Transcom Officials See Improvement in Vehicle Deliveries

From a U.S. Transportation Command News Release

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Sept. 11, 2014 - U.S. Transportation Command's privately owned vehicle fusion cell has recognized that deliveries of vehicles shipped from overseas bases are improving, based on site surveys and a sampling of shipment records, Transcom officials said.

Many vehicles that service members and Defense Department civilian employees had shipped as part of their moves to new assignments in the United States did not arrive when promised, and Transcom officials have been working to resolve the issue.

Representatives from International Auto Logistics, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, or SDDC, as well as from Army transportation brigades and Transcom completed the site surveys in August at vehicle processing centers and vehicle staging facilities worldwide and identified potential weaknesses in IAL's supply chain.

International Auto Logistics and SDDC representatives also took a random sample of records for vehicles turned in and delivered in August to evaluate improvements to the system.

Validating inventories and supply chain constraints

"The surveys and sampling were successful in helping to validate inventories and validate supply chain constraints," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Guemmer, who leads the fusion cell.

Transcom "absolutely needed" to take this approach as part of its continued contract oversight and to reinforce its commitment to service members and their families, the general said. "We are doing our job, not IAL's," he added.

Guemmer noted on-time delivery improved dramatically in August, based on a random sample of 500 vehicles turned in by service members since Aug. 1. The sample was drawn from inventoried vehicles, with more than 95 percent of the sample delivered on time. However, Guemmer was quick to caution this improved on-time delivery rate is only for vehicles turned in after Aug. 1.

"The on-time delivery rate for vehicles through July was completely unacceptable," Guemmer said. Federal acquisition regulations restrict Transcom from releasing specific contract performance data, officials said, adding that on-time delivery rates for vehicles scheduled for delivery in September or later cannot yet be determined.

International Auto Logistics reports that within the supply chain of the 31,528 vehicles that have entered the system, 13,760 have been delivered, with an additional 2,350 ready for pickup at vehicle processing centers.

The increased volume of deliveries in August also indicates IAL has more reliable data tracking and that the company has improved its customs clearance procedures, Guemmer said. The rate of vehicle delivery in August was nearly three times higher than the rate of delivery in previous months.

Quick payment of claims

While acknowledging some service members are experiencing challenges contacting IAL, Guemmer said one positive note is IAL's willingness to pay service member claims quickly.

"They are living up to their promise and liability by making good-faith efforts to resolve service member claims for compensation quickly, well before the 90 days required under the contract," he said. "We will continue to work with IAL to provide timely support to service members who have been inconvenienced in this process."

Guemmer said that service members need to be aware of their entitlements to compensation under the contract for rental cars or inconvenience. For vehicles overdue fewer than seven days, the first step is for military members to contact the local personal property, personnel support detachment or finance office. Regulations cap reimbursement at $30 daily.

If rental car rates exceed $30 a day for days one through seven, an inconvenience claim can be submitted to IAL that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for possible payment. DOD civilians can get rental car reimbursement by filing an inconvenience claim with IAL, because they do not have the same entitlement under the travel regulations.

"Commitment to our people is Job One -- service members want vehicles delivered on time and without damage, but when that doesn't happen, they deserve answers, and they deserve to be fairly compensated," Guemmer said. "We approach each service member's concern as though it came from our own family."

For claims information for International Auto Logistics, call 855-389-9499, Option 3, or email: claims@ialpov.us. The email address for Transcom's inspector general privately owned vehicle customer support team is usarmy.scott.sddc.mbx.pov-ig-response@mail.mil.