{"id":15842,"date":"2018-03-26T18:19:15","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T18:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/26\/heres-why-a-perfect-storm-may-greet-movers-during-this-years-peak-pcs-season\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:52:47","slug":"heres-why-a-perfect-storm-may-greet-movers-during-this-years-peak-pcs-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2018\/03\/26\/heres-why-a-perfect-storm-may-greet-movers-during-this-years-peak-pcs-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s why a \u2018perfect storm\u2019 may greet movers during this year\u2019s peak PCS season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the busy military moving season nears, some experts are concerned that issues in the moving industry, and stiff competition for trucks and movers, may combine to create a \u201cperfect storm\u201d for service members making permanent change-of-station moves<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Positive trends in the economy and the housing market may stretch an already limited industry capacity. A possible increase in commercial-sector moves could compete with military moves, experts warned, making all-to-common PCS problems<\/a> \u2014 driver shortages, for instance \u2014 even worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Transportation Command officials have signed up more moving truckers and redesigned Move.mil<\/a>, the online PCS portal, with an eye toward a simpler, smoother process. The command has been managing the Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3, for less than a year after taking over for the Army in the fall, ending that service\u2019s 59 years at the controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But one ground truth hasn\u2019t changed for service members: The earlier you can make your arrangements, the better. If you start the process as soon as you get orders, you\u2019ll be more likely to get the pack out and move dates that you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, DP3 oversaw 430,000 Defense Department household goods shipments and 65,000 privately owned vehicle shipments. Those shipments peak from May through August, though the really busy time is June 15-July 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe hope it will be the best peak season ever,\u201d said Army Col. Ralph Lounsbrough, personal property division chief in TRANSCOM\u2019s strategy, capabilities, policy and logistics directorate. \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be an improvement. Unfortunately, we will have days where there are capacity constraints … and some people will see some bad moves, I\u2019m sure, unfortunately, but hopefully we\u2019ve reduced those.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t