Moving Services for Military Families: Why a PPM Could Be Your Best Move

Military relocations often come with tight timelines, new duty stations, and gaps between homes. The right moving services for military families should make those transitions easier while meeting PPM requirements when they apply. PODS offers an alternative to a traditional full-service mover: you pack on your own schedule, PODS transports the container, and you can add storage when you need it.

What Is the Best Moving Service for a Military Family?

There isn’t one solution that fits every PCS. When comparing military moving services, consider your orders, distance, schedule, storage needs, and whether you’d rather have the military arrange transportation or manage the move yourself.

Eligible service members can choose a Personally Procured Move, or PPM, coordinating the transportation of their household goods themselves instead of using military-contracted movers.

For households that want more control, moving services for military families that support PPMs can be especially useful. PODS provides portable containers that work for both moving and storage, and offers a military discount.

How PODS Helps With Military Family Moving

PODS handles both transportation and storage, which gives service members more control over the logistics of a PPM. A PODS portable container is delivered to your home, you load it on your schedule, and PODS picks it up and delivers it to your destination — or to a secure PODS storage facility if you need more time.

That flexibility is particularly useful when PCS dates don’t line up with housing availability. With PODS, you don’t have to unload your belongings into a separate storage unit and then “move again” when your new home is ready. You can store your container for as long as you need and then have it delivered when you’re ready. PODS has extensive experience moving military families, offers a military discount, and makes the process flexible for service members.

A Personally Procured Move Gives You More Control

A PPM, sometimes called a ”do-it-yourself” move, lets service members move their household goods themselves or hire their own commercial mover. Options include using your own vehicle, renting a truck or trailer, hiring a moving company, or renting portable moving and storage containers. You’ll need orders and approval from your transportation office before starting a PPM.

One reason a PPM appeals to many families is the potential financial benefit. The government pays up to 100 percent of what it would have cost to hire a mover, based on the actual weight moved, your authorized entitlement, and other applicable requirements. Because the payment isn’t tied to what you spend, keeping your moving costs low can leave more money in your pocket when all is said and done.

Why Do Military Families Move So Much?

Service members are reassigned according to military staffing and mission needs, and duty station assignments generally last two to four years. For military family moves, flexibility matters. PODS lets you use the same container for both moving and storage, so your belongings can head to your next destination or stay stored if your housing isn’t settled yet.

That can make built-in storage especially practical for military families when assignments and housing needs change.

Plan Ahead for a Military Move

Once you receive orders, start planning as early as possible. You should work with your local transportation office to understand your moving options and requirements. As you compare moving companies for military families, think through:

• Whether you want a government-arranged move or PPM
• Your authorized household-goods weight
• Packing and loading responsibilities
• Pickup and delivery timing

• Temporary storage needs

If you choose a PPM, also plan to keep:

• Receipts for qualified moving expenses
• Full and empty weight tickets (PODS has these available upon request)
• The Defense Personal Property Program provides moving and storage support, including branch-specific resources, and can help you understand your PCS entitlements before you commit to a plan. 

Moving services for military families, such as PODS, can give eligible service members more control over packing, transportation, and storage.

Military Moves — FAQs

Q: What company moves military families?
A: Service members aren't required to use one particular company. With an approved PPM, you can arrange transportation of your household goods yourself, including using portable moving containers or hiring a commercial provider. Moving services for military families, such as PODS, can give eligible service members more control over packing, transportation, and storage.

Q: Can veterans get free movers?
A: Not automatically. Military moving benefits depend on factors like orders, eligibility, and the type of move. Active-duty service members completing eligible moves may receive government transportation or PPM reimbursement after the move. Veterans, including those separating or retiring, may have their own move benefits, so check with your transportation office for what applies to you.

Q: Are there U-Haul alternatives for military moves?
A: Yes. Portable moving containers are a common alternative to rental trucks and an option for conducting a PPM. With PODS, you don't have to drive the moving vehicle yourself, and the container can be stored if you need extra time between homes.

Q: How much does it cost for a military move?
A: It varies based on distance, household-goods weight, transportation method, storage, and other factors, so there isn’t one useful price range. With a member-elected PPM, service members receive 100 percent of the applicable government-constructed cost based on the actual weight moved and their authorized entitlement. If your eligible PPM payment exceeds qualified moving expenses, you may be able to keep the remaining amount, minus taxes.

PPM With PODS and Save More

For any military families moving soon, PODS portable moving containers can make a PPM more manageable. Load your container on your schedule, then have it transported to your next destination or stored in a secure PODS Storage Center until you’re ready for delivery. With flexible moving and storage options and a military discount, PODS can help take some of the logistical pressure off of moving for military families.

Visit PODS online to get a free local moving quote, or call 866-556-9574 for long-distance moving.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}