Total federal fleet size is up
Federal agencies have added to their fleets, even as the federal budget gets close scrutiny. 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.
The federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently compiled the numbers. 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 looked at agency fleet data compiled by the federal General Services Administration (GSA) to identify changes in fleet size and vehicle type from fiscal years 2005 to 2011. GAO selected four agencies — the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (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.
The biggest jump in fleet size was at the VA, which boosted the size of its fleet by 49 percent between 2005 and 2011. One reason VA has larger fleets now, said GAO, was that the VA needed to accommodate expanded programs and services. 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 its summary of the report, GAO said some agencies decreased their fleets between 2005 and 2011, and that the change in fleet size from agency to agency varied considerably. Go here to view the report.
