The Office of Detention and

Removal Operations (DRO) is

responsible for promoting public

safety and national security through

the enforcement of U.S. immigration

laws that all removable aliens

depart the United States. DRO

makes use of its resources and

expertise to transport aliens, to

manage them while in custody and

waiting for their cases to be

processed, and to remove

unauthorized aliens from the United

States when so ordered. Meeting

this mission requires a unique fleet

of various vehicle types with

specially designed modifications or

retrofits to safely and securely

transport these aliens. Accurate

and timely accountability, and

optimum operational status of the

DRO, 3000 vehicle fleet, is crucial to

the overall success of our mission. 

Within DRO, the Fleet and

Property Management Section

(F&PM) implemented a plan to

improve vehicle tracking and

operational data gathering through

a real-time system. This plan is

based on a Global Positioning

System (GPS) being added to our

current vehicle modifications

program. The GPS is a satellitebased navigation system made up

of a network of 24 satellites placed

into orbit by the U.S. Department of

Defense. GPS was originally

intended for military applications,

but in the 1980s, the government

made the system available for

civilian use. GPS works in any

weather conditions, anywhere in the

world, 24 hours a day.

Our partner in vehicle modification

and fleet management services,

Federal Prison Industries, UNICOR,

has worked side-by-side with DRO

to make this happen. They order the

systems, oversee equipment

installations to the existing fleet,

and are enhancing DRO specialized

vehicle production to include GPS.

In addition, the Department of

Homeland Security’s mandated

Vehicle Management Information

System (VMIS), is supplying

monitoring capabilities. These

monitoring capabilities will allow

for accuracy in meeting the Fleet

Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST)

report required annually. Each

member of the F&PM team will be

instrumental in ensuring the

effectiveness and success of this

project. This is truly a giant step to

enhancing the DRO fleet

management program. 

Our personal property management

program will realize tremendous

benefits with a reduction in manhours required to conduct annual

GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy

Issue 35 December 2006

http://www.gsa.gov/vehiclepolicy

Vehicle Views

In This Issue

Immigration & Customs Enforcement

Office of Detention & Removal . . . . . . 1

GovSales.gov Web Portal Solution . . 3

National AFVi Conference . . . . . . . . . . 3

Cairo US Embassy Training Center . . 4

FedFleet 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Small Fuel Cells for Portable

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

OMB, Capital Programming, 

and Motor Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Circular No. A-11 Part 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Capital Programming Guide. . . . . . . . . 7

Capital Programming Guide. . . . . . . . . 8

Exchange/Sale of Motor Vehicles . . . . 8

NHTSA Policy and FAQs 

on Cellular Phone Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Global Road Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Seat Belt Use in 2006 

Overal Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

If Retreads Are So Good, 

How Come We See So Much Rubber

On the Road? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Checklist and Tips 

for Safe Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Biodiesel Industry Steps Up Quality

Enforcement Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

E-85 Stations Reach 1,000. . . . . . . . . . . 17

“Dear GSA Automotive Customers” 18

Continued on page 2

Immigration & Customs

Enforcement, Office of Detention &

Removal takes a Global Position

By Charles R. Welke

Fleet & Property Management Section, Office of Detention and Removal

Vehicle Views

Issue 35 December 2006
2

VehicleViews

reconciliations. DRO vehicles are

deployed nationwide to 24 Field

Offices and multiple sub-offices and

comprise 25% of our accountable

personal property inventory. Property

custodians (PCs) in each of these

locations are required to participate

in the annual property reconciliation.

Currently, bar-coding is used, which

require staff to physically see the

property, find the barcode tag, scan

the tag, download the data, compile

the data and generate a consolidated

report. This process is time

consuming and only effective with

full cooperation from the PCs and

availability of the property. Because

vehicles are mobile, this is extremely

difficult. Through the use of the GPS

technology, the vehicle reconciliation

can be routinely conducted from a

central loation with accuracy to meet

our Agency’s reporting requirements. 

Inspired by the plan, and to avoid

duplication of effort, other programs

in DRO embraced the concept and

discovered that the GPS tool could

be used to improve their operational

planning:

Detention Management Division

maintains custody of one of the most

highly transient and diverse

populations of any correctional or

detention system in the world. This

administrative custody environment

presents significant management

challenges compared to the static

prison environment. GPS, with radio

frequency identification (RFID),

interface will be invaluable in

monitoring detention facility

capacities and population diversity.

This will allow for efficient

management adjustments and cost

effective removals of many of the

over 200,000 detainees. 

Centralized Ticketing Unit (CTU)

functions as the coordinator for

airline ticketing and country

clearance support for DRO

Headquarter and DRO Field Offices

in support of the alien removal

process. GPS will allow this

operational program to schedule and

track secure transport buses and

vans before and during the removal

process. Future plans include adding

RFID to the alien processing

procedure, and enhancing the vehicle

GPS with RFID interface. Then we

will not only track the vehicle but also

the passengers. With the removal of

over 150,000 unauthorized aliens in

2006, this number will only increase.

and this will be a cost effective and

efficient improvement to our mission. 

The shear increase in volume of the

DRO mission has made it necessary

to incorporate electronic

technologies into our daily processes

and procedures. We embrace these

technologies and plan to implement

them to their fullest capabilities to

protect our homeland. ■

ICE from page 1

Charles R. Welke

Team Leader

Immigration &

Customs Enforcement

Office of Detention &

Removal’s

Fleet & Property

Management Team

General D. Womack

Inventory/Acquisition

Karen Brock

Maintenance/Disposal

Phyllis Shaw

Fleet Credit Cards

Billie Youngblood

Personal Property 

Floyd Gibson Jr.

Fleet & Property

Coordinator
3

VehicleViews

Each year the Federal government sells billions of dollars

of surplus, seized, forfeited and exchange/sale assets. In

September 2006, GovSales.gov was launched to create a

secure, efficient, and effective online e-marketplace that

will serve as a single-point for the public to find and buy

Federal assets. As a result, GovSales.gov has effectively

simplified the way citizens and businesses locate and buy

Federal government property.

