First Official Station – Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Transportation

You and your dependents are permitted a transportation allowance from your actual residence to the new permanent duty station (PDS). Typically, PCS allowances are authorized and limited to the most direct route.

• Transportation Types: Commonly, travel is authorized by Privately Owned Vehicle (POV). Other transportation methods may include commercial transportation, rental vehicle, government transportation, etc.
• Dependent Travel: Dependent travel may begin from a point other than your current residence; however, reimbursement is limited to the cost from your current residence to your new duty station. Travel by dependents may be performed concurrently, early, or may be delayed. If your dependents are NOT traveling with you, they are performing an en route at an earlier/later date, be sure to mark unaccompanied in Block 12 of the 1351-2 and complete a separate 1351-2 for their travel dates. Be clear on who is traveling when completing the DD1351-2.

All travel and transportation must be completed within one - year from your date of Entrance On Duty (EOD). Your EOD is the date your new organization picked you up on their payroll. You will be responsible for authorized travel and transportation costs incurred after the one – year.

Transportation Types (Block 15c of 1351-2): See example below

Reimbursable Expenses (Block 18 of 1351-2): See example below

The following is provided for your convenience and are the most common miscellaneous reimbursable expenses. The following list is NOT all inclusive. For additional items, see: JTR Chapter 5  -  05013.

• Ferry fares
• Tolls
• Parking fee (Reimbursement for parking POV at the terminal is limited to the cost of two one-way taxi fares.)

• Fees for first checked bag
• Excess accompanied baggage when it is authorized or approved
• Transportation terminal mileage
• Baggage handling tips (traveler with a disability)

• Gas and oil
• Ferry fares
• Tolls
• Parking fees (when authorized or approved)

• Gas or oil (prepaid fueling is not authorized)
• Tolls (when authorized or approved)
• Ferry fares (when authorized or approved)
• Parking fees (when authorized or approved)
• Toll-collection transponder (when authorized or approved)

En Route Per Diem (Lodging, Meals & Incidentals)

Per diem is a taxable allowance made up of lodging, meals and incidentals expenses (M&IE). Typically, you are authorized per diem while you are en route to your new duty station, however your dependents are not.

Meals & Incidentals Expenses (M&IE):​

The M&IE rate is payable to you without itemization of expenses or receipts for anything under $75. To determine the rate, visit Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). You will be paid 75 percent of the meal rate on the first and last day of travel. For example, if $50 is the meal per diem, then only $37.50 would be paid.

Lodging (block 15e of 1351-2): See example below

Lodging per diem is paid per the actual costs not to exceed the maximum rate, on the first day, but not the last. To determine the maximum rate, visit Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO).

Things to keep in mind...

• Paid/Itemized lodging receipts are always required.
• No per diem is authorized for travel less than 12 hours.
• When the total official distance is 400 or fewer miles, one day of travel time is allowed.
• If the distance is greater than 400 miles, divide by 350 to determine the number of authorized travel days.

Household Goods (HHG) Movement & Storage

You and your dependent(s) are permitted to transportation and storage of HHG. This is a taxable allowance and will require a separate 1351-2.  

Household Goods (Block 14 of 1351-2):

There are three ways the government may pay for HHG movement and storage:

1. If the government arranges for the movement of your household goods, you will need to contact the Transportation Office (TO) closets to your new location to arrange the allowance and storage of household goods. Visit, DoD Moving Portal to locate the nearest TO. The government assumes the responsibility of moving your goods and no claim reimbursement is required.
    
2. If you choose to personally arrange your move in lieu of using the TO, you will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred (boxes, packing tape, rental truck, gas, etc.) not to exceed what it would cost the government to move your HHG  shipment through the TO.
    
3. ‌The last way is a Commuted Rate and it is only available if you are moving from one state to another (CONUS to CONUS). You will receive a lump sum payment based on the GSA commuted rate. Reimbursement under this method includes transportation, packing, unpacking, crating, dryage, and storage.

