A maintenance vehicle comprising: a frame ; a steering mechanism comprising: a pair of control levers operatively connected to said frame ; a pair of transmissions , wherein each transmission is operatively connected to one of said pair of control levers , each of said transmissions has an output shaft that is connected to a traction wheel , wherein said pair of control levers directly control said transmissions ; a first sensor and a second sensor , wherein said first sensor is connected to a first output shaft and said second sensor is connected to a second output shaft , wherein each of said first and second sensors measures at least one characteristic of said corresponding output shaft , each of said sensors generating a first output signal representing said at least one measured characteristic; a system controller operatively connected to said first and second sensors for receiving said first output signals therefrom, wherein said system controller is configured to calculate an overall steered direction and to generate at least one second output signal; at least one steered wheel assembly operatively connected to said frame , each of said at least one steered wheel assembly having at least one steered wheel ; and at least one steering controller operatively connected to said system controller , said at least one steering controller receiving one of said at least one second output signal from said system controller , wherein said steering controller operatively rotates said at least one steered wheel assembly in response to said at least one second output signal from said system controller to steer said at least one steered wheel assembly to said overall steered direction. a frame ; a steering mechanism comprising: a pair of control levers operatively connected to said frame ; a pair of transmissions , wherein each transmission is operatively connected to one of said pair of control levers , each of said transmissions has an output shaft that is connected to a traction wheel , wherein said pair of control levers directly control said transmissions ; a pair of control levers operatively connected to said frame ; a pair of transmissions , wherein each transmission is operatively connected to one of said pair of control levers , each of said transmissions has an output shaft that is connected to a traction wheel , wherein said pair of control levers directly control said transmissions ; a first sensor and a second sensor , wherein said first sensor is connected to a first output shaft and said second sensor is connected to a second output shaft , wherein each of said first and second sensors measures at least one characteristic of said corresponding output shaft , each of said sensors generating a first output signal representing said at least one measured characteristic; a system controller operatively connected to said first and second sensors for receiving said first output signals therefrom, wherein said system controller is configured to calculate an overall steered direction and to generate at least one second output signal; at least one steered wheel assembly operatively connected to said frame , each of said at least one steered wheel assembly having at least one steered wheel ; and at least one steering controller operatively connected to said system controller , said at least one steering controller receiving one of said at least one second output signal from said system controller , wherein said steering controller operatively rotates said at least one steered wheel assembly in response to said at least one second output signal from said system controller to steer said at least one steered wheel assembly to said overall steered direction. <EOS>