GovSales.gov is a product of the Federal Asset Sales

initiative, which is one of the President’s twenty three (23)

Electronic Government initiatives, and it is one of the five

E-Government Initiatives managed by GSA. 

Prior to GovSales.gov, Federal agencies sold government

property via numerous and disparate online and offline

methods; however, through the creation of a centralized

portal, GovSales.gov has effectively improved Federal real

estate and personal property sales channels. By

simplifying the processes of searching, bidding, and

buying items both offline and online, the public has gained

greater access to Federal property for sale.

In turn, agencies can benefit from GovSales.gov in

numerous ways. GovSales.gov will increase agencies’ net

proceeds from asset sales while decreasing their

expenses related to asset sales. Agencies can also benefit

from accelerated asset sales time, leveraged economies of

scale, reaching a broader customer base, and by taking

advantage of market driven “best in class” practices and

solutions.

To learn more about GovSales.gov, e-mail

GovSales@gsa.gov or visit us online at

http://www.GovSales.gov. ■

GovSales.gov Web

Portal Solution National AFVi Conference:

Top Ten Reasons to Attend

Top Ten Reasons to Attend 

the Largest Alternative Fuels

Conference in the World

• Gain a full understanding of the many cost saving

provisions of the 2005 Energy Bill

• Explore documented ways to save significant

operational costs

• Meet the people and hear the perspectives that

matter most

• Receive information and insight that will enable

you to evaluate key vehicle and fuel strategies

• Find out for yourself where the money is by

attending one of the Show Me the Money

workshops

• Network at standout receptions, Expo Hall

mixers, and social events

• Drive a wide range of alternative fuel and

advanced technology vehicles

• Decide what’s best for your company as you hear

information representing all alternative fuel &

technology solutions

• Attend a complimentary pre-conference

workshop for one of these specialized fleet

markets – Transit, School, Delivery, Airports, or

Refuse

• Prepare for the future. You’ll hear it here first at

The Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference +

Expo, now in its 13th year. 

Won’t you join us April 1-4, 2007 in Anaheim,

California? Find out more about what’s in store and

then sign up for your early registration discount

today! www.afvi.org/ 

About AFVi: AFVi is the education provider and

information link between the alternative fuels and

vehicles industry and public/private fleets. The

primary business of the company is to advance the

interests of OEMs, fuel providers, and their

associated business partners through education,

outreach, and deployment. AFVi is fuel and

technology neutral. ■
4

VehicleViews

I

n the late 1980s and early 1990s, as

American vehicles manufacturers

introduced the second generation

of on board diagnostic computers

(OBDII), I developed a technical

assistance program for other U.S.

Embassy motor pools facing

diagnostic problems. In most cases,

smaller embassy fleets are

maintained with fewer mechanics

who often lack the training,

diagnostic tools and repair manuals

necessary for these more

sophisticated engines. 

Sensing that Cairo’s large operation

could provide assistance to other

posts, I proposed to the U.S.

Department of State’s Logistics

Management (LM) branch that we

start a technical training center in

Cairo. The LM branch provided startup funding to purchase new

diagnostic tools and training

materials, which I have now

developed into an ongoing help

center, by e-mail, and a series of

annual workshops for U.S. Embassy

mechanics from around the world. 

From the beginning, I established

some basic goals for the program:

1. Train State Department overseas

automotive technicians on the

sophisticated vehicles technology

and the new computerized

diagnostic tools;

2. Provide on-line technical support,

vehicle service manuals, and

updated vehicle diagnostics

bulletins for dozens of posts;

3. Provide a list of tools and

workshop equipment that meet

manufacturers’ standards to

perform repairs on given vehicles;

and

4. Offer advanced defensive driving

and accident prevention training.

To date, I have trained more than 56

technicians from 24 different

countries. Mechanics, dispatchers

and motor pool supervisors have

come from as far away as Port-auPrince, Haiti; Kabul, Afghanistan;

Bujumbura, Burundi; Kiev, Ukraine;

Antananarivo, Madagascar; Moscow,

Russia; and Rangoon, Burma. 

The technical training program has

had an enormous impact on the

ability of embassy technicians to

maintain American manufactured

vehicles overseas. Vehicle

breakdown times were reduced

significantly, vehicle utilization time

was increased and vehicle safety was

improved after the technicians

learned how to manage the vehicle

technology. We have received many

e-mails from the trained technicians

to explain the difference that it has

made when they returned home from

the training and applied the new

technology at their posts.

The mechanic foreman at the U.S.

Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia wrote:

“It has been so beneficial. At the

time I came for that training, we had

two Chevys parked in our workshop.

It was like a miracle when I returned.

In fifteen minutes, the work of one

vehicle was done, and the vehicle

was ready for the road test. The other

one, we had to drop the tank to

replace the pump. We are now

enjoying handling puzzles. My work

was made much simpler by the

diagnostic code reader Tarek gave

me.”

Mechanic Joy Maliakkal from the U.S.

Embassy in New Delhi, India, said

“Cairo was an excellent experience

that I’ll never forget. I’ve never had

an opportunity to learn how to work

on high technology vehicles in the

past. This training has provided me

with several answers to problems we

currently face. First, New Delhi had

received the Tech 2 diagnostic

equipment that none of us in the shop

knew how to operate. After this

training, I learned the basic

knowledge on operating the Tech 2

and I am now able to operate and

diagnose the vehicle problems and

reset after repairing the particular

warning information. Second, I

learned how to identify vehicles’ year

and model with the vehicle

identification number (VIN). Before

this training, no one in New Delhi

knew how to find the manufacturing

year, the vehicle make and the engine

code. Finally, we had a better

understanding of the SI2000 web site,

which is useful to us for referring to

Cairo US Embassy Training Center

By Tarek Nour, Transportation and Vehicle Operations Specialist:

Continued on page 5

The 7th National Federal Fleet Management Workshop and Information Fair will be held in Orlando, Florida July

24-36. FedFleet 2007 will include Aviation workshops. The event will take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek, a new

facility that just opened in September of 2006. All events will take place at that facility. An optional fleet class

will be offered on Sunday, July 22. For more information, visit the FedFleet web site at www.fedfleet.org. ■

FedFleet 2007
5

VehicleViews

service manuals, parts locations,

troubleshooting, and new information

as it comes available.1”

Mechanic Foreman Andrey Kostin

from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow

said: “I started using SI2000

sometimes even more than

ALLDATA.2 Also, it’s much easier

now to read the scanner data to find

a problem or make a periodic change

to a part.” 

