New procedures shipping POVs to CONUS from Europe

BREMERHAVEN, Germany (USTCNS) --- Since 2 April, American Auto Logistics, Inc (AAL) performs the undercarriage cleaning process at the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany for privately owned vehicles originating in Germany, Benelux and Northern Italy vehicle processing centers.

In Naples and Sigonella, Italy, Spain, Turkey and in the United Kingdom, AAL performs the undercarriage cleaning process at the VPCs.

Every American soldier and civilian in Europe who turns in his or her car knows that it has to be totally cleaned before turning it in for shipment to the United States.
The important question however, which always pops up is: HOW CLEAN?

"The high level of rejection rates at the Military Traffic Management Command, VPCs caused us a lot of concern," says Dan Sonju, 598th Transportation Group's, regional global POV contract, program manager.

Before we ship the vehicles, they have to pass the strict U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection. The most common reason as to why vehicles fail the initial inspection is mostly attributed to members cleaning their vehicle themselves.

They are not being able to reach all contaminated areas. Needless to say, the members become very upset when their vehicles get dirty and are rejected after they have paid a substantial amount of money to have them cleaned," continues Sonju.

High pressure and intensive cleaning, however, is required to remove encrusted dirt, soil, mud, insects etc., from the undercarriage, wheel wells behind front and rear bumpers, axles, frame rails, transmission etc. The cost to the member often exceeds $100.00. To avoid these charges, many of the members try to clean their vehicles themselves according to Bill Antonelli, AAL's vice president.

In coordination with MTMC, the American Auto Logistics, Inc. came up with new procedures to meet the stringent United States Department of Agriculture requirements for moving POVs from Europe to the U.S.

"It is the member's responsibility to clean his POV and turn it in with a clean interior and exterior. This includes cleaning the trunk and under the hood. All members are required to provide a clean POV for the joint inspection at the VPC. The exterior must be clean and the interior and trunk must be vacuumed. All trash, personnel effects and other non-allowable items must be removed.

It is AAL's intention to eliminate the frustrations and difficulties the members have in meeting the USDA requirements. The vehicles from the German, Benelux and Northern Italy VPC's will be consolidated in Bremerhaven port and checked; and, if necessary, the undercarriage will be cleaned by AAL contracted personnel," said Antonelli.

"AAL accepts the accountability to ensure that all vehicles pass the USDA inspection at no cost to the U.S. Government. However, I would like to underline the responsibility of each member to present a clean POV," says Col. John V. Brown, commander MTMC 598th U.S. Army Transportation Terminal Group.

"These new procedures save headaches and money, waste less time, result in fewer confused members and the number of USDA inspectors at the local VPC level can be reduced," said Brown.

After the clean vehicle has been inspected and accepted at the VPC, the POV is forwarded to Bremerhaven, Germany, where AAL contracted personnel will clean the undercarriage.

Delcio Rivera, European Command's Agriculture Advisor approved the operation in Bremerhaven after he visited and reviewed the site in Bremerhaven.

"Since the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, AAL personnel also disinfects all vehicles from any VPC within the European Command before they are driven onboard the ship," he said.

"MTMC 598th Trans Group imports 17,000 POVs and exports 18,000 POVs annually. To better support the soldiers/civilians and their families, MTMC operates 28 full service , partial service and quality of life VPC's in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and Turkey," said Sonju. (FROM 598TH TRANSPORTATION GROUP PUBLIC AFFAIRS).