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Division of Commissioned Corps Officer Support (DCCOS) Travel and Transportation Reminder:
Privately Owned Conveyance (POC) Travel During a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Within the Continental United States (CONUS)
POCs are defined as any transportation mode actually used for the movement of persons from place to place. A common carrier, or conveyance owned by the Government, is never a POC. The main POC used by officers during a CONUS PCS is a privately owned (motor) vehicle (POV). A trailer, airplane, or any vehicle intended for commercial use is not a POV. 
Other than for transoceanic travel, PCS travel by POC is advantageous to the Government. Officers without dependents are authorized reimbursement for travel with one POV. When a member and dependents relocate on a member’s PCS move, reimbursement is authorized for two POCs if used. Reimbursement for the use of more than two POCs, within the same household for PCS travel, may be authorized/approved if determined to be appropriate, through the Secretarial Process.
An eligible member with dependents relocating during the PCS, and ordered on a PCS between CONUS permanent duty stations (PDSs), may be authorized to have one POV transported from the old CONUS PDS to the new CONUS PDS when it is advantageous and cost-effective to the Government and provided the following circumstances are met:
  1. Member and/or eligible dependents own more than one POV to be relocated to the new PDS;
  2. Member and dependents then travel at one time in one POC;
  3. Cost of shipment and commercial transportation of the POV to be shipped does not exceed the cost of MALT PLUS (monetary allowance in lieu of transportation plus flat per diem; refer to the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS) Travel and Transportation Information Center Web site’s ‘Reimbursement Rates’ page http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/reimburse.asp) regarding driving two POCs to the new PDS; and
  4. The member is financially responsible for all excess costs or additional expenses associated with POV transportation.
The following restrictions apply:
  1. Dependents must relocate incident to the PCS. POV transportation is not authorized if the member has no dependents.
  2. A member authorized POV transportation is not authorized commercial travel at Government expense for the member or dependents in conjunction with the PCS.
  3. The member must personally procure all POV transportation. Government-procured transportation is not authorized.
  4. Payment of MALT to drop off/pick up the POV in conjunction with transportation of POV is not authorized.
  5. POV storage at Government expense is not authorized in conjunction with transportation of a POV.
An eligible member ordered on a PCS between CONUS PDSs may also be authorized transportation of one POV from the OLD CONUS PDS to the new CONUS PDS when the member is physically unable to drive. The inability of a dependent to drive does not satisfy this criterion. Any member requesting POV transportation under this criterion due to medical reasons needs to have current and complete medical records on file in the Medical Affairs Branch (MAB) of the Office of Commissioned Corps Support Services. The complete medical record will be evaluated for medical justification of the request. It is the officer’s responsibility to ensure that treating providers, clinics, and hospitals also send a copy of their complete medical records to MAB. A letter from the officer and/or treating provider to MAB outlining the medical issues preventing driving the POV is strongly recommended.
Please note, it frequently takes 4-6 weeks for medical records to be copied and sent from physicians’ offices to MAB, so early attention to this issue is important if a medical request is anticipated and POV transportation necessary. Contact the Commissioned Corps Travel Coordinator as soon as possible prior to sending documents to MAB. The Travel Coordinator will communicate with MAB during the review process.
For questions concerning this and other travel and transportation allowances, please visit the CCMIS Travel and Transportation Information Center at http://dcp.psc.gov/Travel/travel1.asp or contact the Commissioned Corps Travel Coordinator at PHStravel@hhs.gov.     
 
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