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JBSA News
NEWS | April 26, 2017

Make PCS easier during peak household goods shipping season

By Rosalinda Kagebein Personal Property Processing Office, Joint Base San Antonio

Military and civilian members who make permanent change of station, or PCS, moves from one duty station to another are authorized many entitlements.

A PCS move is a move between one duty station and another or between your final duty station and home of record upon retirement or discharge.

There are many types of PCS orders, each with their own special rules and regulations. Some of these include accompanied or unaccompanied PCS overseas, PCS to same geographic area, change of a ship’s homeport or unit’s location, PCS with temporary duty en route, etc.

After PCS orders are received, prepare and submit shipment of personal property requests to your local Personal Property Processing Office, or PPPO, or through the Defense Personal Property System, or DPS, at http://www.move.mil for booking move dates.

If you have difficulties with the DPS system, contact the help desk at 800-462-2176 or 618-589-9445. Being proactive and prepared helps to maximize the potential to receive a desired move date.

When planning a move, prepare early and be flexible by providing alternate dates for pack and pick-up that you are willing to accept for your property. Never schedule a pick-up or delivery on the same day you vacate or gain access to your residence.

Additionally, do not schedule two different shipments for pick-up or delivery on the same day. If you are not available on the scheduled dates, you will be billed for an attempted pick-up or attempted delivery.

Once your shipment is booked, the Transportation Service Provider, or TSP, will email you to confirm your information and move dates. The TSP’s local agent will be making contact with you to conduct a pre-move survey. Make sure the pre-move survey is done at least 5 days prior to your first scheduled packing day.

The TSP’s contact information can be accessed by logging into your account in DPS and clicking on the “Shipment Management” section.

Keep in mind that household goods, or HHG, shipments require separate pack dates based on the estimated weight of the property. You will provide the pick-up date (last day of the move) as requested by the DPS system and it will automatically populate the pack days.

Pack days can range from two to three days depending on your estimated weight. Do not overlap dates if you have multiple shipments.

First-time movers and individuals retiring or separating must go to their local PPPO to manually complete shipment documents. A Transportation Counselor will provide information on entitlements and be available to answer questions.

Navy members are required to input shipment requests in DPS, provide signed documents and complete set of orders to their local PPPO.

Member’s responsibilities prior to move dates:

  • Residence and furniture must be clean and pest free.

     

  • Remove from residence or clearly separate out any items you do not want movers to pack and ship. (i.e. important documents, passports, luggage, keys, money, jewelry, valuables, etc.).

Suggestions for achieving desired dates:

  • Avoid Mondays, Fridays and last week of the month. No weekends or Holidays. Shipping office requires three week notice to book shipments.

     

  • Start securing move dates immediately after receipt of PCS orders.

     

  • Provide alternate move dates that you will be available for move. Changing move date during the peak season is extremely difficult to obtain.

     

  • Military Members only: If pressed for time, alternate mode of Household Goods Transportation is Personally Procured Move, or PPM, formerly known as Do It Yourself Move, or DITY. PPM must be submitted in DPS and member must go to local PPPO for approval.

Things to be aware of after pick-up:

  • If your shipment exceeds your authorized weight allowance, you must request a reweigh with your TSP prior to accepting your personal property for delivery. Confirm that a reweigh was accomplished with your driver before any property is off-loaded from the delivery truck to your residence.

     

  • Claims for loss or damage of your personal property must be submitted into DPS at http://www.move.mil. Service members and civilian employees must submit a claim online within 75 days from the date of delivery. The settlement is directly with the TSP.

     

    For more information, contact the personal property processing offices at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph at 210-652-1848, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-221-1605 or JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-2821.