Fixing army trucks almost as costly as buying new.

• Position: Washington Pulse - Brief Article

The steep price tag for repairing Army trucks is fueling debate among service leaders on whether it makes more sense to buy new vehicles, rather than fix them.

A Humvee shipped back from Iraq, for example, costs $39,000 to refurbish at Army depots. But the Army estimates it could buy a new one for $47,000. Similarly, a heavy-hauling tractor trailer costs $179,000 to repair, and a new one would run $184,000.

The Army often chooses to repair old trucks, because, by law, it cannot spend procurement dollars to fix existing vehicles.

Separate chains of command control different colors of money, explains Brig. Gen. William M. Lenaers, who runs the...