(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/19/2025) The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has not been reviewing travel logs and verifying vehicle assignments to make sure their vehicles are being used for state business, according to an Office of Auditor General report. 

The audit released on Wednesday found that out of the 55 vehicles in the state fleet reviewed, MDOT didn’t have travel logs and vehicle verification forms for 35 of the vehicles. Two of the 19 forms on file didn’t have proper approval. 

The travel logs were supposed to be reviewed every pay period, but the audit found 70 of the 244 pay periods did not have a travel log. Out of the 174 travel logs, 16 were not properly approved. 

MDOT told auditors they agreed that all vehicle travel logs should be reviewed and said the main reason was employee turnover. They said the travel log review process was being looked at, and they would have the problem fixed by Sept. 30. 

The audit also found MDOT had fallen behind on documenting preventative vehicle and equipment maintenance, such as oil changes, tire pressure checks and light and blinker inspection. 

MDOT garages are responsible for conducting the inspections and maintenance in the fall and spring for critical vehicles. 

The audit took place at nine MDOT locations over three periods and found preventative maintenance was not completed or documented as completed in time for 828 of the 4,047 (20%) vehicles and equipment.  

The overdue maintenance ran from 20 days to 26 years, depending on the type of equipment and maintenance.  

In all, 354 pieces of equipment needed service after every 250 hours of use or once per year. The outstanding maintenance ranged between 20 days and 11 years. 

Of the 423 pieces of equipment that needed service every 500 hours, overdue maintenance ranged between 20 days and 26 years. 

Of 225 vehicles, outstanding maintenance is between 16 days and four years. 

Five overdue maintenance service requests were overdue by 47 years “and would not be an objective representation of the remaining vehicles and equipment.” 

MDOT told auditors it didn’t always keep the service records completed on equipment and the timeliness could be because of staff changing positions, equipment being in use, an issue of supply chain getting the equipment where it needed to be, or a higher-priority repair job. 

MDOT told auditors that they are a national leader in fleet performance and since 2010 have participated in the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Equipment Management Technical Services Program. 

They said for seven years between 2016 and 2022 MDOT was named among the “100 Best Fleets in the Americas.”  

The OAG audit took place between 2023 and 2024. 

They have said there is a process and procedure in place since 2014 that requires pre- and post-trip inspections on commercial vehicles. 

MDOT officials said they would be updating the inspection and maintenance program and have updates rolled out by Sept. 30.