Army PCS Moving Assistance

Soldiers and families preparing for a PCS move during the peak months of May, June, July and August (potentially into September) should anticipate unexpected delays in scheduling of their household goods, or HHG, move. PCS-related resource challenges (shortage of local packers, loaders, drivers, trucks, warehouses, wood containers and port/rail congestion) continue for the moving industry for both Defense Department and non-DOD customers, which will cause up to four- to six-week delays in select areas for origin shipment pickups and destination deliveries.

Advance planning and preparation is the number one key to a successful move:

• Stop by your local transportation office immediately after receiving orders for a better chance of scheduling a move that is convenient for your military family.
• Scheduling movers is done on a first-come, first-served basis, with limited availability of packing, pickup and shipping dates.
• If possible, soldiers and military families should avoid targeting moves around the holidays and during the last week of May through August as those weeks are even more congested, stretching industry capability to meet the demand.

To avoid delays by conducting a personally procured move, or PPM (formerly known as a do-it-yourself, or DITY, move), be sure to keep the following in mind:

• Your #1 priority is to obtain full and empty weight tickets to determine the actual weight of HHG moved or stored to receive full compensation.
• The PPM monetary allowance increased from 95% to 100% of the estimated cost the government would have paid a moving company and includes a fuel surcharge, debris removal, third party service and payment of accessorial fees.
• The key form required to counsel, approve and process your PPM/DITY by your origin transportation office is a DD Form 2278, Application for Personally Procured Move and Counseling Checklist.

NOTE: Soldiers and families who hire their own moving company need to be careful of “fly-by-night companies” looking to profit from desperation moves by adjusting cost estimates.

Avoid scams and select a reputable mover:

• Use a commercial mover registered with the federal government at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
• Check the mover’s reviews on the Better Business Bureau website.

Ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of the contract and the remedies that are available to you in case there is a problem:

• Download the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. This booklet will help you understand the documents that a mover will ask you to sign, and it explains your rights if your household goods are lost or damaged.
• Be sure your mover provides you with additional written information describing its procedure for handling any questions and complaints.
• Make sure your mover provides a telephone number you can call to obtain additional information about your move.
• Get in writing that your commercial moving company will provide full and empty weight tickets for all trucks and containers used.

NOTE: Do NOT move or store any household goods prior to publication of PCS orders as there is no Joint Travel Regulations authority to reimburse you for those travel, transportation and storage expenses.

When in doubt, call your local transportation office or the Army Personal Property Call Center at:

• Commercial: 520-706-8613
• DSN: 323-706-8613

Soldiers can apply for a higher household goods weight allowance not to exceed 18,000 pounds for unusual circumstances, such as large families or medical equipment required to support personnel with special needs.

• Exceptions to policy requests to exceed the authorized household goods weight allowance are submitted through the origin or destination transportation office either before, during or after a PCS move.
• The transportation office will then submit the request to the Department of the Army G-4 Transportation Policy Division for approval.
• Each request will be assessed on an individual basis and approved based on the soldier’s merit by the Department of the Army G-4 Transportation Policy Division staff.

Any weight allowance increase must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• Must be authorized only for a soldier in the pay grade O-5 or below
• Is limited to a total household goods weight of 18,000 pounds
• Must be documented in a written determination from the approval authority that failure to increase the soldier’s household goods weight allowance would create a significant hardship to the soldier or dependent(s)

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Army Personal Property Call Center

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET

Phone:

• Commercial: 520-706-8613
• DSN: 323-706-8613

Email the U.S. Army claims office for support.

Visit the personnel claims website.

Mailing address:

U.S. Army Claims Service
Center for Personnel Claims Support
50 Third Avenue, Suite 307
Fort Knox, KY 40121
United States

For claims pertaining to mold, please contact:

Phone: 301-677-9347 or 301-677-9214

Submit requests for retirement or separation extensions with a copy of your orders and justification through your local transportation office.

If you are not located near a transportation office, email the U.S. Army Fort Belvoir Transportation Office with your retirement or separation extension with a copy of your orders and justification.

Submit your PPM reimbursement through your local transportation office. Remember:

• You must obtain full and empty weight tickets to determine the actual weight of household goods moved or stored to receive full compensation.
• Do not move or store household goods before you have orders or you will not be reimbursed.