CMR stands for “Commercial Motor Repair.” It is a term used by the U.S. military to refer to maintenance and repair services for commercial vehicles and fleet equipment. The military relies heavily on commercial vehicles, such as trucks, vans, buses, and other fleet equipment to transport personnel and supplies. To keep these vehicles operational, the military utilizes commercial shops and mechanics to provide repair and maintenance services through contracted agreements. Understanding what CMR means provides insight into how the military manages and sustains its vast vehicle fleets.
What does CMR stand for?
As noted above, CMR stands for “Commercial Motor Repair.” It is the technical term used by the U.S. military to refer to maintenance and repair services for commercial fleet vehicles. The “commercial motor” portion refers specifically to the commercial design and origin of the vehicles, rather than tactical military vehicles. The “repair” portion refers to the broad range of services required to keep the vehicles functional, including:
- Preventive maintenance
- Scheduled servicing
- Mechanical repairs
- Body work and painting
- Electrical system repairs
- Parts replacement
- Tire service
- Roadside assistance
Together, “Commercial Motor Repair” encapsulates the wide range of maintenance and repair activities the military needs to keep its non-tactical vehicle fleets operating. It provides a shorthand reference to distinguish this type of maintenance work from that occurring on specialized military tactical vehicles.
Why does the military use the term CMR?
The U.S. military uses the term Commercial Motor Repair for several key reasons:
1. To differentiate non-tactical vehicle maintenance
As noted earlier, CMR signifies maintenance work on commercial non-tactical vehicles, as opposed to tactical military vehicles designed for combat operations. This distinction is important, because commercial and military vehicle maintenance involves very different technical expertise, facilities, parts, tools, and procedures. The CMR designation helps clarify the type of maintenance services required.
2. To manage contracted maintenance services
The military does not perform CMR work itself. Instead, it contracts these services out to commercial shops and mechanics. The CMR term provides a standardized label to facilitate contracting and management of repair services from commercial vendors. It provides specificity on the statement of work and types of services required when drafting contracts.
3. To provide maintenance oversight and quality control
Use of the uniform CMR term also allows the military to oversee and control the quality of maintenance work performed on its commercial non-tactical vehicle fleets. By establishing CMR as a distinct category of vehicle repair, the military can set performance standards and inspection protocols to ensure contracted services meet expectations. This improves accountability.
4. To better budget and allocate funds
Identifying all non-tactical fleet vehicle maintenance under CMR also helps the military accurately budget, fund, and account for this specific cost category. Rather than lumping commercial vehicle maintenance in with other expenses, the CMR designation facilitates improved financial tracking and cost control.
What kinds of vehicles fall under the CMR designation?
The military uses a vast assortment of commercial vehicles that require CMR services. Some of the most common vehicle types include:
Light Vehicles
- Sedans
- SUVs
- Pickup trucks
- Vans
These light commercial vehicles transport personnel, provide base mobility, and fulfill administrative functions.
Tactical Support Vehicles
- Fuel trucks
- Cargo trucks
- Dump trucks
- Emergency services vehicles
These support tactical operations, logistics, infrastructure upkeep, and base self-sufficiency.
Transit Vehicles
- Buses
- Shuttles
- Passenger vans
For transporting military personnel and civilian contractors within and between bases.
Specialty Vehicles
- Mobile kitchens and canteens
- Mobile medical clinics
- Firefighting vehicles
- Mobile command centers
Specialized commercial platforms adapted for military support tasks.
Off-Road Vehicles
- All-terrain forklifts
- Rough terrain cranes
- Telehandlers
For construction, transport and logistics support at forward areas.
Any military commercial vehicles not specially designed for combat fall under the umbrella of CMR services. This encompasses hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide.
How are CMR services contracted?
The military employs a competitive bidding process to contract CMR work to commercial repair shops located near bases and installations. There are two primary contractual approaches:
Individual Purchase Orders
For small, one time CMR jobs, the military issues individual purchase orders (IPOs). Mechanics or repair shops bid on performing the specific CMR work outlined in the purchase order. The lowest qualified bidder wins the contract.
Repair and Maintenance Contracts
For larger bases with more extensive CMR needs, the military issues repair and maintenance contracts. These long term contracts – usually 1 to 5 years – require shops to provide comprehensive CMR services for the entire military fleet at that location. Shops bid on the overall contract, with award going to the most technically proficient and cost efficient provider. These contracts allow for better coordination and continuity of fleet maintenance.
