“It’s Your Move Military” will help you understand your entitlements and responsibilities concerning shipment of household goods, unaccompanied baggage, boats and firearms. It also has an excellent explanation of how to file a claim for any loss or damage.
“It’s Your Move Civiliany” will help you understand your entitlements and responsibilities concerning shipment of household goods, unaccompanied baggage, boats and firearms. It also has an excellent explanation of how to file a claim for any loss or damage.
“Know Before You Go” contains everything U.S. residents should know before they go abroad.
“Shipping Your POV” and “Storing Your POV” explain your entitlements to ship or store your Privately Owed Vehicle if you receive overseas orders.
“Moving Your Mobile Home” will help you understand your entitlement and responsibilities in the movement of your mobile home. Your transportation office will make all arrangements to schedule the movement, if you desire. History has shown that moving your mobile home will most likely result in excess transportation costs, which you are responsible for paying.
“Don’t Move Gypsy Moth” explains regulations requiring residents of the Washington DC area to inspect their outdoor goods for Gypsy Moth prior to loading and shipping. Failure to inspect household articles for gypsy moth life stages prior to movement from a regulated area is a violation of USDA quarantine regulations and may result in significant civil penalties. Inspecting your personal property for gypsy moths goes beyond being a good neighbor: it is required by law.
“Defense Transportation Regulation” prescribes policies and procedures and assigns responsibilities for performing traffic management functions initiated or sponsored by Department of Defense/United States Coast Guard (DOD/USCG) members/employees and non-appropriated fund (NAF) employees for the movement and storage of personal property and mobile homes.
“Joint Travel Regulations” is the authoritative source for regulations pertaining to per diem, travel and transportation allowances, relocation allowances, and certain other allowances. Volume 1 applies to Uniformed Service members (including both regular and reserve components) while Volume 2 applies to civilian members.
You are authorized shipment of household goods in one lot. The authorized destinations for your personal property are:
New permanent duty station
TDY station
Home of record (separation move)
Place of entry in the Service (separation move)
Designated location, as determined by your orders and the Joint Federal Travel Regulations
Home of selection (retirement move)
Other locations, but subject to excess costs.
Household goods are defined as items associated with the home and all personal effects belonging to a member and dependents on the effective date of the member's PCS or TDY orders that legally may be accepted and transported by an authorized commercial transporter. HHG's include:
Professional, books, paper, and equipment (PBP&E) not needed for the performance of official duties at the next or a later destination .
Spare parts for a privately owned vehicle (POV) to include a pick-up tailgate when removed.
Integral or attached vehicle parts that must be removed due to high vulnerability to pilferage or damage (e.g., seats, tops, winch, spare tires, portable auxiliary gasoline cans, and miscellaneous associated hardware).
Consumable goods for members ordered to locations listed in JFTR, Appendix F.
Vehicles other than POVs, such as motorcycles, mopeds, jet skis, hang gliders, snowmobiles, and their associated trailers, and golf carts.
Boats (boats exceeding 14 feet, contact the local Transportation Office to determine if excess cost is involved).
Ultra light vehicles for recreation or sport purposes; weighing less than 155 pounds if not powered or less than 254 pounds if powered; fuel capacity not to exceed 5 gallons; airspeed not to exceed 55 knots; and power-off stall speed not to exceed 24 knots.
HHG's do not include:
Personal baggage when carried free on tickets (airlines, train etc.,) commonly known as ACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE.
Automobiles, trucks, vans and similar motor vehicles; airplanes; mobile homes; camper trailers; and farming vehicles.
Live animals including birds, fish and reptiles.
Articles that would normally qualify as HHG but are acquired after the effective date of PCS orders, except bonafide replacements of articles that have become inadequate, worn out, broken, or unserviceable on or after the effective date of orders.
Cordwood, chain link fencing, and building materials.
HHG for resale, disposal or commercial use rather than for use by the member and his/her dependents
Privately owned live ammunition.
Explosives, corrosives (batteries), or hazardous materials such as paints and aerosol cans.
Unaccompanied baggage consists of items you will need immediately on arrival at destination, pending receipt of your household goods. It is packed and shipped separately from your household goods. Items most often included are seasonal clothing, essential linens, cooking utensils and dishes, baby cribs and infant-care articles, a small radio, portable television and items required for health and comfort. You should also include professional books, papers and equipment needed immediately to perform your official duties. If included, the weight of professional items is not included in the weight charged toward your maximum authorization. Each branch of the armed services has rules regarding when and how much unaccompanied baggage may be shipped. After reviewing your orders, the counselor at the transportation office can determine your unaccompanied baggage entitlement.
