiency. Most 

recently, in May 2011, the President 

issued a memorandum calling for 

federal agencies to reduce oil imports 

by determining the optimal size of their 

fleets and eliminating non-essential 

vehicles. 

GAO was asked to provide information 

about any change in the size and 

composition of federal fleets and the 

reasons agencies’ fleets increased or 

decreased over time. GAO analyzed 

agency fleet data compiled by the 

General Services Administration (GSA) 

to identify changes in fleet size and 

vehicle type from fiscal years 2005 to 

2011. GAO selected four agencies—

USDA, Interior, VA, and the U.S. Air 

Force—to discuss with officials the 

reasons for changes in fleet size. GAO 

based its selection on factors such as 

agency mission, fleet size, and 

changes in the number of vehicles.

GAO did not include U.S. Postal 

Service in its analysis because of 

GAO’s recent report on Postal 

Service’s delivery fleet. 

GAO is not making recommendations 

in this report. Although Air Force, 

USDA, and Interior did not comment 

on a draft of this report, GSA and VA 

generally agreed with GAO’s findings 

and provided technical comments that 

were incorporated as appropriate.

What GAO Found

Since fiscal year 2005, the number of federal non-postal civilian and non-tactical 

military vehicles has increased about 7 percent, from about 420,000 to 449,000 

vehicles. (See fig. below.) However, from fiscal year 2005 to 2011, some

agencies decreased their fleets, and the change in fleet size from agency to 

agency varied considerably. For example, one-third of the agencies (8 of 24) with 

the largest number of vehicles decreased their fleets by at least 2 percent during 

this period. Of the 4 agencies GAO selected for review, the Departments of 

Agriculture (USDA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) increased their fleets 5 and 49 

percent, respectively since fiscal year 2005; the U.S. Air Force and Department 

of the Interior (Interior) decreased their fleets 7 and 9 percent, respectively. 

Overall, federal agencies increased the portion of their fleets made up of 

alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., vehicles that operate using ethanol or batteries) 

from about 14 percent to 33 percent from fiscal years 2005 to 2011. In addition, 

GAO found that 8 agencies accounted for almost 80 percent of total federal 

vehicles in fiscal year 2011, while 35 other agencies held the remaining vehicles. 

Figure: Change in Federal Fleets from Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011

Note: GAO analysis included civilian (except Postal Service) and non-tactical military vehicles. 

Fleet managers at the four selected agencies stated that various factors can 

influence changes in fleet size. USDA and VA reportedly acquired more vehicles

from fiscal years 2005 to 2011 to accommodate expanded programs and 

services, among other factors. For example, VA acquired 5,367 additional 

vehicles in part to provide transportation to and from VA health care facilities for 

veterans who require health care services but are not able to drive themselves. 

In contrast, the Air Force and Interior reportedly decreased the number of 

vehicles in part through efforts targeted at reducing their fleets and costs. For 

example, through efforts to identify under-utilized vehicles, Interior eliminated 451 

View GAO vehicles. -12-780. For more information, 

contact Susan Fleming at (202) 512-2834 or 

flemings@gao.gov.
Page i GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Letter 1 

Background 3

The Number of Federal Vehicles Has Increased since 2005 with 

Fleet Changes Varying by Agency 8

Officials Identified Multiple Factors That Influenced Fleet Size at 

Selected Agencies 13

Agency Comments 22

Appendix I Federal Agencies’ and the General Services Administration’s 

Roles and Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles 24

Appendix II GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 29

Related GAO Products 30

Tables

Table 1: Fleets at Four Selected Agencies and Their Largest 

Subordinate Bureaus or Divisions 4

Table 2: Missions of Selected Agencies and Some of Their 

Subordinate Bureaus or Divisions 5

Table 3: List of Selected Federal Statutes, Executive Orders, and 

Policy Initiatives That Affect Federal Agencies’ Fleets 6

Table 4: Change in Proportion of Conventional and Alternative Fuel 

Vehicles for Selected Agencies, Fiscal Years 2005 and 2011 13

Figures

Figure 1: Change in Federal Vehicles, Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011 8

Figure 2: Federal Agencies’ Vehicle Fleets, Fiscal Year 2011 9

Figure 3: Change in the Number of Alternative and Conventional 

Fuel Vehicles in Federal Agencies’ Fleets, Fiscal Years 

2005 to 2011 10

Figure 4: Change in Fleets of Federal Agencies with More Than 

1,000 Vehicles, Fiscal Year 2011 12

Contents
Page ii GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 5: Factors That Officials Reported Led to a Change in 

Overall Agency Fleet Size 14

Figure 6: Increase in the Number of Veterans with a ServiceConnected Disability, Fiscal Years 2000 to 2011 16

Figure 7: Number of Donated Vehicles in Veterans Health 

Administration’s Fleet, Fiscal Years 2007 to 2011 17

Figure 8: NRCS Fleet Vehicle Inventory, Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011 21

Figure 9: National Park Service Fleet Vehicle Inventory, Fiscal 

Years 2005 to 2011 22

Abbreviations

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

BLM Bureau of Land Management

FAST Federal Automotive Statistical Tool

GHG greenhouse gas

GSA General Services Administration

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

USDA Department of Agriculture

VA Department of Veterans Affairs

This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright protection in the 

United States. The published product may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety 

without further permission from GAO. However, because this work may contain 

copyrighted images or other material, permission from the copyright holder may be 

necessary if you wish to reproduce this material separately.
Page 1 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

United States Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC 20548

August 2, 2012

The Honorable Jeff Sessions

Ranking Member

Committee on the Budget

Unites States Senate

Dear Mr. Sessions:

The federal fleets consist of about 449,000 civilian and non-tactical 

military (i.e., non-combat) cars, trucks, and other vehicles, excluding 

postal service vehicles.1 Federal policy makers have initiated a variety of 

efforts aimed at reducing the size of or changing the composition of 

federal fleets as a means of increasing U.S. energy efficiency. For 

example, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that 75 percent of all 

light duty vehicles (e.g., sedans and light trucks) acquired for federal 

fleets be alternative fuel vehicles.2 In 2002, the Office of Management 

and Budget sent a memorandum to the heads of executive branch 

agencies encouraging them to examine the size of their vehicle fleets and 

requiring agencies to report the size, composition, and cost of their fleets 

as part of their budget submission process. Most recently, in May 2011, 

the President issued a memorandum on federal fleets’ performance 

calling on agencies to lead the way in meeting the goal of reducing oil 

imports by, among other activities, determining the optimum size of their 

fleets and eliminating non-essential vehicles. At the same time, recent 

legislative proposals have called for reductions to agencies’ fleets.3

Given these policy priorities, you asked us to provide a range of 

information about federal fleets, including the reasons vehicle inventory 

may increase or decrease over time. In this report, we address (1) the 

 

