Low-speed vehicles save Air Force money

  • Published
  • 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In these difficult financial times and with budget restraints all across the Air Force, low speed vehicles are a major step the Air Force is taking to drastically reduce vehicle procurement, maintenance and fuel costs. 

One of the defining characteristics of an LSV is that it must not be able to exceed 25 mph. Additionally, they are not authorized to be operated on public roads with a posted speed limit greater than 35 mph. 

"Many people don't realize payload capacity is really not diminished with an LSV," said 1st Lt. Tim Breitbach, Flight Commander, Vehicle Management. " Airmen are able to continue to accomplish their missions with LSVs while helping the Air Force to meet the Air Staff-directed goal of a 2 percent annual reduction in the use of fossil fuels." 

Recently, the Air Force formally classified LSVs as vehicles and directed that LSVs be procured, managed and maintained just like regular vehicles. The exception is an LSV that was purchased with unit funds prior to June 2006. These will continue to be classified as equipment assets and the owning organization will be responsible for maintenance. Golf carts, all terrain vehicles and similar assets are not classified as vehicles but actually as equipment assets called other governmental motor vehicle conveyances, or OGMVCs. 

According to Dave Ritchson, Chief, Vehicle Management, Air Staff has recently made OGMVC accountability a Special Interest Item, and the 96 LRS Vehicle Management Flight is the base OPR to ensure compliance. As the OPR, LRS sent specific instructions out to all Eglin Vehicle Control Officers and Equipment Custodians informing them of their LSV/OGMVC responsibilities. Specifically, that is to ensure every OGMVC owned by an Eglin organization has been identified to 96 LRS Vehicle Management and has been assigned an "X" registration number. 

"This enables the asset to be tracked by vehicle management thus guaranteeing that it receives the required maintenance and safety inspections," Mr. Ritchson said. 

Vehicle management will not actually perform maintenance on OGMVCs, but will send a reminder to the owning organization when the OGMVC is required to get a maintenance/safety inspection. Manufacturer guidelines will be used to determine these dates, and the owning organization will be responsible to ensure completion either internally or through a third-party contractor. Once again though, required maintenance must be monitored and tracked by vehicle management. 

OGMVCs are equipment assets and therefore must be on an organization's equipment account. "So, if you have an OGMVC and do not have a Vehicle Management assigned "X" registration number and/or know it is not on any equipment account, you are required by regulation to notify 96 LRS Vehicle Management Flight to ensure the asset is accurately accounted for," Lieutenant Breitbach said. 

To aid in the purchase of OGMVCs, Vehicle Management and Analysis (VM & A) has established a checklist that outlines the correct procedures to follow before new assets are acquired. Multiple offices are involved including 96 LRS Customer Service, the 96 Contracting Squadron and Eglin Ground Safety. Stephen Howell and his team in VM & A answer any questions by calling 882-4511 or e-mailing Stephen.Howell@eglin.af.mil.