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Return to Article: Senators skeptical on future of Defense Travel System

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  The DTS system makes it impossible to track travel requests on behalf of my subordinates. In one instance, a traveler had an approved DTS order only to come home from TDY with a denied travel order in the system. The manpower expended attempting to navigate this onerous system is outrageous. Scratch this loss and start anew.

  GovExec.com reader Posted May 6, 2006 4:44 PM
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  U.S. Army already has an automated travel system called iRATS. This system belonged to the USG, and was not a proprietary product. It has worked very well, and has served Redstone Arsenal for years. In fact it is still in use for most of the Redstone Army personnel due to the delayed DTS migration. DTS should have considered iRATS as a GOTS solution instead of reinventing this wheel. The taxpayers deserve our best effort at efficiency.

  GovExec.com reader Posted October 19, 2005 12:44 PM
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  Budget Analyst, KAFB, NM:

  I don't use the DTS but I travel extensively. The difference in price you mention could be due to booking at different times. I've had costs double because I didn't book when I first looked in the morning and waited until the same day's afternoon. Airfare defies any type of logic.

  Fed'l Gov't Consultant Posted October 5, 2005 12:19 PM
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  The Senators should spend time investigating why Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) charges its clients so much to use the Defense Travel System. New travel costs are significantly higher, as negotiated by SDDC. They find ways to give poor customer service and their system on the outside of the Defense Department does not work. The Senators should get a clue.

  Steven Posted October 4, 2005 8:49 PM
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  Now the travel office is adding a "service charge" of $18.19 to process a plane reservation, and only $8.75 for a rental car. How is this saving dollars? The program is cumbersome to use and the accounting factor is a nightmare. Someone sure sold DOD a bill of goods. Also, at present this only covers DAC & AGR. Reserve soldiers still will be processed under the Rlas program, forcing us to use two programs instead of one. This will only make the process muh more difficult to manage.

  Connie Young Posted October 3, 2005 10:38 AM
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  We currently use DTS and it is horrible. I can't believe it was ever allowed to be released. There are major bugs in the software causing significant manpower to bypass the normal processes and force fix trave orders and vouchers just to get them through the system. At least 50% of the people using it have had major problems. Also adequate help documentation is not available nor training. I agree with the Senators - scrap it !!!

  Marty Sargent Posted October 3, 2005 9:31 AM
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  My Agency has been using DTS since October 2003. After getting over the "learning curve" and familiar with this system, it's my opinion that it is a very good system. HOWEVER, I do agreee that DTS does NOT always find the lowest fares. AND I have seen cases where two travelers are TICKETED on the SAME flight, yet there are hundreds of dollars difference in the airfare charged! As a TAXPAYER as well as a finance person THAT CONCERNS ME GREATLY!!!

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 30, 2005 3:32 PM
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  I have been using the DTS for a little over a year. It is very cumbersome to use and is in NO WAY, "USER FRIENDLY". It is a $500m scam.

  James Snow Posted September 30, 2005 11:08 AM
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  Would someone please tell me how DTS is supposed to save money? Let's look at it. Let's say the system lasts for the full 8 year possible life expectancy of a software system before major modification is required. At $56 million per year savings, that's $448 million in savings. But the cost of developing the system is $474 million for a loss overall of $26 million.

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 30, 2005 8:03 AM
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  Another waste of DoD $$. While you're at it - scrap NMCI too, PLEASE!

  GovExec.com reader Posted September 30, 2005 5:52 AM