1

In fiscal year 2011, the U.S. Postal Service had about 210,000 vehicles, bringing 

the total federal vehicle inventory to about 660,000 vehicles. We are not including 

postal vehicles in this report because we recently reported on the U.S. Postal 

Service’s delivery fleet. See GAO, U.S. Postal Service: Strategy Needed to 

Address Aging Delivery Fleet, GAO-11-386 (Washington, D.C.: May 5, 2011).

2

Pub. L. No. 102-486, § 303 (Oct. 24, 1992).

3

For example, S. 1246 directs federal agencies to coordinate with OMB to reduce 

vehicle budgets by 20 percent. S. 1246, 112th Cong. (2011).

 
 

Page 2 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

extent to which the size of federal agencies’ fleets changed since 2005, if 

at all, and (2) the primary reasons that the size of selected agencies’ 

fleets changed over this period. You also asked about the General 

Services Administration’s (GSA) role in helping agencies manage their 

vehicle fleets. GSA’s responsibilities include acquiring and in some cases 

disposing of vehicles for agencies and producing an annual report about 

fleet inventory size and fuel consumption as reported by federal agencies. 

We found that GSA has provided services to assist agencies in managing 

their fleets, including developing guidance to help determine vehicle 

needs and creating tools to help agencies track vehicles. According to 

GSA officials, it has the authority to promulgate regulations and issue 

guidance to agencies related to fleet management, but it lacks 

enforcement authority. We provide more complete information about the 

role GSA plays with respect to helping agencies mange their fleets in 

appendix I. We plan to address other aspects of your request in 

subsequent work, including federal agencies’ responses to the 

presidential memorandum and GSA’s evaluation of these efforts.

To identify changes in fleet size and composition, by ownership and 

vehicle categories, we obtained and analyzed GSA’s federal fleet reports 

from 2005 to 2011 for 64 entities (58 civilian agencies and 6 military 

agencies). GSA prepares the federal fleet reports based on data provided 

annually by federal agencies through its Web-based Federal Automotive 

Statistical Tool (FAST), which GSA and the Department of Energy 

established in 2000. To determine whether the federal fleet report data 

were of sufficient reliability for our analysis, we reviewed the programreporting documentation and quality assurance tests, and discussed the 

various data elements with knowledgeable agency officials. We learned 

that the process for reporting data is mainly dependent on the reporting 

agency. We further learned, based on discussions with GSA and other 

selected agency officials, that the data reported in more recent years 

were of better quality than the data provided earlier. To ensure 

consistency and accuracy in our analysis, we limited our data analysis to 

2005 to 2011 and eliminated 21 civilian agencies from our analysis 

because of missing data, consolidation, or removal from the FAST system 

in later years. As a result of our review and discussions, we determined 

that the data included in our analysis were sufficiently reliable for the 

purpose of describing fleet sizes and composition of the 43 agencies for 

fiscal years 2005 to 2011. We did not include the U.S. Postal Service 
 

Page 3 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

(Postal Service) in our analysis because we recently reported on its 

delivery fleet.4

To identify reasons for changes in fleets, we selected 4 agencies—3 

civilian (Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, and Veterans Affairs) 

and 1 military (U.S. Air Force)—for case studies. These agencies’ 

vehicles made up about 32 percent of the federal vehicles included in our 

analysis. We based our selection on various factors and criteria, including 

agency mission, fleet size, and changes in fleet over time. Specifically, we 

identified civilian and military agencies with different missions and greater 

than 3,000 vehicles in 2011 and then determined whether their fleets 

increased or decreased from fiscal years 2005 to 2011. We selected two 

agencies that increased the number of vehicles and two that decreased 

the number of vehicles over the time frame of our review. We reviewed 

agencies’ documents and data, and spoke with agencies’ fleet managers 

and other officials. We also reviewed GSA regulations and policies 

regarding its authority and responsibilities related to tracking the fleet 

inventory, issuing guidance, and acquiring and disposing of vehicles.

We conducted this performance audit from October 2011 to August 2012 

in accordance with generally accepted government-auditing standards. 

Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 

sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our 

findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe the 

evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and 

conclusions based on our audit objectives.

Although commonly used, the term “federal fleet” is a misnomer because 

there is no single entity that is responsible for all of the almost 660,000 

civilian, Postal Service, and non-tactical military vehicles (about 449,000 

excluding Postal Service vehicles) owned and leased by federal 

agencies. Instead, each federal executive agency is responsible for its 

own fleet. Furthermore, although some federal agencies may have a 

single, centralized fleet of vehicles, others’ fleets are decentralized and 

dispersed among multiple sub-agencies, bureaus, or divisions. In fact, the 

fleets at all of our four selected agencies consist of smaller fleets of 

 

4

GAO -11-386.

Background 
 

Page 4 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

vehicles that belong to various bureaus and divisions. (See table 1 for 

breakdown of fleets at selected agencies.)

Table 1: Fleets at Four Selected Agencies and Their Largest Subordinate Bureaus or Divisions 

Name of selected agency Largest subordinate bureaus or divisions by fleet size 

Fleet size as 

of FY 2011

Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 5,433

Forest Service 20,235

Natural Resources Conservation Service 9,516

All other USDA bureaus and sub-agencies 8,215

Total 43,399

Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 5,363

National Park Service 11,714

Fish and Wildlife Service 6,863

All other Interior bureaus and sub-agencies 9,705

Total 33,645

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration 14,819

Veterans Benefits Administration 787

National Cemetery Administration 642

All other Veterans Affairs staff offices 173

Total 16,421

U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command 14,455

Air National Guard 11,681

Pacific Air Forces 9,124

All other Air Force major commands 15,637

Total 50,897

Source: GAO analysis of GSA and U.S. Air Force data. 