In addition to the training, we have

developed on-line technical support

for all State Department missions

around the world. They provide

electronic bulletins, electronic

vehicles’ service manuals and

updated software for the diagnostic

tools, all on request. 

One satisfied colleague in Chennai,

India wrote: “Our fully-armored

vehicle (FAV) had been nothing but a

paper weight for the last 6-9 months.

The PCM (internal computer) on our

FAV burned out and rendered it

useless for 6-9 months. I found it this

way when I arrived at the post. The

mechanic in New Delhi said a

replacement part would have to be

programmed, but he didn’t have the

expertise or the equipment to do so.

Enter Tarek Nour. He suggested that

we purchase the part and ship it

directly to him and he would program

it and send it to Chennai. After about

2 months of back and forth with the

vendor in the States, the part was

shipped to Cairo, programmed and

forwarded to Chennai. The mechanic

returned to Chennai yesterday,

installed the new part and after about

2 hours repaired our $50,000 paper

weight. While it still requires some

minor maintenance after sitting idle

for so long, it is useable. I wanted to

point this out because too often the

hard work and dedication of our staff

go unnoticed and unappreciated.

Thank you very much for a job well

done!”

Our future plans include:

1. Do a training program for

alternative fuels and hybrid

vehicles, as U.S. Embassy in Cairo

will be one of the first U.S.

Embassies overseas to use

alternative fuel vehicles overseas; 

2. Develop a web-based self-training

program to be available to all

State Department technicians

around the world; 

3. Sharing technical information and

vehicle maintenance and repair

instructions to a wider audience; 

and

4. Broaden coverage of our advanced

defensive driving and accident

prevention training courses.

For more information contact Tarek

Nour, email: nourtm@state.gov ■

1. SI2000 is the General Motors tool for information

on operating and maintenance, bulletins, and

warranties

2. ALLDATA is a provider of electronic diagnostic

and repair information and services for the

automotive service industry.

CAIRO from page 4

In its 9th year, Small Fuel Cells for Portable Applications is the

primary source of information for end users, developers and

manufacturers of portable power devices. With a special preconference workshop on degradation and durability of DMFC

systems, an impressive lineup of speakers from around the world,

and industry leaders exhibiting the latest technologies, this year’s

conference is not to be missed.

Special Session Topics:

• From System Design & Integration to Application &

Commercialization

• DMFC: Components, MEAs and Fuel

• Ceramic Technologies Across Different Fuel Systems

• Hydride & Borohydride Technologies

• SOFC

• Advances in Fuel and System Design

Contact: The Knowledge Foundation, Telephone: 617-232-7400

Web: http://www.knowledgefoundation.com

Email: custserv@knowledgefoundation.com. ■

Small Fuel Cells for Portable Applications

March 7-9, 2007

Marriott Miami Hotel, Miami, FL USA
6

VehicleViews

In June 2006, the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB)

published a revision to the Capital

Programming Guide, a supplement to

OMB Circular No. A–11 Part 7-

Planning, Budgeting, Acquisition,

And Management of Capital Assets. 

The revised Guide expands upon the

original concepts from 1997 that were

not fully developed in the first Guide.

One of the most important items of

interest to fleet managers is the new

language specifically including motor

vehicles and aircraft as capital

assets requiring a formal capital

programming process. 

What is capital programming?

Capital programming, as defined in

the OMB Circular A-11, is an

integrated process within an agency

for planning, budgeting, procurement,

and management of the agency’s

capital assets to achieve agency

strategic goals and objectives with

the lowest life-cycle cost and least

risk. 

What does this have to do with

managing your fleet? The capital

programming requirement governing

the acquisition and management of

your fleet means you will be required

to complete an OMB Circular A-11,

Exhibit 300- a Capital Asset Plan and

Business Case. Historically, Exhibit

300’s have been used for major

Information Technology (IT)

investments. Agency Fleet Managers

will need to work closely with their

Agency Budget offices and their

OMB Budget Examiners to determine

how and when this requirement must

be completed. Exhibit 300’s are sent

to OMB in your agency’s annual

budget submission and updated by

your agency as needed to reflect

funding decisions by OMB or

requests for additional resources. 

GSA is working to develop a guide to

help facilitate your agency’s

completion of Exhibit 300’s for motor

vehicles and aircraft. The GSA

guide will help simplify the Exhibit

300 process and highlight only the

areas required for motor vehicles and

aircraft. If you would like to

participate in this activity or have any

questions, please contact Connie

Aaron at 202-208-7634 or email

connie.aaron@gsa.gov. ■

OMB, Capital Programming, and Motor Vehicles - 

What does this have to do with managing my agency’s fleet?

Circular No. A–11 Part 7

Planning, Budgeting, Acquisition, and

Management of Capital Assets

Pages 5 - 6

Agencies must develop, implement, and use a capital

programming process to develop their capital asset

portfolio, and must:

• Evaluate and select capital asset investments that will

support core mission functions performed by the Federal

Government, and demonstrate projected returns on

investment that are clearly equal to or better than

alternative uses of available public resources;

• Initiate improvements to existing assets or acquisitions

of new assets only when no alternative private sector or

governmental source can more efficiently meet the need;

• Simplify or otherwise redesign work processes to reduce

costs, improve effectiveness, and make maximum use of

commercial services and off-the-shelf technology;

• Reduce project risk by avoiding or isolating custom

designed components, using components that can be

fully tested or prototyped prior to full implementation or

production, and ensuring involvement and support of

users in the design and testing of the asset;

• Structure major acquisitions into useful segments with a

narrow scope and brief duration, make adequate use of

competition and appropriately allocate risk between

Government and contractor. The Agency Head must

approve or define the cost, schedule, and performance

goals for major acquisitions, and the agency’s Chief

Financial Officer must evaluate the proposed cost goals;

