Loowit Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 I was hoping some of you might have some great advice on best companies to use to ship a car across the country, maybe even one that has military discounts. DS has finally made it through his specialty training and has been posted at his permanent duty station. He was hoping to get to come home for a short visit and pick up his car and some of his things to take back with him, but it doesn't look like that will be happening. He is on the east coast and we are on the west coast. He is now talking about having his car shipped to him, and we would send his other stuff to him in boxes. He doesn't want much because he will be staying on base in the barracks with not much space, but he does want his computer and a few other things. We have never done anything like this before so any suggestions are welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 If this is a PCS move for him, he likely has some benefits available to him. He might find it really helpful to find out what other people are using at his duty station since so much of this is location specific. There is info out there on the web like this: https://www.cartalk.com/car-shipping/best-military-car-shipping-companies We've had cars shipped before (non-military) as part of corporate moves. I would only do it with the corporate oversight because the corporation wants to make it right for us, iykwim, if something goes wrong. Our last move was cross-country; the vehicle took 2.5 weeks to arrive from when it was picked up to when it was dropped off. You had to be present both times---and for the company we used last, they did not have weekend delivery so that meant I had to be there to sign as dh was working. YMMV, but this is a big issue---the available to receive---so make sure he can arrange things to do that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 I'm wondering if it would be less expensive for one of you to drive it and his things to him and then fly back home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 Just asked dh and yes, all should be handled by the TMO. He would have a weight limit on his his stuff, other than the car, based on rank. He should have received à briefing about moves and h8s benefits. But he is the one who needs to go to the TMO and set it all up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted August 25, 2022 Author Share Posted August 25, 2022 33 minutes ago, stephanier.1765 said: I'm wondering if it would be less expensive for one of you to drive it and his things to him and then fly back home. Pricing it out, not really. His car requires the expensive gas, plus adding in lodging and eating on the road. It is a small car so not something you can really load up with stuff and sleep in comfortably. DS was willing to do that, Us not so much. We had talked about doing it as a road trip and getting a trailer to tow it over behind our truck, but cost and time off work just aren't going to work for us right now. We aren't in a place we can do that, unfortunately. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted August 25, 2022 Author Share Posted August 25, 2022 2 minutes ago, TravelingChris said: Just asked dh and yes, all should be handled by the TMO. He would have a weight limit on his his stuff, other than the car, based on rank. He should have received à briefing about moves and h8s benefits. But he is the one who needs to go to the TMO and set it all up. Thanks. DS doesn't think he is eligible because this is his first PDS. He is just finishing up with his initial trainings: boot camp, SOI, and MOS training, so it isn't a move from one PDS to another. He is going to be asking around, but moving expenses weren't covered in his briefing as part of the move to the base. Today he is still working on trying to get settled in and all his things figured out, but I will mention your suggestion if I get a chance to talk to him today, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 Yes. He should be eligible.. Dh had paid travel to OTS, and a paid move to LAAFS ( is now LAAFB). And that was in the later 80s and since then, most benefits have only gotten beyter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 Aldo, dh says he should look at his PCS (Permanent Change of Station; in other words, the military term for moves). Those should say things like how many days of travel to new location are allowed, how much personal anff household belongings are able to be shipped/brought, what m9de of transportation to New place is most cost effective for govt, etc If he is enlisted, he probably should be asking someone like his first sergeant, Sr. Petty officer, or whoever is his immediate leader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted August 25, 2022 Author Share Posted August 25, 2022 24 minutes ago, TravelingChris said: Aldo, dh says he should look at his PCS (Permanent Change of Station; in other words, the military term for moves). Those should say things like how many days of travel to new location are allowed, how much personal anff household belongings are able to be shipped/brought, what m9de of transportation to New place is most cost effective for govt, etc If he is enlisted, he probably should be asking someone like his first sergeant, Sr. Petty officer, or whoever is his immediate leader. He is enlisted, currently a PFC. He didn't get any travel days for his move. An NCO picked him up the day he graduated from MOS and took him directly to his PDS. It was only a couple miles away. The bases are basically right next to each other. If he wants time off to move his stuff he has to take leave time. His training officer told him that he could request time off when he arrived at his new station but it would be up to his commanding officer. When he arrived this week he was told he wouldn't be getting any time off for a while and if he wants his stuff it will have to be shipped to him or he will have to wait, no idea how long. So now we are looking at ways to help him, and he is looking at ways to get things done and how to do it on base. Thanks for the input, it is helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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