Federal departments, agencies, and their contractors use vehicles—

specifically non-tactical vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks (light, 

medium, and heavy), and special purpose vehicles (e.g., ambulances and 

buses)—to carry out their different missions. (See table 2.) For example, 

the National Park Service uses trucks to transport personnel and 

equipment to fight fires and the Veterans Health Administration uses 

passenger cars to transport veterans to and from Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) health care facilities to receive medical services. Agencies’ 

vehicles are often widely dispersed across the country and, in some 

cases, throughout the world. For example, the Air Force operates 

vehicles on bases in Europe and Asia, while VA’s fleet is spread across 
 

Page 5 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

medical centers, national cemeteries, and other locations throughout the 

country.

Table 2: Missions of Selected Agencies and Some of Their Subordinate Bureaus or Divisions 

Department of Agriculture works to support the American agricultural economy to strengthen rural communities; to protect and 

conserve the nation’s natural resources; and to provide a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply for the American people.

• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Protects and promotes U.S. agricultural health, regulates genetically engineered 

organisms, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and carries out wildlife damage-management activities.

• Forest Service—Manages public lands in national forests and grasslands.

• Natural Resources Conservation Service—Ensures private lands are conserved, restored, and more resilient to environmental 

challenges, like climate change.

Predominant vehicle types: sedans, light duty vehicles, and medium duty vehicles.

Department of the Interior manages the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information 

about those resources; and honors trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated 

island communities.

• Bureau of Land Management—Sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and 

enjoyment of present and future generations.

• National Park Service—Preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, 

education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Conserves, protects, and enhances fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the American 

people. 

Predominant vehicle types: light duty vehicles, medium duty vehicles, and heavy duty vehicles.

Department of Veterans Affairs serves America’s veterans and their families by responding to their needs for health care, benefits, 

and memorial services.

• Veterans Health Administration—Provides comprehensive care to more than 8.3 million veterans a year through its health care 

facilities, including 152 medical centers and nearly 1,400 community-based outpatient clinics, and is the nation’s largest 

integrated health care system.

• Veterans Benefits Administration—Serves veterans, service members, and their families by delivering client-centered and 

personalized benefits and services that assist in their readjustment.

• National Cemetery Administration—Honors veterans and their families with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting 

tributes that commemorate their service to the nation.

Predominant vehicle types: sedans, light duty vehicles, medium duty vehicles, and heavy duty vehicles.

The U.S. Air Force is a branch of the U.S. armed forces responsible for aerial warfare, space warfare, and cyberwarfare.

• Air Combat Command—Supports global implementation of national security strategy and operates fighter, bomber, 

reconnaissance, battle-management, and electronic-combat aircraft.

• Air National Guard—Maintains combat-ready units available for prompt mobilization during war and provides assistance during 

national emergencies.

• Pacific Air Forces— Provides ready air and space power to promote U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific during peacetime, crisis, 

and in war.

Predominant vehicle types: light duty vehicles, medium duty vehicles, and heavy duty vehicles.

Source: GAO analysis of agencies’ information.

Note: Examples of light duty vehicles include subcompact (4 passenger) vehicles, midsize (5 

passenger) sedans, 4x2 sports utility vehicles, 4x4 pickup trucks, and 4x2 van wagons. Examples of 

medium duty and heavy duty vehicles include cargo vans, dump trucks, and maintenance trucks.
 

Page 6 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Federal agencies and GSA have distinct responsibilities regarding federal 

fleets. Federal agencies are responsible for operating a fleet that enables 

them to fulfill their mission and meet federal energy and fuel efficiency 

requirements. Specifically, federal agencies are responsible for acquiring, 

maintaining, and managing their vehicles. GSA’s role is to develop 

guidance to help agencies manage their fleets, help agencies procure 

affordable vehicles, and provide reports on the federal fleet. In particular, 

GSA establishes policies and issues guidance to help agencies manage 

their fleets effectively and meet other federal requirements. GSA 

manages both the vehicle-purchasing and vehicle-leasing programs, 

thereby offering federal agencies an array of automotive products, 

including alternative fuel vehicles, sedans, light trucks, buses, and heavy 

trucks. In addition, GSA and the Department of Energy co-sponsor a 

Web-based data- reporting portal, in which agencies annually report 

information about the size and composition of vehicles, fuel consumption, 

and vehicle mileage. (See app. I for additional information about 

agencies’ and GSA’s roles and responsibilities.)

Federal laws, executive orders, and policy decisions have affected 

agency fleet size and composition. (See table 3.) For example, various 

statutes have been enacted requiring federal agencies to meet certain 

energy goals by reducing petroleum consumption and acquiring 

alternative fuel vehicles.

Table 3: List of Selected Federal Statutes, Executive Orders, and Policy Initiatives That Affect Federal Agencies’ Fleets 

Statutes, executive orders, 

or policy initiatives

Year enacted 

or issued Description

Energy Policy Act of 1992 1992 The act requires alternative fuel vehicles make up 75 percent of light duty vehicles 

acquired by federal agencies operating fleets of 20 or more vehicles in 

metropolitan statistical areas with populations of 250,000 or more. 

Office of Management and 

Budget memo to federal 

agencies

2002 The Office of Management and Budget sent a memorandum to agencies 

indicating that it was taking a close look at vehicle inventory and encouraged 

agencies to do the same. It required agencies, as part of their budget submission, 

to report the size, composition, and cost of their fleets for the current year and to 

project costs for the next 3 fiscal years.

Executive Order 13423a 2007 Sets goals in various energy efficiency areas and directs federal agencies to 

increase alternative fuel consumption by 159.4 percent (or 10 percent annually 

over the previous year) by 2015, from a 2005 baseline. 

Energy Independence and 

Security Act of 2007 (EISA)b 2007 Requires federal agencies to achieve at least a 20 percent reduction in annual 

petroleum consumption and a 10 percent increase in annual alternative fuel 

consumption by 2015 relative to a fiscal year 2005 baseline. EISA also prohibits 

federal agencies from acquiring any light duty motor vehicle or medium duty 

passenger vehicles that is not a low greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting vehicle.
 