• Ensure consistency with Federal, agency, and bureau

Enterprise Architectures (EAs), demonstrating such

consistency through compliance with agency business

requirements and standards, as well as identification of

milestones, as defined in the EA transition strategy;

• Institute performance measures and management

processes monitoring and comparing actual performance

to planned results. Agencies must use a performancebased acquisition management or earned value

management system, based on the ANSI/EIA Standard

748, to obtain timely information regarding the progress

of capital investments. The system must also measure

progress towards milestones in an independently

verifiable basis, in terms of cost, capability of the

Continued on page 7
7

VehicleViews

investment to meet specified requirements, timeliness,

and quality. Agencies are expected to achieve, on

average, 90 percent of the cost, schedule and

performance goals for major acquisitions. Agency Heads

must review major acquisitions not achieving 90 percent

of the goals to determine whether there is a continuing

need and what corrective action, including termination,

should be taken;

• Ensure IT systems conform to the requirements of OMB

Circular No. A–130, “Management of Federal Information

Resources;”

• Ensure financial management systems conform to the

requirements of OMB Circular No. A–127, “Financial

Management Systems;”

• Conduct post-implementation or post-occupancy reviews

of capital programming and acquisition processes, and

projects to validate estimated benefits and costs, and

document effective management practices, i.e., lessons

learned, for broader use; and

• Establish oversight mechanisms requiring periodic

review of operational capital assets to determine how

mission requirements might have changed, and whether

the asset continues to fulfill ongoing and anticipated

mission requirements, deliver intended benefits to the

agency and customers, and meet user requirements. ■

Capital Programming

Guide OMB Circular No.

A–11 (2006)

Pages 67 -68

DEFINITION OF CAPITAL ASSETS 

Capital assets are land, structures, equipment (including

motor and aircraft fleets), and intellectual property

(including software), which are used by the Federal

Government and that have an estimated useful life of two

years or more. Capital assets exclude items acquired for

resale in the ordinary course of operations or held for the

purpose of physical consumption such as operating

materials and supplies. The cost of a capital asset is its full

life-cycle costs, including all direct and indirect costs for

planning, procurement (purchase price and all other costs

incurred to bring it to a form and location suitable for its

intended use), operations and maintenance (including

service contracts), and disposal. 

Capital assets may be acquired in different ways: through

purchase, construction, or manufacture; through a leasepurchase or other capital lease, regardless of whether title

has passed to the Federal Government; through an

operating lease for an asset with an estimated useful life of

two years or more; or through exchange. Capital assets

include the environmental remediation of land to make it

useful, leasehold improvements and land rights; assets

owned by the Federal Government but located in a foreign

country or held by others (such as federal contractors, state

and local governments, or colleges and universities); and

assets whose ownership is shared by the Federal

Government with other entities. Capital assets include not

only the assets as initially acquired but also additions,

improvements, modifications, replacements,

rearrangements and reinstallations, and major

improvements (but not ordinary repairs and maintenance).

Examples of capital assets include the following, but are not

limited to them: 

• Office buildings, hospitals, laboratories, schools, and

prisons; 

• Dams, power plants, and water resources projects; 

• Motor vehicles, airplanes, and ships; 

• Satellites and space exploration equipment; 

• Information technology hardware, software and

modifications; 

• Department of Defense (DOD) weapons systems; and 

• Environmental restoration (decontamination and

decommissioning efforts). 

Capital assets may or may not be capitalized (i.e., recorded

on an entity’s balance sheet) under Federal accounting

standards. Examples of capital assets not capitalized are

DOD weapons systems, heritage assets, stewardship land,

certain assets acquired for environmental cleanup efforts,

and some software. 

Capital assets do not include grants for acquiring capital

assets made to state and local governments or other

entities (such as National Science Foundation grants to

universities). Capital assets also do not include intangible

assets such as the knowledge resulting from research and

development (R&D) or the human capital resulting from

education and training, although capital assets do include

land, structures, equipment (including fleet), and intellectual

property (including software) that the Federal Government

uses in R&D and education and training. Agencies are

encouraged to use the capital programming process or

elements thereof, in planning for expenditures not covered

by this definition, to the extent that they find it useful. ■

PART 7 from page 6
8

VehicleViews

Capital Programming

Guide OMB Circular No.

A–11 (2006)

Pages ii- iii

KEY INTERNET ADDRESSES 

The Capital Programming Guide and OMB 

Circular A–11, Part 7

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a11/cpgtoc.html

The Federal Acquisition Reform Act and the FAR

Implementation of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act

can be found at the reference library for Acquisition

Reform (ARNET) at: http://www.arnet.gov

The Information Technology Management Reform Act (now

known as the Clinger-Cohen Act), can be found on the

Chief Information Council Working Group web site at:

http://www.cio.gov/Documents/it_management_reform_ac

t_Feb_1996.html 

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs—Evaluating

Information Technology Investments, (November 1995) can

be found at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/infopoltech.html 

GAO—Assessing Risk and Returns: A Guide for Evaluating

Federal Agencies IT Investment Decision Making, February

1997 can be found at:

http://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/ai98110.pdf 

GSA—Performance Based Management—Eight Steps to

Develop and Use Information Technology Performance

Measures Effectively, (December 1996) can be found at:

http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/mkm/pathways/pathways.htm 

OMB Circulars, can be found on the OMB Homepage at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars/index.html 

Chief Financial Officers Council guidance documents can

be found at: http://www.cfoc.gov/ 

Federal Real Property Council guidance documents can

be found on the OMB Asset Management website at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/financial/fia_asset.html

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO)

Information Technology Investment Management (ITIM)

Stages of Maturity, as described in GAO’s May 2000

Version 1 of the ITIM can be found at http://www.gao.gov/

Chief Information Officers Council Value Measuring

Methodology: How-to-Guide Issued By: CIO Council, Best

Practices Committee—Posted: 04.15.2003

http://www.cio.gov/index.cfm?function=specdoc&id=416

Value Measuring Methodology: Highlights Issued By: CIO

Council, Best Practices Committee—Posted: 04.15.2003

http://www.cio.gov/index.cfm?function=specdoc&id=415

Framework for Developing EVMS Policy Issued By: Best

Practices Committee—Posted: 12.05.2005 

http://www.cio.gov/index.cfm?function=specdoc&id=664

Clinger-Cohen Act, February 10, 1996 Issued By:

Congress—Posted: 02.10.1996

http://www.cio.gov/index.cfm?function=specdoc&id=319

Responsibilities and Information and Technology

Governance at Leading Private Sector Companies Issued

By: GAO—Posted: 09.09.2005

http://www.cio.gov/index.cfm?function=specdoc&id=647.

