Airmen face peak season for personal property challenges Published June 23, 2011 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- For service members who are permanently changing stations be aware that 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 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 relocations, and the normal large volume of requests for property movement from May 1 to July 31, 2011. To offset the impact to families, the Air Force Joint Personal Property Shipping Offices 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 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, the military services have 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 to offset the impact. First, review the schedule and work with the assignments team to determine if the move can postponed, change the report-no-later-than-date until after the summer season when carriers are better able to pack and pick up property. Flexibility in a departure plan affords the JPPSOs an expanded opportunity to move the property. Another very important thing is elect the option to perform a Personally Procured Move. This option allows a servicemember to control thier move dates and ensures they have ready access to their property upon arrival at their 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 members could receive a financial incentive if their 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, military members now have access to new modes within the commercial industry called Portable Moving and Storage Containers. These come in the form of containers that are dropped off at the person's door. The service member pack's the container and the company picks up, transports, stores and then delivers the container to the destination. To ensure a smooth move, contact the Barksdale Traffic Management Office and follow these steps: as soon as orders are received, stop by TMO and set up a Personal Property briefing immediately. There is a minimum of 21 days to schedule pick up dates after the briefing with TMO. Be flexible with moving dates and be sure to provide realistic primary and alternate dates. Primary and alternates dates must be at least a week a part. For example, if a requested primary pick up date is July 18 then the alternate date should be July 25. If government-arranged moves are not available during the time that is needed, be sure to utilize other options. These options consist of, but are not limited to, having a designated releasing agent, power of attorney, or a PPM. Contact TMO in order to discuss the options at the time of the briefing . A rule of thumb to gauge the weight of household goods is about 1,000 pounds per room as an initial estimate. Service members are always encouraged to dispose of any unnecessary items to reduce the weight of their shipment as any weight shipped in excess of their entitlement will be charged to them. As a reminder, planning ahead will lead to a smoother transition. Unfortunately, blackout dates are expected to continue throughout the peak season and requested pack and pickup dates could change based upon carriers' capacity to handle the shipments. Remember to be proactive versus reactive to assist in reducing the undue hardship of moving stress. Barksdale AFB PPTY office address: 2 LRS/LGRDF 460 Billy Mitchell Drive, Ste 100 Barksdale AFB, LA 71110-3401 Barksdale Personal Property Office Customer Service Information: Phone number: DSN: 781-3229 Comm: 318-456-3229 FAX number: 781-4401 Comm: 318-45604401 Customer Service Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Closed on weekends, holidays, wing family/down days