Title 41

SECTION 301-70.102

301-70.102 What governing policies must we establish for authorization and payment of transportation expenses

§ 301-70.102 What governing policies must we establish for authorization and payment of transportation expenses?

You must establish policies and procedures governing:

(a) Who will determine what method of transportation is more advantageous to the Government;

(b) Who will approve any of the following:

(1) Use of other than coach-class transportation accommodations for air and rail under §§ 301-10.123 and 301-10.162, and lowest first-class accommodations for ship under § 301-10.183 of this chapter.

(2) Use of a special-reduced fare or reduced group or charter fare;

(3) Use of an extra-fare train service under § 301-10.164;

(4) Use of ship service;

(5) Use of a foreign ship;

(6) Use of a foreign air carrier;

(c) When you will:

(1) Require the use of a Government vehicle;

(2) Allow the use of a Government vehicle; and

(3) Prohibit the use of a Government vehicle;

(d) When you will consider use of a POV advantageous to the Government, such as travel to and from common carrier terminals or to the TDY location. When determining whether the use of a POV to a TDY location is the most advantageous method of transportation, agencies must consider the total cost of using a POV as compared to the total cost of using a rental vehicle, including rental costs, fuel, taxes, parking (at a common carrier terminal, etc.), and any other associated costs;

(e) Procedures for claiming POV reimbursement;

(f) Procedures for allowing the use of a special conveyance (e.g., taxis, TNCs, innovative mobility technology companies, or commercially rented vehicles), taking into account the requirements of § 301-10.450;

(g) What procedures an employee must follow when he/she travels by an indirect route or interrupts travel by a direct route;

(h) Whether to reimburse the full amount of transportation costs and in conjunction with TDY or only the amount by which transportation costs exceed the employee's normal costs for transportation between:

(1) Office or duty point and another place of business;

(2) Places of business; or

(3) Residence and place of business other than office or duty point;

(i) Develop and issue internal guidance on what specific mission criteria justify approval of the use of other than coach-class transportation under §§ 301-10.123(a)(4), 301-10.123(b)(9), and 301-10.162(e), as well as on the use of other than lowest first-class under § 301-10.183(d) and the use of other than a compact rental car under § 301-10.450(c). The justification criteria shall be entered in the remarks section of the traveler's authorization.

(j) Develop and publish internal guidance regarding what constitutes a rest period upon arrival at a temporary duty location; and

(k) Develop and publish internal guidance regarding Seating Upgrade Programs in coach-class (see § 301-10.124).

[FTR Amdt. 70, 63 FR 15971, Apr. 1, 1998, as amended by FTR Amdt. 2005-03, 70 FR 28460, May 18, 2005; FTR Amdt. 2009-06, 74 FR 55149, Oct. 27, 2009; FTR Amdt. 2010-02, 75 FR 24436, May 5, 2010; FTR Amdt. 2010-07, 75 FR 72967, Nov. 29, 2010; FTR Amdt. 2015-03, 80 FR 27261, May 13, 2015; FTR Amdt. 2017-01, 83 FR 604, Jan. 5, 2018]

---