Overview
PVTA could not demonstrate that preventative maintenance was always performed at the required intervals of 6,000 miles or within the allowable range of 600 miles above or below the mileage schedule. Specifically, we found that 5 (7%) out of a total of 76 preventative maintenance procedures that were completed during the audit period were not done in accordance with this schedule. We found that PVTA’s preventative maintenance procedure completion intervals were up to 6,070 miles behind schedule.
If PVTA cannot demonstrate that preventative maintenance is conducted in accordance with its contracted operating companies’ vehicle maintenance plans, then PVTA assumes a higher risk of damage to the electrical components of its BEBs. This could lead to traffic accidents—and avoidable damage to or loss of vehicles—and may result in severe injuries to employees and members of the public.
Authoritative Guidance
According to SATCo/VATCo’s “Vehicle Maintenance Plan,”
All PVTA vehicles are subject to a comprehensive scheduled preventive maintenance (PM) program and safety inspection at regular mileage intervals. . . .
PVTA Heavy Duty Fixed Bus Route—These vehicles have a preventative maintenance schedule interval of 6,000 miles with a goal of performing each inspection within +/- 10% of the established interval.
According to the University of Massachusetts Transit Services’ “Vehicle Maintenance Plan,” “Preventative maintenance service at 6,000-mile intervals on all PVTA buses . . . completing these inspections every 6,000 miles (within 10%) ensures all components remain fully functional for the life of the vehicles.”
Reasons for Issue
According to PVTA officials, FTA set an 80% threshold for PVTA to comply with its contracted operating companies’ vehicle maintenance plans during an FTA review of PVTA’s operations, and PVTA met that threshold during that FTA review. PVTA officials also indicated that, during the audit period, because there was only one mechanic in the garage, if one or two preventative maintenance services were not completed within the allowable timeframe, then PVTA was not alarmed by the unmet mileage schedule.
Recommendation
PVTA should establish monitoring controls over its preventative maintenance process to ensure that preventative maintenance services are conducted at 6,000 miles, or within the allowable range of 600 miles above or below the mileage schedule.
Auditee’s Response
PVTA officials did not make the statement: “then, PVTA was not alarmed by the unmet mileage schedule”. . . .
[Preventative maintenance (PM)] inspections out of the +/- 10% specified interval were due to unforeseen and documented operational challenges. However, at no time were any of the PM inspections conducted outside of the FTA required operational target of 80% PMs on time as documented by FTA during PVTA’s FY2025 Triennial Review Final Report (review period 2022-2025).
Auditor’s Reply
We acknowledge PVTA’s efforts to ensure that inspections fell within the 80% threshold established by FTA. However, it is important to note that the SATCo/VATCo and University of Massachusetts Transit Services vehicle maintenance plans require that all buses in PVTA’s fleet undergo preventative maintenance every 6,000 miles or within the allowable range of 600 miles above or below. PVTA’s contractors are held to a higher standard than the one set by FTA, and our audit found that they have not met that higher standard. PVTA established this higher standard and should hold its contractors responsible for meeting it. We note that FTA’s 80% target included PVTA’s entire fleet within a month, but our audit focused solely on PVTA’s BEBs during the audit period, which may have skewed the comparison.
During our audit exit conference on February 5, 2026, PVTA officials indicated that the unmet mileage schedule was not a cause for concern, and that a missed preventative maintenance service was not alarming because PVTA remained within the acceptable 80% threshold. If PVTA has a different perspective than what our team believes was communicated to it, we look forward to reassessing this matter as part of our post-audit review process in approximately six months.
| Date published: | July 1, 2026 |
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