The acronym TMO refers to the military office responsible for managing the complex logistical process of moving personnel and property globally. This office acts as the central authority for nearly all transportation-related services within a military installation. TMO coordinates the movement of massive military assets and facilitates the relocation of individual service members’ personal belongings.
Defining the Traffic Management Office
The full designation of this entity is the Traffic Management Office, frequently situated within the installation’s Logistics Readiness or Installation Management command structure. TMO functions as the primary intermediary, linking military requirements with the commercial transportation industry. This includes contracting commercial trucking firms, ocean shipping lines, and air freight carriers to execute the physical movement of goods. The office is the central hub for all transportation requests, ensuring compliance with federal and Department of Defense (DoD) regulations.
Core Mission and Responsibilities
TMO’s mission encompasses the movement of official government freight, which is essential to mission readiness. This involves coordinating the transportation of military equipment, supplies, parts, and hazardous materials in and out of the installation. TMO personnel manage a cargo movement warehouse, overseeing the process from accepting inbound freight to preparing outbound shipments. Their duties also include issuing official transportation documents, processing passenger travel arrangements for temporary duty and deployments, and maintaining quality assurance over commercial carriers.
Navigating Permanent Change of Station Moves
TMO’s most visible function is the authorization and coordination of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move. TMO helps determine the most appropriate method for moving household goods at government expense. The government-arranged move involves TMO contracting a commercial Transportation Service Provider (TSP) to pack, ship, and deliver the service member’s property. Alternatively, TMO can authorize a Personally Procured Move (PPM), formerly known as a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move. Under a PPM, the service member manages the logistics and receives a financial incentive, typically reimbursed at 100 percent of the government’s constructed cost.
Categories of Shipments Managed by TMO
Household Goods (HHG)
Household Goods (HHG) refers to the bulk of a service member’s personal property. This property is subject to a weight allowance determined by the member’s rank and dependent status. The total weight of all shipments, including unaccompanied baggage and non-temporary storage, is counted against this single overall HHG allowance.
Personally Owned Vehicles (POV)
TMO manages the shipment of a Personally Owned Vehicle (POV) for service members on official orders, typically when moving to or from an overseas (OCONUS) duty station. The government generally authorizes the shipment of one vehicle, which must be dropped off and picked up at designated Vehicle Processing Centers (VPCs). Military regulations often require the service member to have a minimum amount of time remaining on their overseas tour, such as 12 months, to be eligible for the authorized vehicle shipment.
Unaccompanied Baggage (UB)
Unaccompanied Baggage (UB) is a separate, small shipment of essential items intended to arrive quickly at the new duty station, often before the HHG shipment. This shipment is meant to contain clothing, cooking utensils, and other necessities required immediately upon arrival. While UB is subject to a smaller, distinct weight allowance, generally up to 2,000 pounds, this weight is still calculated as part of the overall HHG weight entitlement.
Temporary and Non-Temporary Storage (T/NTS)
TMO facilitates both Temporary Storage (TS) and Non-Temporary Storage (NTS) for service members moving between duty stations. Temporary storage, which is short-term, is authorized for up to 90 days, with potential extensions to 180 days, when a service member is delayed in securing permanent housing at the new location. Non-Temporary Storage is long-term storage, primarily used for OCONUS assignments where the service member cannot take all of their HHG, and the property can be stored at government expense for the duration of the overseas tour.
Required Steps for the Service Member
The process begins with the service member receiving official PCS orders, which are the foundational document for all transportation entitlements. The next mandatory step is to schedule and complete a counseling session, which can be done virtually or in person with a TMO counselor. Service members must then register and submit their move request through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS), the DoD’s electronic portal for managing personal property shipments, accessible via the move.mil website. Completing the DPS self-counseling module generates the required application and checklist forms, which must be signed and submitted to the local TMO office along with a copy of the official orders to finalize the shipment booking.
Governing Rules and Entitlements
The entitlements and allowances for all military moves are strictly defined by the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), which is the official regulatory guidance for all uniformed service members and DoD civilians traveling at government expense. The JTR, along with the Defense Transportation Regulation (DTR), provides the regulatory context that TMO must follow, establishing what can be moved and the authorized weight limits. This regulatory framework also governs the claims process, which requires the service member to submit a claim for damaged or lost goods through the DPS system within 75 days of delivery.