■

Exchange/Sale is an authority

provided by Section 503 of Title 40,

United States Code, under which

executive agencies, when acquiring

replacement property, may

exchange or sell similar items,

applying the exchange allowance or

proceeds of sale in whole or in part

toward the property acquired. When

replacing agency-owned motor

vehicles under the Exchange/Sale

provisions of the Federal

Management Regulation, motor

vehicle sale proceeds are retainable

for use toward the purchase of

replacement motor vehicles.

41CFR102-39 provides the regulatory

guidance. As a source of funding

for replacement motor vehicles

additional to other fleet program

funding, the availability of sale

proceeds should not be overlooked.

Each federal agency’s fleet and

finance programs need to work

together to establish a specific

account to collect and disburse sale

proceeds.

Contact: Jacquie Perry at (202) 501-

3347 or jacquie.perry@gsa.gov. ■

Exchange/Sale of Motor Vehicles
9

the Safety zone

T

he primary responsibility of the

driver is to operate a motor

vehicle safely. The task of

driving requires full attention and

focus. Cell phone use can distract

drivers from this task, risking harm to

themselves and others. Therefore,

the safest course of action is to

refrain from using a cell phone while

driving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does cell phone use while driving

cause traffic crashes?

A. Research shows that driving

while using a cell phone can pose a

serious cognitive distraction and

degrade driver performance. The

data are insufficient to quantify

crashes caused by cell phone use

specifically, but NHTSA estimates

that driver distraction from all

sources contributes to 25 percent of

all police-reported traffic crashes.

Q. Is it safe to use hands-free

(headset, speakerphone, or other

device) cell phones while driving?

A. The available research indicates

that whether it is a hands-free or

hand-held cell phone, the cognitive

distraction is significant enough to

degrade a driver’s performance. This

can cause a driver to miss key visual

and audio cues needed to avoid a

crash.

Q. In an emergency should I use my

cell phone while driving?

A. As a general rule, drivers should

make every effort to move to a safe

place off of the road before using a

cell phone. However, in emergency

NHTSA Policy and FAQs on 

Cellular Phone Use While Driving Policy Statement

Provided by the National highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Continued on page 10
10

VehicleViews

situations a driver must use their judgment regarding the

urgency of the situation and the necessity to use a cell

phone while driving.

Q. Is NHTSA conducting further research to better

quantify the safety impact of using cell phones while

driving? 

A. NHTSA is conducting research projects on driver cell

phone use and will continue to monitor the research of

others on this subject. As we learn more about the impact

of cell phone use on driver performance and crash risk,

and as wireless technologies evolve and expand, NHTSA

will make its findings public.

Q. Is talking on a cell phone any worse than having a

conversation with someone in the car?

A. Any activity a driver engages while driving has the

potential to distract the driver from the primary task of

driving. Some research findings comparing cell phone use

to passenger conversations while driving, show each to be

equally risky, while others show cell phone use to be more

risky. A significant difference between the two is the fact

that a passenger can monitor the driving situation along

with the driver and pause for, or alert the driver to,

potential hazards, whereas a person on the other end of

the phone line is unaware of the roadway situation. 

Q. What do the studies say about the relative risk of cell

phone use when compared to other tasks like eating or

drinking?

A. The current research does not provide a definitive

answer as to which behavior is riskier. In a controlled

study, comparing eating and operating a voice-activated

cell phone to continuously operating a CD player, it was

found that the CD player operation was more distracting

than the other activities. In a test track study conducted

by NHTSA, the results showed that manual dialing was

about as distracting as grooming/eating, but less

distracting than reading or changing CDs. It is also

important to keep in mind that some activities are carried

out more frequently and for longer periods of time and may

result in greater risk. ■

Global Road Safety – Did you know

that more than 3000 people are killed

each day in road traffic accidents

around the world ? That equates to 1.2

million traffic deaths a year and one

traffic death every 30 seconds. The

human toll and economic burden from

road traffic deaths and injuries,

especially in developing countries, is

enormous and expected to increase.

There is a move afoot, within the

United States Government (USG),

among private organizations, and on

the international stage, to intervene

and reverse this trend. 

Why is the Global Road Safety focus

important to you? Traffic accidents are

the number one cause of non-natural

death of American citizens abroad,

including Federal employees working

in many locations around the globe.

The U.S. Department of State, under

the Bureau of Oceans and

International Environmental and

Scientific Affairs (OES) now chairs a

USG interagency working group on

Global Road Safety. Other agencies

involved in spearheading the USG

Global Road Safety interagency

working group effort include the

Department of Transportations’

National Highway Transportation

Safety Administration (NHTSA) and

the Department of Health and Human

Services’ Centers for Disease Control

(CDC). The interagency working group

will coordinate the USG’s activities on

international Global Road Safety to

ensure a cohesive USG foreign policy

agenda. 

The United Nations has declared the

week of April 23-29, 2007, as Global

Road Safety Week, with a focus on

vulnerable young road users. In the

United States, the focus will be on

young drivers. As the lead for the

Global Road Safety interagency

working group, the Departments of

State, Transportation and Health and

Human Services will be involved in a

number of awareness programs to get

the word out on the importance of

Global Road Safety. Stay tuned!