As an alternative to shipment of household goods, you may place your property into non-temporary storage. If you choose this option, the property cannot be moved again until you receive new orders.
SMARTWebMove is an online program that eligible service members and their families can use to arrange routine basic moves from their current duty station to a new duty station or homeport within the Continental United States (CONUS) and some overseas locations. Please note, only Navy members can utilize the overseas portion of this program. You can access the program 24-hours a day, seven days a week from home, work, or aboard ship... anywhere you have internet access.
Military Personnel (ONLY) from all branches of service can now use this SmartWebMove, but NON-Navy personnel MUST print a copy of the Summary page, sign it and fax it to the designated number with orders.
Your weight allowance is established under provisions of the Joint Federal Travel Regulations and is the maximum weight you can move at government expense. This allowance includes the weight of household goods you ship, place in storage or send as unaccompanied baggage and goods you already have in storage. Your allowance is based on two factors; your paygrade and whether you have dependents.
You — not your transportation officer or the carrier — are responsible for staying within your weight allowance. If the weight of items packed, shipped or stored exceeds your weight allowance, you must pay all charges connected with the excess weight. For this reason, estimating the weight of your household goods is very important. Estimates should start early, even before you visit your transportation office to set up the move. The counselor at your transportation office will need an estimated weight for each shipment you intend to make.
An easy and fairly dependable method for making this estimate is to figure 1,000 pounds per fully furnished room (not including storage rooms or bathrooms) or 500 pounds per partially furnished room. Then add the estimated weight of large appliances and items in the garage, storage rooms, basement, etc. The weight of professional books, papers and equipment doesn't count against your allowance. The link below will take you to a more accurate weight estimator, but remember, it is only an estimate. Weight estimates are planning tools only and are not official. You can never use weight estimates to refute excess weight charges.
To avoid excess weight charges, stay within your authorized weight allowance by estimating early and disposing of unnecessary possessions. When you receive a notification for exceeding your weight allowance, check it carefully. Often you may not have received credit for professional books, papers and equipment or some other entitlement. If you have any question concerning your excess weight, contact your transportation office. You are entitled to have your shipment reweighed prior to delivery at destination. A request for a reweigh can be made through the transportation office either at origin or at destination prior to delivery.
PCS weight allowances do not apply when:
Vacating government or government-controlled quarters upon separation and retirement when ordered to vacate by competent authority and movement is to a local residence pending election of home of record/selection
Moving to occupy government or government-controlled quarters
Vacating local economy quarters in compliance with orders
Regardless if these items meet the definition of household goods described earlier, the following items are not authorized for shipment with your household goods:
Combustible Liquids:
Alcoholic beverages (any single container exceeding one (1) gallon capacity)
Alcohols
Antifreeze compounds
Camphor oil
Fluid cleaners (containing combustible materials, e.g., spot clothing cleaners and
Lighter fluids (pocket, charcoal, camp stove, lamp or torch)
Liquors (any single container exceeding one (1) gallon capacity)
Matches
Oil stains for wood
Paint
Paint or varnish remover
Petroleum products
Polishes, liquid (metal, stove, furniture and wood) ‘
Propane tanks
Propane or other gas used for cooking or heating purposes
Shellac
Shoe polish (liquid)
Solvents, plastic
Stains
Turpentine
Varnish
Wood filler
Compressed gases
Engine starting fluids, fire extinguishers and gases used in welding.
Aerosol Cans
Other regulated material termed combustible, corrosive or flammable
Scuba Diving Tanks: Only those scuba diving tanks containing not more than 25 pounds per square inch at 70 degrees Fahrenheit may be shipped as household goods or unaccompanied baggage. Servicing scuba diving tanks for shipment will include:
Written certification of purging serviced by dive shop or licensed individual qualified to perform purging. (A tag or label must be affixed to the tank certifying service was performed.)
Completely empty tank, remove the valve, and replace valve with plug designed for this purpose.
Propane Tanks: As of May 5, 2000 propane tanks can no longer be shipped in your Government Procured Household Goods move. Propane tanks are considered hazardous materials regardless if they are purged or not.
The size of your household goods shipment determines how much time is need for packing and pick-up. The following rules of thumb will give you an idea how much time should be allotted for packing your household:
Weight Estimate
Packing
Pick-up
Less than 4,000 lbs
1 Day
Same Day
4,000 lbs to 8,000 lbs
2 Days
1 Day
8,000 lbs to 12,000 lbs
3 Days
1 Day
More than 12,000 lbs
4 Days
1 Day
Carriers generally will not pack or pick up on holidays or weekends. During the peak moving season from June through August, available dates fill quickly, so contact your transportation office early if you are planning to move during these months. Your preferred packing and pick-up dates should not be any sooner than 10 calendar days from the date you submit your paperwork.
