{"id":30683,"date":"2020-03-18T19:58:45","date_gmt":"2020-03-18T19:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/18\/moving-associations-seek-federal-relief-after-defense-department-pcs-stop-order\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:34:34","slug":"moving-associations-seek-federal-relief-after-defense-department-pcs-stop-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/03\/18\/moving-associations-seek-federal-relief-after-defense-department-pcs-stop-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving associations seek federal relief after Defense Department PCS stop order"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The International Association of Movers (IAM) and the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) are jointly seeking federal financial relief from Congress after a March 14 Defense Department \u201cstop movement order\u201d that halted most permanent change-of-station moves amid the coronavirus outbreak, a press release<\/a> stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing the advisory\u2019s \u201cdevastating impact on the moving and storage industry,\u201d the associations are seeking over $186 million in federal relief. The stop order remains in effect until May 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amount \u2014 to be paid to currently approved DOD Personal Property Program (DP3) transportation service providers and approved non-temporary storage providers \u2014 constitutes 60 percent of total revenues obtained from their Defense Department contracts during the same period (March 16 through May 11) from last year, according to the IAM and AMSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If \u201crelief is not granted, providers will suffer unprecedented economic losses due to the inability to service Department of Defense business,” the release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Transportation Command advisory<\/a> directed moving companies \u201cto take no action on scheduled pick-ups and pack-outs of household goods,” while service members were instructed to work through their chain of command in seeking a waiver \u201cto continue the relocation process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are typically 55,100 shipments moved from March through May. The average shipment count per week is roughly 6,000 shipments worldwide, this expands within peak season to an average of 9,500 shipments per week,\u201d said John Becker, AMSA interim president, in an emailed statement. \u201cIf the stop movement stays in place, small companies that provide service at the curb could go out of business. This result would create a drastic capacity decrease for this summer and for the entire household goods (HHG) industry moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is our hope that financial relief will be delivered very quickly, ensuring that small businesses stay in business supporting the DoD, the military and service members during the 2020 Peak Season Permanent Change of Station process,\u201d Becker added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHousehold good providers have reserved their capacity in anticipation for these shipments and are now left with no business for the suspension period,\u201d the release added. \u201cIt is likely and estimated that entities will go out of business or enact severe layoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t