We reviewed the accident categories in terms of “fatal accidents,” defined as any accident event in which at least one occupant of an Army motor vehicle died; “occupant deaths,” defined as the total number of Army motor vehicle occupants killed; “rollovers,” defined as any vehicle that did not remain upright as the result of an accident; and “rollover deaths,” defined as those occurring to occupants of Army motor vehicles that rolled over as a result of an accident. Our comparison of M939 accident statistics with accident statistics for the rest of the Army motor vehicle fleet showed that the M939 accounted for about 34 percent of all Army motor vehicle fatal accident events, and 34 percent of all Army motor vehicle occupant deaths. We also found that, over this same 10-year period, the M939 occupant fatality rate averaged about 30 times higher than those for commercial trucks. Comparison of M939s With 2-1/2 Ton Tactical Army Trucks

The Army Safety Center’s analysis reviewed accident data from October 1990 through June 1998. In this analysis, the accident rate of the M939 was compared with accident rates for another series of trucks—the M34/M35 series 2-1/2 ton truck. The Army Safety Center’s analysis found accident rates for M939s to be higher than the comparison vehicles. The analysis showed M939 Class A mishap frequency rates per million miles driven to be 3 to 21 times higher than those of similar M34/M35 series 2-1/2 ton trucks. Army Plans to Spend $234 Million to Improve M939 Safety Performance

The Army has initiated a program to improve the M939’s safety performance and, according to TACOM estimates, plans to spend around $234 million for various modifications. These studies focused on identifying root causes of M939 accidents based on information contained in accident investigation reports. On the basis of the studies’ findings, the Army concluded that the overall truck design was sound but that some modifications were necessary to improve the truck’s safety performance. Planned modifications include $120 million for upgrading the trucks tires, altering brake proportioning specifications, and adding anti-lock brake kits. Other modifications include $114 million to install cabs equipped with rollover crush protection systems and improve accelerator linkage. The modifications, for the most part, will be completed by 2005 with the M939s remaining in service during the process.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's M939 series 5-ton tactical cargo truck, focusing on the: (1) extent to which accidents involving the truck have occurred; and (2) results of Army studies on the truck's design and its plans to address any identified deficiencies.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) GAO's analyses and an Army analysis indicate a higher rate of accidents involving the M939 series 5-ton tactical cargo truck than other comparison vehicles; (2) GAO's analysis of January 1987 through June 1998 accident data showed that, while M939s made up an average of about 9 percent of the Army motor vehicle fleet during that time, about 34 percent of the fleet's accidents resulting in fatalities of vehicle occupants involved these trucks; (3) 44 percent of accidents that involved a rollover and resulted in fatalities of vehicle occupants involved the M939; (4) GAO's comparison of Department of Transportation accident statistics and M939 accident statistics showed that over a 10-year period, the fatality rate for occupants of the M939 averaged about 30 times higher than the fatality rate for occupants of comparably sized commercial trucks; (5) an Army Safety Center analysis found that the chance of a fatality in a M939 was 3 to 21 times higher than in other similar military trucks in the Army motor vehicle fleet--the M34/M35 series 2 1/2 ton trucks; (6) the Army plans to spend an estimated $234 million on various modifications to improve the M939's safety and operational performance; (7) based on the results of studies into the root causes of M939 accidents, the Army concluded that the overall truck design was sound, but some modifications were necessary; (8) the Army plans to use the $234 million to add anti-lock brake kits, alter brake proportioning specifications, upgrade the truck's tires, install cab rollover crush protection, and modify the accelerator linkage; (9) most modifications will be completed by 2005; and (10) the M939s will remain in service as these modifications are made.