Best move possible: Informed advice for PCSing service members

Photo By Rob Wieland | SDDC has identified March 14-18, 2016, as PCS Week, an opportunity for the command to educate and inform customers about how the household goods (HHGs) and privately owned vehicle (POV) shipment process works. The goal of PCS Week is to provide customers with actionable information that will make their peak season moving experience as smooth and efficient as possible.  

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, UNITED STATES

03.09.2016

Story by Rob Wieland 

Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Every year, the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command provides oversight to nearly half a million personal property moves and seventy-thousand privately owned vehicle shipments for service members, federal employees and their family members. About half of those moves occur during the mid-May through August timeframe, known as the “peak season” for moves.

SDDC has identified March 14-18, 2016 as PCS Week, an opportunity for the command to educate and inform customers about how the household goods (HHGs) and privately owned vehicle (POV) shipment process works. The goal of PCS Week is to provide customers with actionable information that will make their peak season moving experience as smooth and efficient as possible.

“Our goal is to provide valuable information, tips, and resources related to the shipment of household goods and privately owned vehicles throughout PCS week,” said Lt. Col. Todd Jensen, SDDC’s Director of Personal Property. “We know that a permanent change of station move can be very stressful, but armed with the right information, your PCS can be a successful one.”

The Personal Property Directorate is the Defense Department’s program manager and administrator for the Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3, which oversees both the household goods and POV shipment programs. Customers interact through three web-based resources: www.Move.mil, www.PCSMyPOV.com, and the Defense Personal Property System or DPS.

Household Goods Shipments

The best way to ensure a positive household goods moving experience is to start the process early, even before a service member receives orders, by creating or reactivating your DPS account through www.Move.mil. Aside from being the system of move execution, the site contains important information to include links to the downloadable “It’s Your Move” and “Shipping Your POV” pamphlets. You will also find contact information to improve the customer’s moving experience.

“DPS accounts can be created as soon as customers learn they are due to move,” said Jensen. “That’s the first step in the process and the earlier you are in the system, the more familiar you will be with DPS once you are executing your move.”

In addition to DPS, local Traffic Management or Installation Transportation Offices are also available to provide expert help for HHGs or POV shipping. If these installation-based traffic management experts cannot answer questions directly, they have contact information for the next level of support, regardless of the issue.

Once permanent change of station orders are received, customers should immediately submit their move request in DPS. Once members submit their counseling application through DPS, they must provide a copy of their orders and signed shipment application (DD Form 1299) to the Installation Transportation Office in order to complete the mandatory self-counseling process.

SDDC recommends having more than one pack date in mind when submitting proposed move dates; being flexible during this phase is extremely important. Due to the nature of the peak move season and the potential for limited moving company availability, some installations may require 21 days of advance notice. Having alternate dates can help you avoid unnecessary changes in travel plans and expensive travel purchases. Requested pick-up and delivery dates are not confirmed until the service member and commercial carrier mutually agree on them. Pack, pick-up and delivery dates are normally scheduled on weekdays, and the service member or designated representative must normally be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on those days.

“It’s important to start early, be flexible, and ask questions early and throughout the process,” said Daniel Martinez, SDDC’s Personal Property Business Processes Division Chief.

If the commercial carrier misses the agreed upon pick-up date or the required delivery date, customers may be eligible to file for an inconvenience claim. Members should contact the carrier directly, seek assistance from the local transportation office, and check www.Move.mil.

It is also important to know your entitled HHGs weight allowance in advance. Any shipment that exceed your weight entitlement could result in an excess cost to the service member.

“Members can work with their local transportation office and transportation service provider (TSP) to request a reweigh of their goods if they are close to their maximum weight allowance,” said Martinez.

During the packing process, avoid shipping small or extremely valuable items such as stocks, bonds, jewelry, coins/coin collections or gold bullion. If shipping high value items, ensure they are documented on a high value inventory sheet. Keep these items secured until the inventory is prepared and items have been accounted for.

Changes or updates to the move process must be communicated via phone and email. It is critical that current contact information is updated within DPS. Don’t use phone numbers that may change during the move, or military email addresses that may be unattended or disconnected.

After Your Move

Should the need arise to file a claim for loss or damage to your property, the DPS web-based system is mechanism to process claims with the TSP in a quick and efficient way. Inconvenience claims are not filed in DPS but should be filed directly with the TSP. If assistance is needed in filing a claim, more specific information is available on www.Move.mil or through your local legal office.

Once the move process is complete, take a few minutes to answer and submit the six question Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS). This survey is critical, as it helps to determine future use of your moving company for other customers and families. By submitting the survey, you play a direct role in keeping quality movers in the program and identifying poor performers for removal.

“The Customer Satisfaction Survey is key to the success of the program,” said Jensen. “We take CSS feedback very seriously and use it to ensure better performing movers are awarded more shipments to service our customers.”

POV Shipment/Storage

Many of the same concepts apply to the shipment of POVs.

Upon receipt of orders, logging on to www.PCSMyPOV.com is recommended. Once on the website, members can find critical information about their turn-in and pick-up location and procedures, appointment scheduling protocols and in-transit vehicle status.

Although appointments are not required at all Vehicle Processing Centers, scheduling an appointment with the servicing location can help limit turn-in or pick-up wait times. Customers who miss scheduled appointments run the risk of extended wait times or delays in service.

In order to process vehicles, customers must bring all paperwork when turning in a vehicle. For the safety of customers and vehicle handlers, it’s also required that any outstanding vehicle safety recalls be fixed prior to turn in.

Detailed information about recalls, vehicle preparation, paperwork requirements and other critical information can be found on the www.PCSMyPOV.mil website or through your local Traffic Management or Transportation office. Customers can also call the International Auto Logistics toll-free Call Center at [phone] for more information.

Start the move process early, be flexible, and ask questions throughout the move process. By following the tips provided during PCS Week and from their local transportation office, as well as becoming familiar with the information available at www.Move.mil and www.PCSMyPOV.com, service members can prepare themselves for the best move experience possible.

Follow SDDC during PCS Week March 14-18, 2016 at www.sddc.army.mil/, www.facebook.com/HQSDDC/ and www.twitter.com/HQSDDC.

• Date Taken: 03.09.2016
• Date Posted: 03.14.2016 08:44
• Story ID: 192225
• Location: SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, US