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What Is a Personally Procured Transportation Move?

Published January 16, 2013 · Written for MovingGuru readers since 2013

One move, several names

Personally procured move (PPM), personally procured transportation move and the older DITY all describe the same arrangement: the service member moves the household goods and claims reimbursement instead of having the government book a carrier. A partial PPM splits the shipment between you and a government arranged carrier.

Is it DITY or PPM?

It’s both. DITY (Do-It-Yourself) and PPM (Personally Procured Transportation Move) both refer to the same thing: when military service members plan and handle their own moves.

Why would anybody want to do that, though? I mean, the military will do everything for you if you just ask them to…

Well, there are a few reasons. Number one is the service member can earn money by moving him or herself. That’s right. Read on to learn more about how personally-procured transportation moves work.

What Is a Personally-Procured Transportation Move?

Sometimes simply referred to as PPM (personally procured moves) or DITY (do-it-yourself), these moves involve a military member coordinating his or her own move.

The catch is this: the military will pay for PPM/DITY moves. The military calculates how much it would cost it to move the service member, then it pays him or her 95% of that total price. If the military member can move for less than that, they get to keep the change.

Beyond that and some procedures (discussed below), PPM moves are just like any other move. They involve finding a moving service, signing a moving contract, packing belongings, getting insurance, loading, driving… in other words, everything.

What Do I Need to Do to Make a Personally Procured Move?

Let the military know – First step is to notify your Traffic Management Office (TMO) or Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO). All military branches and bases differ; ask someone if you have questions.

The TMO will use a system called the Defense Personally Property System to calculate how much your move would cost the military, often referred to as the Government Constructive Cost (GCC). With that price in order, you can decide whether you want to make the PPM or let the military handle it for you.

Get the documentation – Before you move, you will need to fill out some paperwork.  Also, during you move, you will need to weigh your vehicle and keep the receipt, along with any other receipts you want reimbursement for, like hotel stays (these amounts are paid through other programs).

Let the military know (again) – After you move, you must provide receipts to the TMO within 45 days (subject to change). They will then pay you 95% of the GCC.

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Military Move Checklist

Military Moves

Off-Base Military Housing

What Is a DITY Move?

Government Constructive Cost

When this type of move is used

  • Short distance moves where a rental truck is straightforward
  • Small shipments well under the weight allowance
  • Moves where dates matter more than convenience
  • Cases where a portion of the goods needs to travel with the family

The basic process

  1. Receive orders and complete counseling with the transportation office
  2. Get the PPM authorized in writing before moving anything
  3. Weigh empty, load, weigh loaded, and keep certified tickets
  4. Move the shipment and keep every receipt
  5. Submit the claim with tickets, orders and receipts inside the filing window

Reimbursement concepts in plain terms

The claim is measured against the government constructive cost for your authorized weight rather than against what you chose to spend. Spending less than that figure is how a PPM can pay off, and exceeding your weight allowance is how it can cost you. Details are in how to calculate the government constructive cost and what is a military DITY move, and the partial case is covered in what is a partial DITY move.

Planning considerations

  • Certified scales on your route, before and after loading
  • Truck size, towing and fuel for the distance involved
  • Insurance for what you carry yourself
  • Lodging and timing if the drive spans several days
  • A hired carrier for heavy or awkward items, priced through moving quotes

Sources: Military OneSource, personally procured moves · Move.mil, Defense Personal Property Program · Joint Travel Regulations. Rules, programs and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it.

Frequently asked questions

What does personally procured move mean?
It means the service member arranges the move rather than the government booking a carrier, then claims reimbursement based on the government constructive cost.
Is PPM better than a government arranged move?
It can pay more and gives you control over dates, but you carry the work and the risk. Compare it against a carrier move for your specific weight and distance.

Filed under:Military Moves

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