Interested in learning more? View the

Department of State website link at:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety

/safety_1179.html; the NHTSA website

at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov; and the CDC

Center for Injury Prevention and

Control at

www.cdc.gov/health/motor.htm ■

Global Road

Safety

Provided by

the U.S. Department of State

CELL PHONE from page 9
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VehicleViews

In June 2006, seat belt use in the U.S. stands at 81 percent,

statistically unchanged from the previous year’s use rate

of 82 percent. This result is from the National Occupant

Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only

probability-based observed data on seat belt use in the

United States. The NOPUS is conducted annually by the

National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

The 2006 survey also found the following: 

• Use in the West has achieved the 90 percent milestone,

increasing from 85 percent in 2005. This increase was

statistically significant. 

• Use rates continue to be higher where laws are

stronger. States in which motorists can be stopped

solely for belt nonuse had a combined use rate of 85

percent in 2006, compared to 74 percent in other States.

For addition data and information, see the upcoming publication, “Behavioral Traffic Safety Facts in 2006 – Seat Belt Use, Child

Restraint Use, Motorcycle Helmet Use, and Driver Cell Phone Use,” expected to be available at the web site wwwnrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/nesa/Availlnf.html in 2007. ■

Seat Belt Use in 2006 Overall Results

By Donna Glassbrenner, Ph.D., and Jianqiang Ye 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistical Analysis
VehicleViews

Good question. And there’s a good

answer.

Rubber on the road, also known as

road alligators or tire debris is a

menace and can cause fatal accidents

if not cleaned up promptly.

Unfortunately, far too many people

believe the cause of rubber on the

road is retreaded tires, but the fact is

that much of the rubber on the road

comes from tires that have never been

inside a retread plant.

Surprised? It’s the truth and there is

plenty of evidence to back up my

statement.

The main cause of rubber on the road

is improper tire maintenance,

primarily underinflation, closely

followed by mismatched tires on dual

wheel positions, misaligned vehicles

and tires run with less than the legal

limit of tread rubber.

Tires that are driven with any of the

above problems will fail, given enough

time, and when they do they will come

apart and leave an often deadly trail of

tire debris all over the highway.

I’ve been in the retread industry for

more than thirty years and have been

the Managing Director of the Tire

Retread Information Bureau for more

than twenty-five years. During this

time I’ve talked to thousands of

truckers and have given more

speeches than I can count, all on the

same topic: YOU HAVE TO TAKE

PROPER CARE OF YOUR TIRES IF

YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE PROPER

CARE OF YOU. This simply means

taking the time to check tires regularly

by walking around your vehicle and

looking for anomalies, by running your

hand across your tire’s treads and

around your tire’s sidewalls regularly

to feel for bulges or uneven wear, and

most importantly, by using a

calibrated tire gauge on at least a

weekly basis.

Does the above sound like a pain in

the butt? How about having a tire

failure some rainy night in the middle

of nowhere that can cost you or your

company as much as a thousand (no

typo here) dollars in lost time, missed

delivery, an angry customer, damage

to your truck and a huge Excedrin®

headache – all of which could have

probably been prevented by taking the

time to do what I (and many people in

the tire industry who are smarter than

me) regularly recommend. Which is a

bigger pain in the butt?

There is an old saying I’ve always

liked: It’s simple, but it isn’t easy. I

know that it isn’t easy to take all of the

steps I recommended above on a

regular basis, especially when the

weather outside your cab is cold and

nasty, but in the long run the simple

steps of proper tire maintenance can

save you money, time and aggravation,

whether you are an owner-operator or

a company driver for a private or

public sector fleet. So again, I ask you

to think about it, which is a bigger pain

in the butt, doing the right thing or

gambling that you’ll get away with not

doing the right thing? Guess what –

you lose!

I have a favorite t-shirt that has

THERE’S NEVER A RIGHT TIME TO

DO THE WRONG THING on the front

and THERE’S NEVER A WRONG

TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING on

the back. This applies to everything we

do, including taking care of our tires.

Do I sound preachy? I guess I do, but

the message about tires just can’t be

repeated too often. I said that I’ve

spoken to thousands of truckers over

the years and it’s interesting that the

ones who tell me how careful they are

to maintain their tires properly just

don’t seem to have tire problems. Yet,

the truckers who tell me they sure can

tell by thumping (or even kicking) their

tires if everything is OK seem to be

always complaining about how “lousy”

the (fill in the brand) tires they have

on their truck are. Maybe the truckers

who take the time to take the right

steps to properly care for their tires

are just lucky. At least that’s what the

“thumpers and kickers” tell me. Draw

your own conclusions.

Finally, do you want to do your part to

help eliminate rubber on the road?

Here are a few things you can do to be

part of the solution instead of part of

the problem.

• Try to NEVER buy a “cap & casing”

on the road unless you are certain

you are dealing with a top quality

retreader. Otherwise, you might just

wind up with a “maypop”. May pop

in thirty miles or thirty minutes,

whichever comes first.

• If you do have to buy a retreaded

tire on the road (a cap & casing),

contact us at our toll free number

888-473-8732, and we’ll direct you to

the nearest top quality retreader

close to your location. If it is after

hours, go to our web site,

www.retread.org, and then see our

Retread Tire Buyers Guide section

If Retreads Are So Good, How Come 

We See So Much Rubber On the Road?

By Harvey Brodsky, Managing Director Tire Retread Information Bureau

Continued on page 13

12
13

VehicleViews

for the name, location and

telephone number of a member of

the Tire Retread Information

Bureau nearest to your location. By

buying from a top quality retreader

you won’t be buying junk.

• Our friends in the real estate

business always say the three

most important things to

remember are location, location,

location. We say when it comes to

tires the three most important

things to remember are (you

guessed it) inflation, inflation,

inflation. YOU HAVE TO KEEP

YOUR TIRES PROPERLY

INFLATED AND YOU HAVE TO

CHECK THEM REGULARLY

WITH A CALIBRATED TIRE

GAUGE!

• Contact us for a great packet of

information, including CDs and

DVDs, about proper tire

maintenance and retreaded tires.

