Last-Minute Moving Tips for Military Families

Moving is stressful, and for most military families, it’s often a time-sensitive requirement.

At Penske, we provide tools to ease the hectic nature of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and Personally Procured Moves (PPM). We have a dedicated military call center staffed by associates who are specially trained to aid military members and their families navigate the unique requirements for each branch. Every call center employee has a military connection: either a family member who is in active or reserve duty or the associate is a veteran themselves. Reach the call center via this toll-free number 1-844-4TROOPS (1-844-487-6677).

If you are currently tackling a military move on a time crunch, consider the following to-do list to mitigate the stress:

 
• Planning – Getting a plan in place is a good start. Gather important information into one folder, containing phone numbers, contact names, dates, receipts and checklists so you can easily track everything about your move. For some planning tools that focus specifically on military moves, visit the U.S. Department of Defense website.
 
• Moving – Many families choose to “do-it-yourself” (DITY) because it gives them more control over the move, and they can also potentially make some money in the process. The military provides an allotted cost for moving, and if you can come under that cost through your own planning, the military will pay you the difference. Penske will price-match any competitive offers on one-way truck rentals. Visit www.DITYmove.com to learn more.
 
• Weights – Military rules require soldiers to certify the weight of the rental vehicle when empty and after it’s fully loaded. Weight limit reimbursements are set depending on a soldier’s rank and dependents, but the traditional weights are estimated at 1,000 pounds per room, excluding bathrooms and storage areas. Then add in the estimated weight of large appliances, garage items and items in storage. Compare this number to what is allowed, and determine if you can reduce the load in any way to avoid paying overweight costs. To help with weight certifications, Penske offers a Certified Public Scale locator tool online to help DITY movers in finding weigh stations.
 
• Contact info – File a change of address form at your local post office so mail can be forwarded, and also make certain your new information is updated with your specific branch of the military.

Additionally, by visiting PenskeTruckRental.com/military, active military members and veterans can learn about Penske’s discounts, which can add up to 20 percent.

By "Move Ahead" Staff