The competitive bidding process aims to obtain optimal value and performance for CMR services. Oversight helps ensure vendors deliver quality repairs in compliance with contract terms.
How are military mechanics different from CMR mechanics?
The military employs skilled mechanics within its various branches to maintain specialized tactical vehicles. These military mechanics have training and expertise optimized for working on combat and tactical vehicles, including:
- Tracked vehicles (tanks, Bradley’s, etc.)
- Artillery and missile launchers
- Amphibious vehicles
- Aircraft support equipment
- Tactical trucks and trailers
- Specialized electronic systems
In contrast, CMR mechanics maintain and repair conventional commercial style vehicles. While both types of mechanics require technical aptitude and training, their specific skill sets differ considerably based on the vehicle types encountered.
Key differences also exist in how military vs. CMR mechanics obtain qualifications. Military mechanics must complete specialized internal training provided through their branch of service. By contrast, CMR mechanics typically enter the field through civilian vocational schools, manufacturer training, on-the-job experience, and ASE certification testing.
While their skill sets do not fully align, military fleet managers certainly recognize the expertise and importance of both types of mechanics in keeping military motor pools operational. Coordinating CMR and military mechanics enables the vast diversity of vehicles to remain mission ready.
How does the military procure replacement parts for CMR?
The military does not maintain direct inventories of spare parts for CMR services. Instead, contracted repair shops procure needed parts through normal commercial channels, just as civilian fleet maintenance shops do. However, the contracts stipulate that any parts must meet original equipment (OEM) specifications. Further, shops must document and justify any parts expenditures on their work orders.
Shops source CMR parts through:
- Auto parts stores
- Commercial dealership parts departments
- Aftermarket and generic suppliers
- Online parts locators
- Consignment parts houses
- Auctions and salvage yards
The military reviews parts expenditures to verify correct and cost efficient sourcing. Proper parts procurement and life cycle management helps maximize the longevity, performance, and value of military commercial fleets.
What are some CMR best practices?
Efficient CMR delivery helps keep military vehicle fleets operating affordably and effectively. Some proven best practices include:
Preventive Maintenance
Routine scheduled maintenance like oil changes, lubrication, fluid checks, tune ups, brake inspections, etc. prevents more costly downstream repairs.
Fleet Tracking
Databases that record vehicle service and repair history optimize scheduling and pinpoint problems.
Mechanic Training
Ongoing professional development and training ensures mechanics stay current on changing vehicle technologies and service recommendations.
Sourcing Standardization
Standardizing approved parts vendors and sourcing protocols provides budgetary predictability and ensures parts quality.
Incentivizing Cost Savings
Providing contract incentives to CMR shops that come in under budget motivates cost optimization.
Routine Contract Reviews
Regularly reviewing CMR contracts against performance metrics and market rates helps ensure favorable pricing and service levels are maintained.
Proper CMR oversight by fleet managers delivers maximum vehicle operational readiness and cost efficiency for the military. Continual process refinement is key.
What military branches utilize CMR services?
All branches of the U.S. military rely to some degree on CMR to keep their non-tactical vehicle fleets operating.
Army
With over 200,000 commercial vehicles including SUVs, trucks, tractors and forklifts, the Army has widespread CMR needs. Troop transport vehicles also fall under CMR.
Navy
From forklifts to semi trucks, the Navy uses CMR services to maintain its land-based vehicle fleets that support port and logistic operations.
Air Force
A large fleet of service vehicles, buses, construction equipment, and specialized ramp vehicles are maintained under Air Force CMR contracts.
Marines
The Marine Corps has diverse CMR needs across its bases and stations to service transport vehicles, material handling equipment, and administrator fleets.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard utilizes CMR for motor pool sedans, trucks, cutters, snowmobiles, and boats transported by trailers.
Without reliable CMR, military operations would grind to a halt. All service branches derive tremendous value from commercial maintenance and repair capabilities.
Conclusion
In summary, CMR stands for Commercial Motor Repair within the U.S. military sector. It entails maintenance and servicing of the military’s huge fleet of non-tactical vehicles by commercial vendors. CMR allows the armed forces to economically maintain functionality of the diverse commercial trucks, cars, buses, equipment, and trailers that are essential to base support operations. By outsourcing these services through competitive contracts, the military achieves quality, cost-effective vehicle readiness. Understanding what CMR represents provides insight into this vital military logistics support function.