The distance and weight of your shipment determines how many days the carrier is allowed to get your household goods to the destination. Your shipment could arrive at an earlier date, but this is entirely up to the carrier. Your shipment's Required Delivery Date will be recorded in your Bill of Lading (block 8). The required delivery date will not necessarily be the delivery date your residence, but is the carrier's deadline to get the shippment to the destination agent. Delivery to your residence will need to be coordinated with your destination transportation office.
If you know your estimated weight and mileage, visit our transit time guide to determine the approximate number of days for your household goods to arrive at their destination: Transit Times. If your carrier does not arrive by the required delivery date, you may be entitled to compensation by filing an inconvenience claim.
Be sure to make contact with the Transportation Office that services your destination and provide them with an enroute point of contact (cell phone number, e-mail address, or relative) so that they can keep you advised of your shipment.
When completing your application to move (DD 1299), you must give the counselor an estimated weight of your professional books, papers and equipment (PBP&E) to enter on your application for shipment or storage. This constitutes an official declaration of intent to ship PBP&E. You must also separate professional items from the rest of your property so they may be packed, marked and weighed separately. When properly listed on the inventory, they are not counted as part of your weight allowance. Before signing the inventory prepared by the movers be sure these items are listed as “PBP&E” and not as “books” or “miscellaneous.” The proper designation of these items and the exclusion of the weight can be very important. Professional books, papers, and equipment do not include office, household or shop fixtures, furniture (such as bookcases, desks and file cabinets) or sports equipment.
When required to perform official duties, the following items are considered professional books, papers and equipment:
Reference books, papers, and material;
Instruments, tools and equipment needed by technicians, mechanics and other professionals;
Specialized clothing such as diving suits, flying suits, band uniforms and other apparel not considered to be normal or usual uniforms or clothing;
Communications equipment used in connection with the Military Affiliated Radio System; and
Individually owned or specially issued field clothing or equipment, official awards and other memorabilia given to a member by a uniformed service, professional society or organization, or a U.S. or foreign government.
Members are authorized Storage in Transit for up to 90 days in conjunction with a PCS move. The Transportation Office may approve additional periods of storage in 90 day increments, but these requests must be submitted in writing and will be normally only be approved under certain conditions:
Intervening TDY or long-term training assignment,
Nonavailability of suitable housing,
Completion of residence under construction,
Serious employee illness,
Dependent illness or death,
Strikes,
Acts of God,
Other circumstances beyond the member’s control
If a member allows the Storage in Transit time expire, storage charges from that day on and liability for loss and damage become the member’s responsibility. The member will make payments for storage services directly to the storage firm, but the member is still entitled to a delivery and unpacking at government expense.
Members ordered on a PCS with TDY enroute are entitled to have their property placed into non-temporary storage for the period of the TDY. The property stored at government expense under this provision may not exceed the member’s PCS weight allowance. If the member does not use non-temporary storage at origin and elects to ship to destination, any storage utilized is chargeable to their entitlement.
Certain circumstances may warrant an extension of this temporary storage entitlement. You must apply for an extension by completing a DD Form 1857 if you need to keep your personal property in temporary storage beyond 90 days.
You may unknowingly incur excess costs in shipping your household goods that will be your responsibility to pay. The following list describes things you can do to avoid excess personal costs associated with your move:
Extra services - Avoid requesting specific routing, special loading, or any other service that is not routinely provided, and avoid exceeding the authorized weight allowance.
Excess Weight - Members should be aware that the total combined weight of all shipments, including goods in storage, must not exceed your authorized weight as defined in the Joint Federal Travel Regulation.
Extra shipments - When basic household goods shipments from the same point of origin are going to the same destination, avoid asking for separate shipments.
Excess distance - Members should use care in not allowing their shipments to exceed the distance between authorized points specified in the Joint Federal Travel Regulations. For example, if orders permit shipment of goods from San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX the goods should not be shipped from San Diego to Norfolk, VA.
Loss and damage coverage - Members should not request increased valuation or full replacement coverage unless they are prepared to pay the additional cost for the coverage.
Unauthorized items - Avoid shipping unauthorized articles. If unauthorized articles are discovered in shipments after pickup, the member will incur additional cost.
Avoid attempt charges - Members or their designated representatives are required to be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the scheduled pickup or delivery address on the date the packers and movers are scheduled to arrive.
Special Items and Situations - If movers determine pests are present at the pickup address and depart without a pickup, members may be charged for an attempted pickup.