• If you choose to move yourself, you will be taxed at the time of claim reimbursement. 
• All paid in full receipts are required.
• Insurance is not reimbursable on a personally arranged move.
• You must submit a signed memo from the TO stating what the move would have cost for the weight shipped.
• You will need official weight tickets showing the weight of the empty and full moving truck to determine the net weight of the goods moved. To locate a government public commercial scale, visit Public Scale Locator. 
• Temporary storage (storage in transit (SIT)) is limited to your actual storage costs. CONUS: authorized for 60 days initially with a maximum allowance of 150 days upon written request. OCONUS:  authorized for 90 days initially with a maximum allowance of 180 days upon written request.
• The maximum weight allowance is 18,000 pounds (an additional 2,000 for packing materials when uncrated or van line shipment).

Items That Cannot be Shipped:

These are the most common items but is NOT all inclusive. For additional information, please see: JTR Chapter 5, Table 5-89

• Motor vehicles, boats that cannot fit into a van (whether or not actually shipped by van), airplanes, mobile homes, camper trailers, and farming vehicles
• Live animals, birds, fish, and reptiles, please see: JTR Chapter 5, paragraph 054103 Pet Quarantine and Transportation
• Building materials
• Property for resale, disposal, or commercial use rather than for use by you or immediate family
• Privately owned live ammunition
• Hazardous articles including explosives, flammable and corrosive materials, poisons, etc.

Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Shipping

You may be permitted shipment of a passenger automobile, station wagon, light truck, or a similar vehicle that will be used primarily for your transportation. ​This is a taxable allowance and will require a separate 1351-2.

Shipment (Block 18 of 1351-2): ​ See example below

CONUS Travelers

Your shipment costs are authorized for up to two passenger vehicles if the distance is 600 or more miles from the authorized origin to the authorized destination. Reimbursement is not to exceed what it would have cost to transport your POV from your authorized origin to the authorized destination. To determine the amount, visit Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and complete the Constructed Travel worksheet. An Authorizing Official (AO) uses information from the worksheet to determine the authorized travel mode and establish any limits on reimbursement. You must include a signed and dated copy of the completed cost construct worksheet along side your completed  1351-2. 

Things to keep in mind...

• You can only claim reimbursement for your POV when the distance is at least 600 or miles from your authorized origin to the authorized destination.​
• Rental car is not reimbursable while awaiting POV arrival. ​
• You cannot transport or store a trailer, airplane, or any vehicle intended for commercial use.​

OCONUS Travelers

You can be reimbursed the shipment costs for one passenger vehicle. Work with your local transportation office to ensure proper shipment of your POV.​

Things to keep in mind...

• Rental car is not reimbursable while awaiting POV arrival. ​
• You cannot transport or store a trailer, airplane, or any vehicle intended for commercial use.​

Drop Off and/or Pick Up (Block 18 of 1351-2):

POV Drop off and Pick up is an entitlement that allows you to be compensated for your transportation costs to drop-off and pick-up your vehicle at the authorized Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). Reimbursement includes transportation expenses only for one authorized traveler limited to a round trip by way of the most direct route to pick-up or drop-off your vehicle at the VPC.

Miscellaneous Reimbursable Expenses

You may be authorized additional reimbursable expenses. The following is provided for your convenience and are the most common expenses. The following list is NOT all inclusive, for more items, visit JTR Chapter 2 at Defense Travel Management Office (dod.mil). 

Reimbursable Expenses (Block 18 of 1351-2): ​

CONUS Travelers

• POV tax and license fees if required by the state.​
• Energy surcharge fees.​
• A baggage transfer fee may be authorized or approved limited to the customary local rate for inter model transfers between authorized transportation modes. The necessity for the transfer must be explained in writing.​

OCONUS Travelers

• POV tax and license fees if required by the country.
• Energy surcharge fees.​
• A baggage transfer fee may be authorized or approved limited to the customary local rate for inter model transfers between authorized transportation modes. The necessity for the transfer must be explained in writing.​
• Foreign currency conversion fees ​
• Cost of a birth certificate when required for travel to foreign locations​
• Costs related to obtaining a visa, passport, or green card when required for official travel​.
• Automatic teller machine fees in locations (when authorized or approved by the Approving Official (AO).​
• The cost of quarantine lodging and meals when a foreign host nation requires quarantine in a specified foreign hotel or similar facility, mandated by the country.​
• Guide services (when authorized or approved by the AO).​
• Interpreter services (when authorized or approved by the AO).