Page 7 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Statutes, executive orders, 

or policy initiatives

Year enacted 

or issued Description

Executive Order 13514c 2009 In an effort to reduce GHG, the executive order directs federal agencies to reduce 

petroleum consumption by 30 percent or 2 percent annually by 2020, from a 2005 

baseline.

American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act of 2009 

(Recovery Act)d

2009 The Recovery Act appropriated $300 million to GSA to acquire newer, energyefficient motor vehicles to replace older, less efficient vehicles. GSA administered 

the funds and required the agencies it selected to receive Recovery Act vehicles 

to turn in an older vehicle to receive a new one. 

Source: GAO analysis of federal statutes, executive orders, and policy initiatives.

a

Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management, 72 Fed. Reg. 3919 

(Jan. 26, 2007).

b

Pub. L. No. 110-140, §§ 141, 142 (Dec. 19, 2007).

c

Federal Leadership in Environmental Energy and Economic Performance, 74 Fed. Reg. 52117 (Oct. 

8, 2009).

d

Pub. L. No. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115 (Feb. 17, 2009).

We have previously reported that in light of multiple and sometimes 

conflicting statutes, fleet managers often lack the flexibility and tools to 

meet the goal of reducing the federal fleets’ use of petroleum and its GHG 

emissions.5

In May 2011, the President issued a memorandum regarding federal 

fleets’ performance directing all federal agencies to evaluate and report 

on their fleets to meet 2015 alternative fuel vehicle goals. At the time of 

our review, federal agencies were in the process of responding to the 

presidential memorandum by completing their vehicle allocation 

methodologies—a tool agencies are using to evaluate their fleets—and 

GSA was preparing to evaluate their responses.

These statutes and executive orders were enacted and 

issued in a piecemeal fashion and represent a fragmented rather than an 

integrated approach to meeting key national goals.

6

 

5

GAO, Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, 

Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue, GAO-11-318SP, (Washington, D.C.:

Mar. 1, 2011).

6

The presidential memorandum required agencies to report their vehicle 

allocation methodology results to GSA and on agency websites by February 

2012. Further, agencies were required to incorporate GSA-approved vehicle 

acquisition and management plans into their annual strategic sustainability 

performance plans by the beginning of June 2012. 
 

Page 8 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Since fiscal year 2005, the number of federal non-postal, non-tactical 

vehicles has increased about 7 percent, from 420,382 to 449,444 

vehicles.7

Figure 1: Change in Federal Vehicles, Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011

Note: GAO’s analysis included civilian (except Postal Service) and non-tactical military vehicles.

The federal inventory of non-postal, non-tactical vehicles is dominated by 

a few agencies. In fiscal year 2011, the fleets of 8 federal agencies made 

up almost 80 percent of total federal vehicles, while 35 agencies made up 

the remaining 21 percent (fig. 2).

 

7

U.S. Postal Service vehicles are excluded from this analysis because we 

recently reported on the U.S. Postal Service’s delivery fleet. See GAO-11-386.

The Number of 

Federal Vehicles Has 

Increased since 2005 

with Fleet Changes 

Varying by Agency
 

Page 9 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 2: Federal Agencies’ Vehicle Fleets, Fiscal Year 2011

Note: GAO analysis included civilian (except Postal Service) and non-tactical military vehicles.

In addition to the size of their fleets, federal agencies’ changed fleet 

composition as well. Overall, federal agencies increased the proportion of 

their fleets made up of alternative fuel vehicles (i.e., vehicles that operate 

using an ethanol blended fuel, compressed natural gas, and batteries, 

among others) as opposed to conventional fuel vehicles (i.e., vehicles 

that operate on gasoline and diesel fuel) from about 14 percent to 33 

percent from fiscal years 2005 to 2011. (See fig. 3.) The increase in the 

proportion of alternative fuel vehicles should not be surprising given that 

the Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that federal agencies move toward 

acquiring mostly alternative fuel sedans and trucks.8

 

8

GAO previously reported that the U.S. Postal Service, which purchased about 

43,000 alternative fuel vehicles as of September 2010, has indicated that it may 

not be able to operate the vehicles using the alternative fuel because the fuel 

may be unavailable or more costly. See GAO-11-386. 
 

Page 10 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 3: Change in the Number of Alternative and Conventional Fuel Vehicles in 

Federal Agencies’ Fleets, Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011

Note: GAO analysis included civilian (except Postal Service) and non-tactical military vehicles.

One characteristic that did not change substantially over the period is the 

extent to which federal agencies owned or leased vehicles. In fiscal year 

2011, federal agencies owned about 54 percent of their vehicles, leased 

about 44 percent from GSA, and leased about 2 percent from commercial 

vendors. These percentages remained fairly stable across the 7-year 

period.

Although the number of federal vehicles increased from fiscal years 2005 

to 2011, not all agencies’ fleets increased—some agencies experienced a 

decrease in the number of vehicles, while others changed very little. 

Specifically, 8 of the 24 agencies with the largest numbers of vehicles 

decreased their fleets by at least 2 percent over the period. (See fig. 4.) 

Of the four agencies we selected for review, two increased and two 

decreased the number of vehicles in their fleet over the seven-year 

period. USDA and VA both increased the size of their fleets. USDA’s fleet 

grew about 5 percent and VA’s fleet grew about 49 percent from fiscal 

years 2005 to 2011. Over that period, VA experienced a net gain of 5,367 
 

Page 11 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

vehicles, which represents about 1 percent of all federal vehicles in fiscal 

year 2011. In contrast, the Air Force and Interior both decreased the size 

of their fleets from fiscal years 2005 to 2011. The Air Force reduced its 

fleet about 7 percent, experiencing a net loss of 4,111 vehicles, and 

Interior reduced its fleet about 9 percent, or 3,510 vehicles. Each 

agency’s fleet varied from year to year.
 

Page 12 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 4: Change in Fleets of Federal Agencies with More Than 1,000 Vehicles, Fiscal Year 2011
 

Page 13 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Notes: As discussed in the report, those agencies highlighted in yellow were selected for in-depth 

analysis.

GAO analysis included civilian (except Postal Service) and non-tactical military vehicles.