For OCONUS moves, boats that don't fit in a standard overseas container must be shipped One Time Only (OTO) rate. Almost all boats and/or boats with trailers won't fit in a standard overseas container, therefore must be shipped under an OTO boat rate, which would mean excess cost to the member. Any boat over 14' or with a trailer for CONUS moves will also mean excess cost to the member.
If you will not be available for the pickup or delivery of your property, you can designate an agent to act on your behalf. This individual can be your spouse, family member (over 18), a friend, co-worker, etc… If you have an emergency on the pickup day, you can designate an agent by leaving written authorization, naming the agent. The agent gives this authorization to the carrier. You may designate agents by using a Power of Attorney or Informal Letter of Authority. Also, if you leave your residence and leave the movers alone, they will stop working and you may be charged waiting time.
Unfortunately, you may suffer loss or damage to your personal property when it is moved by a carrier or other third party. To protect against the possibility of such loss or damage, you may purchase Additional Protection Insurance from any private insurance carrier that offers it, and it may be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. Please call your personal insurance carrier to find out more information on this option.
The maximum statutory amount the government can pay on a single claim is $40,000.00. Despite this amount, there are maximum amounts allowable for specific types and categories of property. For example, if you lost a stereo system in a move, the maximum amount the government may pay is $1,000 per item and $3,500 per claim. Please look at the back of the “It’s Your Move” pamphlet.
For moves that begin and end in the continental United States or Alaska, the government provides basic coverage and offers 2 other options.
Basic Coverage: Free and provides for carrier liability of $1.25 multiplied by the net weight of the shipment, maximum protection up to $40,000.00, depreciated. If a 10,000 pound shipment is moved from Alabama to Maryland, the maximum carrier's liability is $12,500. For example, if your shipment weighed 10,000 pounds and the carrier lost an Oriental rug worth $18,000, the government initially would pay you $2,000 (the maximum allowable for a single rug) and seek an additional $10,500 from the carrier ($12,500 maximum liability). If the government is successful in recovering that whole amount, you would receive $10,500, for a total of $12,500. For this reason, you might consider purchasing additional protection.
Option 1 - Increased Valuation: Increased Valuation of Basic Coverage exceeding $40,000.00 or $1.25 times the net weight. The cost for additional valuation is 64 cents per $100 of the additional valuation. You must make this request at time of counseling. After-the-fact request will not be accepted. For example, you purchase Option 1 coverage prior to your move. During your move, the carrier damages your stereo beyond repair. You file a claim with the government. The local claims office adjudicates your claim and determines your stereo system to be worth $5,000. The claims office would pay you $3,500 - the maximum allowable for this type of property. Then the government would make a demand on the carrier for $5,000. If the government is successful in recovering $5,000 or any amount above $3,500, the government will pay you the amount that exceeds $3,500. Here’s a table to show how Option 1 works.
Option 2 - Full Replacement: Full Replacement Protection also may be purchased. You must request this coverage at the time of your counseling. It provides full replacement value coverage (not depreciated) for lost or destroyed items. The minimum coverage available under OPTION 2 is $21,000.00 or $3.50 times the net weight of the shipment, whichever is greater. If you buy this option, you must submit a claim to the carrier first, and the carrier may choose to repair or replace items rather than pay money to you. The government will accept a claim only if the carrier denies the claim, if delay would cause hardship or if the carrier fails to settle the claim satisfactorily within 30 days. For example, for a 10,000 pound shipment, the full replacement protection must be at least $35,000 (10,000 lb. x $3.50 = $35,000). The charge is 85 cents per $100 of the stated valuation. Total insurance cost would be $297.50. The government would pay $80 of this cost, leaving $217.50 additional cost to you. Here’s a table to show how Option 2 works.
NOTE: Additional insurance protection is not available for household goods being shipped to Hawaii, during periods of non-temporary storage, or local moves.
You are entitled to a LEGIBLE COPY of each of these documents.
Household Goods Descriptive Inventory: This is your official record of what is being shipped. Make sure all items are listed. The form is completed by the movers in coordination with you, the member or agent. It should accurately describe the items you are shipping and the condition of each.
If movers observe damage to your goods prior to pickup, they note this on the line by the item on the inventory. If you disagree with these exceptions noted at the time of pick-up, you must circle the inventory number you disagree with. Then enter the inventory number in "Remarks/Exceptions" section of the inventory with the phrase, "I protest exceptions taken by the driver at time of pick-up." Your signature on the inventory is your concurrence with the count and condition of each item listed.
DD Form 619: This form is used for CONUS household goods shipments only. It lists the following:
The number of cartons used to pack your shipment. (The number column should be completed before you sign.)
The weight of professional items
Additional services performed
Appliances at origin
Bill Of Lading: This document shows you the following critical information:
Bill of Lading number (B/L NO.) used to track the shipment