Policies and procedures set forth in the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) insure accountability of taxpayer’s money. The Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) is contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) chapters 300-304. The purpose of the FTR is to interpret policy requirements to insure that official travel is conducted in a responsible, most cost effective manner. It also strives to communicate the policies in a clear manner to Federal agencies and employees.
The FTR sets forth the rules and regulations applicable to employees traveling on behalf of the U.S. Government. It administers the laws governing travel allowances and entitlements for Federal employees. The FTR contains information on mode of transportation, per diem, and miscellaneous entitlements.
The Federal Travel Regulation is written in a question and answer format that makes it easier to understand. A glossary of terms is also provided at the beginning. Although, most agencies that follow the FTR provide training opportunities, information can also be found on the GSA website.
The introduction of electronic travel systems made the Federal Travel Regulations more noticeable to travelers. The Federal Travel Regulations required federal travelers to use a Travel Management Service (TMS) or risk being responsible for costs associated with not using the service. E-Travel systems can recognize if a traveler is not in compliance with the Federal Travel Regulations and requires justifications when a traveler is not in compliance. For instance, if a traveler makes an airline reservation with a non-contract carrier, they will receive a pre-audit flag and must enter a justification before sending the reservation to the TMC. Travelers did not always like this feature at first.
The contents of this message are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the Government or my agency. Use of this equipment is consistent with the agency’s policy governing limited personal use.
By: Chanda Garrett
The contents of this message are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the Government or my agency.