There is no charge for our

materials and you’ll have enough

information to keep you busy

reading for a week. It’s also great

stuff to keep handy in your truck for

reference, especially our Retread

Tire Buyers Guide. We can be

reached toll free from anywhere in

the U.S or Canada at 888-473-8732,

or by email: info@retread.org. If

you want to talk about your tire

problems, whether they are

retreads or tires that have never

been retreaded, call me. I’m always

happy to help and if I don’t have the

answers you need, I can generally

get them within 24 hours. Plus, I

genuinely enjoy talking to truckers

and trying to help them solve their

tire problems. I can be reached at

the toll free number we gave above

and here it is again: 888-473-8732.

Let’s make road alligators extinct.

Wouldn’t that be nice? ■

How safe is YOUR driving?

No one’s looking. No one will ever know. I’ll do it just this one time. Do

these excuses sound familiar? Every day we encounter temptations on

the roadways. Making the illegal U-turn, ignoring the no turn on red sign,

rolling through a stop sign. You may not have hurt anyone, but what’s

your excuse when you do? Stop making excuses and use good judgment.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Make safe driving your

business.

RETREADS from page 12
VehicleViews

Continued on page 15

14

Provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
15

VehicleViews

WINTER from page 14
16

F

leet managers, petroleum distributors and other

consumers should pay extra attention to fuel

management and fuel quality this winter, according to

the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). The board

recommends buying biodiesel blends from an accredited

producer or certified marketer to help ensure the fuel is of

good quality. Quality is especially important with the

transition to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). 

“Ensuring that consumers have a high level of confidence

in the biodiesel they purchase is a top priority for the

National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and a key element for the

industry’s continued growth,” said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO.

“As the industry ramps up to meet the vast increase in

demand for biodiesel, this growth simply cannot occur at

the expense of fuel quality.” 

The biodiesel industry’s commitment to fuel quality and

consumer protection is exemplified by a six-fold increase

in the number of biodiesel producers completing the BQ9000 voluntary accreditation program in a single year. The

National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission runs the

program, which is open to both biodiesel producers and

biodiesel marketers, such as petroleum distributors.

Accredited producers account for 40 percent of the U.S.

biodiesel capacity. 

The industry has also asked government agencies to

adopt fuel quality standards for biodiesel and enforce

them. As a result of quality issues in Minnesota last

winter, NBB board members in June approved a

comprehensive fuel quality policy that directs NBB to work

diligently with all state and federal agencies with

authority to regulate fuel and enforce quality. 

NBB’s Fuel Quality Outreach Program has made contact

with all state Divisions of Weights and Measures, and

encouraged them to adopt ASTM D-6751 into the laws that

regulate fuel quality. ASTM D-6751 is the specification for

pure biodiesel, to be used in a blend of up to 20 percent.

Currently, half of the states have adopted the ASTM D6751 specification as part of their fuel quality regulations,

and an additional 13 states are planning to adopt the

specification or are studying it. Ten states now proactively

test biodiesel or biodiesel blends. 

That list includes Minnesota, where all diesel fuel

contains 2 percent biodiesel. 

“All of the samples from the state’s biodiesel producers

and terminals that we have collected and tested have met

specifications,” said Mark Buccelli, director, Minnesota

Department of Commerce Division of Weights and

Measures. “We have set up a monthly schedule to collect

samples at the biodiesel producers and terminals. We

expect to see good results. Most of the terminals are

testing every shipment of biodiesel that comes into their

facilities.”

In addition, the biodiesel industry, through NBB, has done

the following: 

• Worked diligently with the Internal Revenue Service,

Environmental Protection Agency, and state Weights

and Measures bureaus on enforcing fuel quality 

• Issued a bulletin to fuel suppliers advising them to take

samples of fuel, ensure a certificate of analysis for

every batch, and take other precautions 

• Developed an online Fuel Quality Enforcement Guide

on the NBB Web site, www.biodiesel.org, that provides

guidance on actions for anyone who has concerns that

a company might not be producing spec fuel 

• Built strong participation in BQ-9000

• Held a series of educational webinars for petroleum

distributors and other handlers, to be repeated

throughout the winter (check the NBB Web site for

details).

Cold weather tends to amplify the problems caused by

poor fuel quality. This winter, NBB has the following

recommendations for fleet managers and other

consumers:

• Work with a reputable supplier who will stand behind

the product

• Report out-of-spec biodiesel to the proper authorities,

which can be found in the State Fuel Quality Index on

www.biodiesel.org 

Biodiesel Industry Steps Up 

Quality Enforcement Efforts

Petroleum Outreach, Fuel Quality Enforcement Program and State-by-State

Quality Index are all part of Efforts to Enhance Biodiesel Quality

By Jenna Higgins, Director of Communications, National Biodiesel Board

Continued on page 17

on the Green front
17

VehicleViews

• Buy fuel from BQ-9000 accredited

producers or certified marketers, a

list of which is available online at

www.bq-9000.org

An additional variable this year is the

transition to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel.

Biodiesel was blended successfully

last year with ULSD, as well as with

low aromatic diesel fuel in California

for many years, and operated

normally. According to petroleum

refiners, the ULSD made now is

different than what has been

available in the past (some report

lower aromatics, higher wax content).

Biodiesel is currently being blended

with ULSD and used successfully

around the country, but some reports

of filter clogging began in the fall. It

is not clear now whether these

reports of filter clogging are due to

normal cold flow issues associated

with the beginning of winter; off-spec

biodiesel; the use of mono-acid

lubricity additives with new ULSD; or

new ULSD having different cold flow

properties than in the past, and

biodiesel blends making it more

challenging to treat for cold flow.

NBB is working with the biodiesel

and petro-diesel industry to make

sure that any issues that may surface

this winter with biodiesel blends are

fully addressed. ■

There are now over 1,000 publicly and privately accessed E85 fueling

locations throughout the United States! The Cenex on 320 3rd Street

Northwest in Bemidji, Minnesota can proudly be named the onethousandth facility. 

The number of E85 stations has grown significantly in just a short period

of time. Below is an approximation of how many E85 outlets were in

operation over the past several years: 

• January 2003: 100 

• January 2004: 150 

• January 2005: 285 

• January 2006: 600 

In October of 2005, the station count was 438; the number has more than

doubled in 12 months! 