Although the number of U.S. Agency for International Development’s vehicles increased by 1 percent, 

the agency experienced a 45 percent decrease from fiscal years 2005 to 2008.

In addition, each selected agency increased the proportion of its fleet 

made up of alternative fuel vehicles. (See table 4.) Interior’s alternative 

fuel fleet grew 509 percent over the period with alternative fuel vehicles 

making up about 25 percent of its fleet in fiscal year 2011. VA’s 

alternative fuel vehicles made up about 52 percent of its overall fleet in 

fiscal year 2011, a larger proportion than any of the other three agencies.

Table 4: Change in Proportion of Conventional and Alternative Fuel Vehicles for Selected Agencies, Fiscal Years 2005 and 

2011

Proportion of fleets 

made up of conventional

fuel vehicles

Proportion of fleets 

made up of alternative 

fuel vehicles

Percentage change in 

alternative fuel vehicles 

from FY 2005 to FY 2011

Agency FY 2005 FY 2011 FY 2005 FY 2011

Department of Agriculture 91.9% 69.9% 8.1% 30.1% 279%

U.S. Air Force 90.2% 77.6% 9.8% 22.4% 112%

Department of the Interior 96.3% 75.4% 3.7% 24.6% 509%

Department of Veterans Affairs 87.2% 48.5% 12.8% 51.5% 498%

Source: GAO analysis of GSA data.

The fleet managers at the four agencies we selected told us that various 

factors have influenced changes in fleet size. (See fig. 5.) According to 

officials, USDA and VA increased the size of their fleets from fiscal years 

2005 to 2011 to accommodate expanded programs and services, among 

other factors, while the Air Force and Interior reportedly decreased their 

fleet size in part by implementing measures to improve fleet 

management. Officials also identified fleet changes in subordinate 

bureaus and divisions, but in the two cases we learned of, they were not 

substantive enough to influence the direction of the agency’s overall fleet 

changes over the 7-year period. Further, agency officials stated that fleets 

did not increase as a result of vehicles procured using Recovery Act 

funds, because higher fuel-efficient vehicles replaced older, less fuelefficient ones on a one-for-one basis.

Officials Identified 

Multiple Factors That 

Influenced Fleet Size 

at Selected Agencies 
 

Page 14 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 5: Factors That Officials Reported Led to a Change in Overall Agency Fleet Size

USDA officials we interviewed told us that additional workload and 

program responsibilities contributed to the increase in USDA’s fleet size. 

From fiscal years 2008 to 2010, USDA’s Forest Service gained nine job 

corps centers from Interior Department bureaus: three from the National 

Park Service in 2008 and six from the Bureau of Reclamation from fiscal 

years 2009 to 2010.9

 

9

According to USDA, one reason why the Forest Service gained responsibility for 

these job corps centers is because they directly contribute to USDA’s mission of 

conserving national forests and grasslands. For example, job corps students 

have fought forest fires, planted trees, improved wildlife habits, and built or 

maintained recreational facilities. 

Each of these job corps centers required the 

acquisition of additional vehicles ranging from sedans, vans, buses, and a 

variety of trucks to provide the approximately 200 new employees with 

the transportation and resources to accomplish additional program 

responsibilities. Since the job corps centers were located in or near 

national forests, they required vehicles, including buses that could 

evacuate staff and students in a short period of time in the event of a 

forest fire. Pick-up trucks were also acquired to take equipment to 

construction job sites as part of the vocational training. USDA officials 

also told us that specific subordinate agencies within USDA like the 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) also acquired 

additional vehicles to accommodate an increase in the number of APHIS 

personnel and drivers to complete mission requirements.

Expanded Programs and 

Other Factors Increased 

Fleet Size at Some 

Selected Agencies
 

Page 15 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Similarly, VA officials told us that growth in veteran services has 

contributed to a significant increase in VA’s fleet size. According to VA 

officials, although the number of veterans declined overall, VA increased 

its program services to accommodate the increasing number of veteran 

health care recipients, including veterans with service-connected 

disabilities from fiscal years 2000 to 2011.10 (See fig. 6.) Further, VA 

officials indicated the agency has expanded a number of veteran services 

including: mental health care and counseling services, health care 

services to veterans returning from recent wars, home-based services to 

disabled and elderly veterans, and rural health care services in remote 

areas of the nation. According to VA officials, the increase in programs 

and services to veterans and service members and resulting workload 

placed pressure on the agency to increase its fleet size. For example, VA 

recently acquired more vehicles to provide transportation to and from VA 

health care facilities—including medical centers and community-based 

outpatient clinics—for veterans who require health care services but are 

not able to drive themselves.11

 

10Veterans with a service-connected disability are those who are disabled by an 

injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. 

11A community-based outpatient clinic is a VA-operated clinic or a VA-funded or 

reimbursed health care facility or site that is geographically distinct or separate 

from the parent medical facility.
 

Page 16 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 6: Increase in the Number of Veterans with a Service-Connected Disability, 

Fiscal Years 2000 to 2011

Vehicles donated by veteran service organizations have also played a 

role—albeit a marginal one—in increasing VA’s fleet, according to VA 

officials.12

 

12According to VA officials, the agency uses these vehicles side-by-side with its 

leased and owned vehicles. VA does not control the efficiency or fuel type of 

donated vehicles.

From fiscal years 2007 to 2011, the number of donated 

vehicles increased from 899 to 1,451. (See fig. 7.) Although the number 

of donated vehicles is small compared to the overall fleet, as of April 2012 

there were 1,683 active donated vehicles, most of which belong to the 

Veterans Health Administration.
 

Page 17 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 7: Number of Donated Vehicles in Veterans Health Administration’s Fleet, 

Fiscal Years 2007 to 2011

According to Air Force officials, the agency has had various fleet 

downsizing policies in place and has implemented some recent efforts to 

eliminate vehicles that are not mission critical. Officials also noted that the 

agency has often targeted unnecessary vehicles for cost cutting.

• The Air Force has a zero growth policy prohibiting new vehicle 

purchases except when a change in mission occurs (i.e., additional 

aircraft assigned, new weapon systems deployed, new units assigned 

to a base, etc.). Air Force officials also told us that senior fleet 

management staff closely monitors any request to increase fleet size 

and determines if existing vehicles can be re-assigned to cover new 

mission needs.

Measures to Improve Fleet 

Management Helped Some 

Agencies Decrease Fleet 

Size 
 

Page 18 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

• The Air Force takes steps to ensure that the agency is authorizing the 

minimum number of vehicles necessary to support current mission 

requirements by conducting in-person visits to major commands and 

installations.13 The agency uses these in-person visits to monitor 

requests to not only acquire new but also retain existing vehicles; then 

it uses the information to identify and eliminate unnecessary 

vehicles.14

• In March 2007, the Air Force issued guidance limiting midsize to large 

sedans and sport utility vehicles to only four star officers in an effort to 

reduce overall vehicle ownership costs.

• In January 2011, the Air Force audited various installations and found 

that 379 vehicles were utilized less than 30 percent of agency vehicle 

utilization goals.15

• In August 2011, the agency identified over 6,000 underutilized 

vehicles that, if eliminated, could save the Air Force an estimated half 

a billion dollars or more in procurement and leasing costs.

 The agency subsequently removed these underutilized vehicles, a move that, according to Air Force officials, resulted 

in a one-time savings to the Air Force of about $1.8 million. Officials 

reported that they will continue these efforts.

16

 

13U.S. Air Force guidance requires fleet management staff to authorize vehicles

that are necessary to support current mission requirements through a vehicle 

authorization. Each major command approves vehicle authorizations for existing 

fleet vehicles or new vehicle purchases. 

Since 

August 2011, the Air Force has eliminated approximately 739 

vehicles, comprised of a mix of GSA-leased and agency-owned 

vehicles, according to Air Force officials. 

14The Air Force is in the process of replacing these in-person visits with a new 

fleet management decision support system. 

15Air Force Audit Agency, U.S. Air Force Audit Report, Management of Vehicle 

Requirements (January 2011)

16The Air Force initially identified 6,000 under-utilized vehicles, but approximately 

2,500 of these vehicles were special purpose, war reserve vehicles that were still 

required to carry out mission needs and were not eligible to be cut. Air Force 

officials told us that the agency is still in the process of removing under-utilized 

vehicles that are not special purpose vehicles.
 

Page 19 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Similarly, according to Interior officials, specific bureaus within the agency 

have implemented fleet downsizing efforts by identifying under-utilized 

vehicles and either disposing or re-locating vehicles across the bureau.

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—a bureau within Interior that 

administers federal lands—has implemented downsizing efforts by 

identifying non-essential GSA-leased vehicles for removal and 

transferring under-utilized agency-owned vehicles to other bureau 

offices. According to Interior officials, BLM requires its fleet managers 

to monitor the utilization of its vehicles within the past 12 months to 

ensure each vehicle is justified and properly utilized. As a result of 

these fleet downsizing efforts, from fiscal years 2003 to 2008, BLM 

reduced miles traveled by more than 5-million miles and saved almost 

$3.4 million, according to Interior officials.

• Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fleet personnel also regularly 

examines vehicle utilization rates—such as vehicle miles driven per 

hour—to ensure vehicles are meeting agency goals. The bureau also 

identifies old and least-utilized vehicles annually. According to U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service officials, the bureau removed 451 vehicles 

from its vehicle fleet from fiscal years 2007 to 2010. 

In addition to fleet downsizing efforts, two agencies expect current costsavings measures will play a role in reducing the number of vehicles in 

the future. Both Air Force and Interior anticipate decreasing their fleet size 

and realizing immediate cost savings by returning GSA-leased vehicles.17

 

17According to GSA officials, GSA uses vehicles returned prior to the end of their 

normal lease term to fill other agencies’ vehicle requests rather than purchasing 

new vehicles. See appendix I for additional information about GSA leasing 

practices.

For example, although the Air Force has returned some vehicles back to 

GSA, thus decreasing the Air Force’s fleet size, the agency continues to 

implement further reductions to its GSA-leased fleet in order to meet a 

$10-million cut in vehicle-leasing funds in the agency’s planned 2013 

defense budget. Similarly, in a department-wide campaign to cut waste, 

Interior’s National Park Service plans to return approximately 300 GSAleased vehicles and save approximately $3.4 million in fleet-related costs. 

According to a GSA official, agencies that need to cut fleet-related costs 

often realize immediate cash savings by turning in their GSA leased 

vehicles.
 

Page 20 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Improved fleet data management also may have helped the Air Force 

decrease fleet size by identifying and cutting unnecessary vehicles, 

according to Air Force fleet managers. As part of its effort to establish a 

property management information system, the Air Force needed to 

aggregate and validate vehicle operations data to produce an accurate, 

agencywide view of its worldwide fleet, which required conducting a full 

inventory of its 90,000 tactical and non-tactical vehicles around the world. 

According to Air Force officials, this process helped the Air Force identify 

and remove unnecessary vehicles from its fleet, as described previously 

in this report.

Similar to our findings related to the overall federal fleets, we found 

instances where fleet changes in agencies’ subordinate bureaus’ fleets 

did not coincide with the direction of fleet changes at the overall 

department level. For example, in response to the May 2011 presidential 

memorandum on fleet performance, USDA’s Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) prohibited new vehicle acquisitions and 

made concerted efforts to reduce the size of its fleet through the disposal 

of older, under-utilized, high emission vehicles. (See fig. 8.) NRCS also 

decreased its fleet when the agency closed several offices and 

terminated programs in response to a $30-million budget cut. According 

to USDA officials, these fleet downsizing efforts helped NRCS reduce its 

fleet by over 1,200 vehicles. Despite this, reductions in NRCS’s fleet were 

not substantial enough to influence the overall change in USDA’s fleet, 

which grew by 5 percent from fiscal years 2005 to 2011.

Subordinate Bureaus’ Fleet 

Changes May Not 

Determine the Overall 

Direction of Agency Fleet 

Size Changes
 

Page 21 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 8: NRCS Fleet Vehicle Inventory, Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011

Conversely, Interior’s National Park Service increased its fleet size to 

handle additional park management responsibilities even though Interior’s 

overall fleet size decreased. (See fig. 9.) According to Interior officials, 

National Park Service’s fleet increased in some regions to accommodate 

new parks, road projects, and land acquisitions. For example, National 

Park Service incorporated nine additional parks and historic monuments 

into its national park system from 2006 to 2011, and these additions to 

the system required additional vehicles to carry out mission needs. While 

the National Park Service’s fleet increased, these additional vehicles did 

not change the direction of Interior’s overall fleet size changes. 
 

Page 22 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Figure 9: National Park Service Fleet Vehicle Inventory, Fiscal Years 2005 to 2011

We provided copies of a draft of this report to GSA, Air Force, USDA, 

Interior, and VA for their review and comment. The audit liaisons from Air 

Force, USDA, and Interior provided emails indicating their agencies had 

no comments on the draft report. GSA’s Associate Administrator and VA’s 

Chief of Staff agreed with our findings and provided written technical 

comments that were incorporated as appropriate.

We are sending copies of this report to interested congressional 

committees, the Administrator of the General Services Administration, 

and the Secretaries of Agriculture, Air Force, Defense, the Interior, and 

Veterans Affairs. In addition, the report is available at no charge on the 

GAO website at http://www.gao.gov. 

If you or your staff have any questions about this report, please contact 

me at (202) 512-2834 or flemings@gao.gov. Contact points for our 

Agency Comments
 

Page 23 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on 

the last page of this report. GAO staff who made major contributions to 

this report are listed in appendix II.

Sincerely yours,

Susan A. Fleming

Director

Physical Infrastructure Issues
Appendix I: Federal Agencies’ and the General 

Services Administration’s Roles and 

Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles

Page 24 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Federal agencies and the General Services Administration (GSA) have 

distinct responsibilities regarding federal fleets. Federal agencies are 

responsible for operating a fleet that enables them to fulfill their mission 

and meet federal energy and fuel efficiency requirements. GSA’s role is to 

promulgate regulations, develop guidance to help agencies manage their 

fleets, help agencies procure affordable vehicles, and provide reports on 

the federal fleet.

Federal agencies are responsible for acquiring, maintaining, and 

managing their vehicle fleets.

• Vehicle acquisition. Federal agencies are responsible for making 

decisions about the number and type of vehicles they need and how 

to acquire them. Agencies obtain most of their vehicles through either 

GSA’s purchasing program, which is managed by GSA Automotive, or 

its leasing program, which is operated by GSA Fleet. GSA is a 

mandatory source for purchase of new vehicles for federal executive 

agencies and other eligible users.1 In some instances, federal 

agencies may purchase specialized vehicles directly from the 

manufacturer with GSA approval or lease vehicles from commercial 

venders.2

• Vehicle maintenance. Federal agencies should develop a 

maintenance program for their vehicles to ensure that they meet 

federal and state safety and emissions standards and manufacturer 

warranty requirements and are operated and inspected as 

recommended by the manufacturer and required by local conditions. 

According to federal guidelines, when making acquisition 

decisions, agencies should purchase vehicles that meet their mission 

and represent the best value by taking into consideration price, 

greenhouse gas score, delivery time, fuel economy, life cycle cost, 

past performance, dealer and maintenance location, and optional 

equipment.

 

1

41 C.F.R. § 101-26.501-1. These regulations do not require certain vehicles, 

such as tactical vehicles, to be submitted to GSA for procurement. 

2

Under unique circumstances, it may be advantageous for an agency to effect its 

own procurement. GSA will grant waivers of procurement authority on a case-by- case basis in accordance with the criteria set forth under GSA’s Federal Property 

Management Regulations. 41 C.F.R. § 101-26.501-1(b), (c).

Appendix I: Federal Agencies’ and the 

General Services Administration’s Roles and 

Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles

Primary Responsibilities of 

Federal Agencies
Appendix I: Federal Agencies’ and the General 

Services Administration’s Roles and 

Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles

Page 25 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

For agencies that lease vehicles from GSA, GSA Fleet develops their 

vehicle maintenance program.

• Fleet management. Federal agencies determine when to replace or 

dispose of vehicles based on federal vehicle replacement standards 

and their mission and program needs. GSA has established minimum 

standards that call for agencies to retain agency-owned vehicles for at 

least a requisite number of years or miles. For example, an agency 

should keep a sedan or station wagon for at least 3 years or 60,000 

miles, whichever occurs first. It may keep the vehicle beyond the 

minimum years and miles if the vehicle can be operated without 

excessive maintenance or substantial reduction in resale value. 

Conversely, it may replace a vehicle that has not yet met the 

threshold if the vehicle needs body or mechanical repairs that exceed

the fair market value of the vehicle. Federal regulations allow 

agencies to dispose of vehicles they no longer need and find to be in 

excess of the agencies’ needs even if the vehicles have not met the 

minimum replacement standards for years and mileage.3 Agencies 

may dispose of vehicles by using the exchange/sale authority 

provided by title 40 of the United States Code, transferring them to 

other agencies, selling them, or donating them.4 For agencies that 

lease vehicles, GSA Fleet manages the disposal process.

GSA Automotive manages the vehicle purchasing program and offers an 

array of non-tactical vehicle products at a savings from the 

manufacturer’s invoice price, including alternative fuel vehicles, sedans, 

light trucks, ambulances, buses, and heavy trucks.

• GSA Automotive purchases vehicles through the original equipment 

manufacturer and has contracts with the manufacturers’ 

representative dealers with a variety of vehicle makes and models at 

competitive prices.

• GSA Automotive develops annual vehicle standards that establish the 

types and sizes of vehicles and general equipment requirements it will 

offer. The purpose of the federal vehicle standards is to achieve a 

 

3

41 C.F.R. § 102-34.270.

4

See 41 C.F.R. § 102-34.300 for additional information regarding the disposal of 

fleet motor vehicles. 

GSA’s Primary 

Responsibilities 
Appendix I: Federal Agencies’ and the General 

Services Administration’s Roles and 

Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles

Page 26 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

practical degree of standardization within the federal government 

automotive fleet and to simplify the competitive procurement of 

vehicles.

• GSA Automotive maintains an on-line procurement tool that allows the 

agency officials to view the standard vehicle models, choose 

equipment and color options, view side-by- side comparisons of 

vehicle models from different manufacturers, place their orders, and 

track delivery.

