PCS'ing from CONUS this summer?

  • Published
  • By Joseph Moore
  • Traffice Management officer
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Are you making a change in your permanent station from within the continental U.S. this summer? If yes, be aware the peak summer move season is definitely in full swing.

Much like last season, the entire Department of Defense is experiencing difficulty obtaining Transportation Service Providers (TSPs) to pack and pick up personal property shipments. DoD attributes this to several factors to include limited carrier capacity, an increase in private sector moves, completion of mandated Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) relocations, and the normal large volume of requests for property movement from May 1 until July 31.

To offset the impact to families, the Air Force Joint Personal Property Shipping Offices (JPPSOs) are using all available tools and options to manage shipment volume and move property in accordance with customers' requested pickup dates. To that end, they are working closely with the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) and commercial industry to identify carriers who are able to service shipments. The JPPSOs are also placing some shipments into temporary storage at origin locations. Furthermore, Military Services has been working with industry to add flexibility to business rules with a goal of securing maximum carrier capacity.

Because there are so many competing pressures for personal property movement this summer, it's important to focus on a few things "you can do" to offset the impact.

First, one thing "you can do" is review your schedule and work with the assignments team to determine if you can postpone your move ,change your report-no-later-than-date (RNLTD), until after the summer season when carriers are better able to pack and pick up your property.

We surely understand this may be asking a lot, especially for those of you who absolutely cannot afford to make any adjustments (pending home sales, expiration of lease agreements, mission, etc.); however, flexibility in your departure plan affords the JPPSOs an expanded opportunity to move your property.

Another very important thing "you can do" is elect the "option" to perform a Personally Procured Move (PPM) (formerly DITY). This "option" allows you to control your move dates and ensures you have ready access to your property upon arrival at your new location. There are several PPM options including one that reimburses up to what the government would have paid for the move and another where you could receive a financial incentive if your move costs less than 95 percent of the government's constructed cost. Factors such as weight limit, actual weight of property moved and distance between origin and destination determine the amount of money involved. In addition to the old "rent a truck" PPM option, you now have access to new modes within the commercial industry called Portable Moving and Storage Containers (PMSCs).

These come in the form of containers dropped at your door that YOU pack and the company picks up, transports, stores and then delivers at your destination at your request. Some companies also offer a menu of associated services including full or partial packing. If you want to discuss the benefits of PPMs, your local Personal Property Processing Office (formerly TMO) can provide an estimate of the cost factors, describe the particulars of the programs and help determine if this "option" will work for you.

The JPPSOs thank everyone in advance for their patience and flexibility as they work to move everyone the best way they can.