I am pleased to be here today to discuss our recent work on issues relating to Amtrak’s vehicle fleet management.
In the past year, we issued three reports identifying recurring problems with the management and oversight of the vehicle fleet.1 Although the focus of these reports was vehicle fleet management, the root cause of the specific issues we identified were weaknesses in Amtrak’s management controls, issues we have repeatedly identified as the cause of operational and programmatic deficiencies throughout the company. The management control weaknesses affecting the vehicle management program are similar to those we have noted elsewhere in the company—ineffective internal control processes, inadequate policies and procedures, and fragmented oversight responsibilities.
My testimony today focuses on three areas where we believe that Amtrak has opportunities to improve its vehicle fleet management: fleet growth and utilization, costly leasing practices, and fuel card oversight.