In fiscal year 2011, federal agencies ordered 54,964 vehicles costing 

$1.36 billion through the on-line system.

GSA also manages the federal government’s vehicle-leasing program. 

Federal agencies may approach GSA Fleet to lease some or all of the 

vehicles they determine necessary to meet their mission and program 

needs.5 In certain instances, federal agencies may lease vehicles from 

commercial sources without prior approval or permission from GSA.6

• A GSA Fleet representative considers the type and number of 

vehicles requested, as well as the type of assignment, anticipated 

duration of the assignment, projected monthly mileage, and vehicle 

quantities, types, locations, and date required. Agencies are required 

to provide statements certifying that they have the funds to pay for the 

vehicles and that the top-level fleet manager concurs with the request.

After receiving an agency’s request to lease vehicles:

• GSA Fleet provides either used or new vehicles to the requesting 

agency. GSA does not guarantee that it will offer the agency a new 

vehicle; sometimes, vehicles returned from other agencies are the 

ones used to fill another agency’s request. However, GSA guarantees 

that even used vehicles will be in good mechanical and cosmetic 

condition. GSA Fleet procures new vehicles using GSA Automotive’s 

on-line procurement system. There are some vehicle types, such as 

 

5

GSA has authority to establish, maintain, and operate (including servicing and 

storage) a fleet of motor vehicles for executive agencies to use for the 

transportation of property and passengers. 40 U.S.C. § 602.

6

According to GSA officials, an agency that lacks specific statutory authority to 

purchase or hire passenger motor vehicles as required by 31 U.S.C. § 1343(b), 

or has not been delegated leasing authority, is required to participate in the GSA 

centralized leasing program.
Appendix I: Federal Agencies’ and the General 

Services Administration’s Roles and 

Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles

Page 27 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

fire trucks, that GSA Fleet does not lease, in part because they are so 

costly and specialized.

• As part of the leasing arrangement, GSA Fleet provides maintenance, 

repairs, fuel, and accident claims management and gets reimbursed 

for these costs by the participating agencies.7

• GSA Fleet replaces vehicles according to a pre-established schedule. 

A GSA Fleet representative monitors an agency’s fleet and measures 

the vehicles against a set of minimum standards (i.e., age and 

mileage) as well as condition and repair history. If the representative 

determines the vehicle is eligible for replacement, it will be replaced 

with the same type of vehicle unless the agency indicates its needs 

have changed and wants to acquire a different type of vehicle. In 

cases where the requested replacement vehicle is an upgrade to a 

more expensive vehicle, the agency must submit to GSA a written 

justification certifying the vehicle is mission essential.

Agencies pay a monthly 

fee to cover vehicle depreciation and fleet management costs, and 

pay a per-mile fee to cover fuel, maintenance, repair, and auction 

costs. 

• Federal agencies may return leased vehicles that have not yet met 

the replacement requirement to GSA. In cases where GSA can 

transfer the vehicles to meet another agency’s requests immediately, 

the original leasing agency is no longer responsible for the leasing 

fees. In cases where GSA cannot immediately transfer the vehicles, 

the lessor agency may have to continue to make its payments. A GSA 

official noted that this occurs infrequently because typically it places 

vehicles within a month of receiving them.

• Once the GSA Fleet representative determines vehicles should be 

replaced, he or she uses a nationwide network of commercial auction 

firms to sell and dispose of them. GSA uses the sales’ proceeds to 

help purchase new vehicles.

 

7

The Federal Property Act, as amended, specifies how GSA is to set prices to 

recover the costs of operating the fleet. GSA is to set prices “for furnishing motor 

vehicles and related services...to recover, so far as practicable, all costs for 

carrying out” the administration of the fleet program. GSA also may include an 

increment for estimated replacement costs of motor vehicles and related 

equipment and supplies. 40 U.S.C. § 605(b).
Appendix I: Federal Agencies’ and the General 

Services Administration’s Roles and 

Responsibilities for Federal Vehicles

Page 28 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

In addition to its procurement activities, GSA establishes policies and 

issues guidance to help agencies manage their fleets effectively and meet 

other federal requirements. GSA promulgates federal management 

regulations governing federal fleet operations. It also issues fleet 

guidance in the form of bulletins and promotes interagency collaboration 

through various committees and councils. While GSA believes it has the 

authority to require agencies to follow its regulations and to issue 

guidance, GSA officials indicated it lacked enforcement authority. One 

official stated that it relies on the federal agencies’ Inspectors General to 

take enforcement action when agencies do not comply with regulations. 

GSA and the Department of Energy cosponsor the Federal Automotive 

Statistical Tool (FAST), a Web-based reporting tool for agencies to report 

fleet data. FAST is used to satisfy the reporting requirements of the 

Energy Policy Act of 1992 and other statutory and regulatory mandates, 

and GSA uses it to produce the annual federal fleet report.
Appendix II: GAO Contact and Staff 

Acknowledgments

Page 29 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Susan A. Fleming, (202) 512-2834

In addition to the contact above, Maria Edelstein (Assistant Director), Gail 

Marnik, Tina Paek, Russell Burnett, Jim Ungvarsky, Josh Ormond, and 

Amy Rosewarne made key contributions to this report.

Appendix II: GAO Contact and Staff 

Acknowledgments 

GAO Contact

Staff Acknowledgments
Related GAO Products

Page 30 GAO-12-780 Federal Fleets

Federal Acquisition: Increased Attention to Vehicle Fleets Could Result in 

Savings. GAO-04-664. Washington, D.C.: May 25, 2004. 

GSA Fleet: Information on the Effect of Donating Cars to YouthBuild USA 

and Potential Benefits to Rural Youthbuild Participants. GAO-07-153. 

Washington, D.C.: December 8, 2006.

Federal Energy and Fleet Management: Plug-in Vehicles Offer Potential 

Benefits, but High Costs and Limited Information Could Hinder Integration 

into the Federal Fleet. GAO-09-493. Washington, D.C.: June 9, 2009.

Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, 

Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue. GAO-11-318SP. Washington, 

D.C.: March 1, 2011. 

United States Postal Service: Strategy Needed to Address Aging Delivery 

Fleet. GAO-11-386. Washington, D.C.: May 5, 2011.

Related GAO Products

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