“We are so pleased to achieve this milestone!” exclaimed Phil Lampert,

Executive Director of the NEVC. “From a very humble beginning of a few

stations in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, achieving this level of stations

is significant. While 1,000 stations is only a drop in the so called 'fueling

station bucket' (approximately 170,000 sites offer gasoline in the U.S.),

recent progress has been incredible. We can only relate this level of

achievement to our members, partners, and supporters!” 

Lampert added, “It’s appropriate that the E85 station number 1,000 is

located in Minnesota, home of more E85 stations than any other state.

The entire Minnesota E85 Team, led by the American Lung Association of

Minnesota and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, have again

demonstrated their commitment to the expansion of the use of 85 percent

ethanol as a form of alternative transportation fuel.” There are currently

over 300 E85 outlets in the state of Minnesota. 

The NEVC has been involved with the establishment of each of these

1,000 stations through the provision of technical, promotional and/or

financial support. “The NEVC doesn’t open these stations, we merely

provide the necessary support. This achievement would never have been

accomplished without the help of all involved. We look forward to adding

an abundant number of these facilities in years to come,” added Lampert. 

Currently there are 946 publicly accessed and 56 private fleet accessed

locations across the country, covering thirty-nine states. Arkansas and

Massachusetts just recently added their first E85 facility to each of their

states. 

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition has the most complete and up-todate listing of E85 refueling locations. You can find the listing at

www.e85refueling.com. ■

E85 Stations Reach 1,000

BIODIESEL from page 16

The Work Truck Show® 2007

Indiana Convention Center &

RCA Dome | Indianapolis, IN

Convention: March 6–9, 2007

Trade Show: March 7–9

www.ntea.com

Discover the latest

advancements in hybrid truck

technology, alternative fuels,

fleet maintenance, 

and much more at:

The Work Truck Show® 2007
GSA Automotive 

October 16, 2006 

Dear GSA Automotive Customers: 

On June 13, 2006, GSA distributed a letter informing our customers of the

upcoming environmental regulations associated with on-highway vehicles

equipped with diesel engines and the impact to our fiscal year (FY) 2007

procurement programs. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) onhighway heavy diesel engine emissions requirements, which become effective

January 1, 2007, are applicable to all vehicles over 8500 pounds gross vehicle

weight rating (GVWR) including pick-ups, light, medium and heavy cab

chassis/trucks, ambulances, buses, wreckers and carriers. 

These new regulations required OEMS to re-design products and components or

release new model vehicles into their manufacturing operations. Production starts

dates for these clean diesel engines will occur at differing times between vendors

throughout the first two quarters of FY 2007. 

1. For all light vehicles available with diesel engine 

(AutoChoice Option Code “YD”): 

The ordering start date will be posted for each representative model in the

summary section on the top of the Price Comparison page of AutoChoice. Pricing

for YD will be viewable for all items and options. If a customer configures a vehicle

with YD and there is a restriction with the order date, a message “Not Buildable”

will appear at the bottom of the Price Comparison page. The customer may then

want to consider timeliness of their need, pricing, configuration of their vehicle or

alternative models in applying their best value determination. Customers willing

to wait until the restriction expires will have to revisit AutoChoice at a later date

to place their orders. 

If a customer selects an item with the YD option and there are no ordering

restrictions, the order will be placed immediately with vendors. 

Continued on page 19

18

Acquisitions
19

VehicleViews

2. For all medium/heavy trucks, buses, wreckers & carriers 

with diesel engines as standard: 

The ordering start date will be posted for each representative model for each

Standard Item in the Summary section on the top of the Price Comparison page of

AutoChoice. Pricing for all models and options will be viewable. If a customer

configures a vehicle and there is a restriction with the order start date, the

message “O.F. Add to Garage” will appear at the bottom of the Price comparison

page, only allowing the customer to obligate funds and move their order into the

“Garage”. The customer may want to consider timeliness of their need, pricing, or

alternative models in applying their best value determination. Customers willing

to wait, will have to revisit the “Garage” in AutoChoice at a later date to place their

orders. In summary, customers have three choices: 

A. Place their order in the “Garage” if vehicle ordering is restricted; 

B. Select an available vehicle and place their order; or 

C. Revisit AutoChoice after the restrictions expire and place their order. 

For customers who use the “Garage”, once the restriction date expires, GSA will

forward a message to the customer reminding them to move their order out of the

“Garage”. GSA will then place the order immediately with the vendor after the

customer moves the order out of the Garage and finalizes (submits) the order to

GSA. 

If a customer selects an item with no ordering restrictions, the order will be

placed immediately with the vendor they selected. 

Hopefully, this information is helpful for your planning purposes. Should you have

any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact us

on our CARS number at (703) 605-2277, or by e-mail at vehiclebuying@gsa.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Robert Blackstone

Robert Blackstone 

GSA Automotive 

LETTER from page 18
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VehicleViews

U.S. General Services Administration

GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy

Federal Vehicle Policy Program (MT)

Washington, DC 20405

______________________________________

Official Business

Penalty For Private Use $300

First Class Mail

Postage and Fees Paid

GSA

Permit No. G-30

http://www.gsa.gov

Vehicle

Management

Policy

Contacts

The Office of

Governmentwide Policy,

Vehicle Management Policy

Program’s mission is to ensure the

effective and efficient use of the

Federal Government’s 640,000

motor vehicles and the expenditure

of close to $2 billion annually on

fleet operations through innovative

policies, adoption of best

practices, effective

communication, and leading edge

technologies.

Acting Director

Jan Dobbs

(202) 208-6601

Connie Aaron

(202) 208-7634

Ed Lawler

(202) 501-3354

Mike Moses

(202) 501-2507

Jacquie Perry

(202) 501-3347

Jim Vogelsinger

(202) 501-1764

Please address your questions or comments concerning Vehicle Views to

the editor: Jacquie C. Perry (202) 501-3347 or by e-mail to

Jacquie.Perry@gsa.gov.

Graphic Design: Tom Pearlman

GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications