Got orders to Offutt, or orders out? A military move starts with paperwork, not boxes, and the system behind it has changed a lot in the last two years. Here’s how PCS moves work in 2026, what to do first and where military movers in Omaha can (and can’t) help.
One ground rule: your transportation office has the final word on your entitlements. Use this guide to get oriented, then confirm the details with them.
Step One: Contact Your Transportation Office
As soon as you have orders, do two things:
- Log in to the Defense Personal Property System (DPS). It’s the official portal where you start scheduling your move, according to Military OneSource.
- Contact your transportation office for counseling. At Offutt, that’s the Traffic Management Office (TMO) in Building 323C, (402) 294-5790, as listed on Military OneSource’s Offutt AFB page as of 2026.
You can also call the Personal Property Activity call center at 833-MIL-MOVE (833-645-6683). For help with the rest of your relocation, Offutt’s Military & Family Readiness Center is at (402) 294-4329, per Offutt’s newcomer page.
Learn your weight allowance early. It’s based on your grade and dependency status, and going over it can leave you with a debt for the extra weight, according to the Army’s 2026 guidance on the Personal Property Activity. The easiest pound to manage is the one you never pack.
What Changed: HomeSafe Is Out, the PPA Is In
If you last moved in 2024 or early 2025, some of what you remember may be outdated.
- June 2025: The Defense Department terminated the Global Household Goods Contract with HomeSafe Alliance, the single contractor that was supposed to take over military moves.
- October 2025: DoD decided against privatizing household goods moves and kept the long-running Tender of Service program, which works with hundreds of independent moving companies.
- May 1, 2026: The Personal Property Activity (PPA) launched as the permanent organization managing household goods and vehicle shipments, in-transit storage and non-temporary storage for service members. Its website is ppa.mil.
Bottom line: if an older checklist or forum post mentions HomeSafe or the GHC, double-check it with your TMO.
Government-Arranged Move or PPM?
You have two main ways to get your household goods from one duty station to the next.
| Government-arranged move | Personally procured move (PPM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who arranges the mover | The government, through the Defense Personal Property Program | You. Move yourself or hire your own movers |
| Who pays | The government pays the moving company | You pay the costs, and the government pays you |
| What you get | A moving company assigned through the program moves your shipment, up to your weight allowance | 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC), which is what it would have cost the government to move you |
| Your paperwork | Schedule in DPS and track your shipment | Certified weight tickets, receipts and a claim after the move |
| Good fit for | Families who want the government to handle the logistics | Members who want control of their dates, or who can move for less than the GCC |
How a PPM Works in 2026
Here’s the process as the PPA describes it on its PPM page (as of 2026):
- Get counseling first. Before you do anything else, contact your transportation office for counseling and create your move in DPS. You need official orders and approval before you move.
- Decide how you’ll move. Rent a truck and do it yourself, or hire a commercial moving company. If you hire movers, it’s on you to make sure they’re reputable. Military OneSource recommends using a mover registered with the federal government (you can check on the FMCSA website) and warns about low-ball quotes that look too good to be true.
- Get two certified weight tickets. An empty weight before loading and a full weight after loading, both from a certified public scale. Requirements can vary by service branch, so ask your TMO exactly what they need.
- Keep every receipt. Truck rental, packing materials, equipment rental, professional movers, fuel, tolls and weight tickets all count as operating expenses.
- File your claim within 45 days of finishing your move.
A few more things to know:
- You can request an advance of up to 60% of your estimated GCC.
- Profit is taxable. If the GCC payment is more than your moving expenses, the difference is taxable income and you’ll get a W-2 for it.
- Actual cost reimbursement is a different option. Getting paid back for actual costs instead of the GCC requires written pre-approval from your transportation office.
Where a Local Omaha Mover Fits
On a government-arranged move, the mover is assigned through the program, so you don’t pick the company. Here’s where a local company like Easy As Pie can help:
- A PPM where you hire the movers. You keep the control of a PPM without loading the truck yourself. We pad every piece, stack the truck the right way and strap every load. We’re licensed for interstate moves (USDOT 4345362), and our long distance moving options include consolidated shipping or an exclusive truck with the dates you pick. Doing a PPM? Tell us what your paperwork requires, like certified weight tickets or an itemized receipt, and we’ll make it work.
- Labor only. Renting your own truck? Book moving labor for the loading and unloading. Lower expenses mean more of your PPM payment stays with you.
- Local moves around Offutt. Moving from a short-term rental into a house in Bellevue, Papillion or La Vista, or switching homes partway through your tour? That’s a regular local move for us. If the move is tied to your orders (like moving into or out of base housing), ask your TMO first whether it’s covered.
- Storage when the dates don’t line up. Check your storage entitlement with the TMO first. If you need something beyond it, we offer short and long-term storage at our secure Omaha facility, with pickup and delivery.
- Packing help. We’ll pack just the kitchen and the fragile items, or everything. If you hire packers on a PPM, keep that receipt too.
We move families on and off Offutt Air Force Base fairly often, and we’ll work with whatever your PCS or PPM requires.
PCS Tips for Offutt Families
- Start early. Summer is peak PCS season, and it’s the busiest time for civilian moves around Omaha too. If you’re hiring movers, book as soon as your dates are firm. We recommend at least two to four weeks ahead, and earlier in summer.
- Purge before you weigh. Every pound you don’t move helps with your weight allowance and your PPM math.
- Build the scale stops into moving day. An empty weigh-in before loading and a full weigh-in after loading both take time.
- Keep orders and documents with you. Orders, IDs, school and medical records, weight tickets and receipts ride in your car, not on the truck.
- Photograph high-value items before they’re packed.
- Learn the neighborhoods before you house hunt. Our guide to Omaha suburbs like Papillion, Bellevue and La Vista covers the towns near base.
Military Moving FAQs
Can I hire my own movers for a PCS move?
Yes, through a personally procured move (PPM). The government pays you 100% of the Government Constructed Cost, and you’re responsible for choosing a reputable mover. Get counseling and approval from your transportation office first.
What weight tickets do I need for a PPM?
Two certified weight tickets: an empty weight before you load and a full weight after. Ask your TMO about any requirements specific to your branch.
How long do I have to file my PPM claim?
The PPA says 45 days after you finish your move (as of 2026). Confirm the deadline with your transportation office.
Is the Global Household Goods Contract still in effect?
No. DoD terminated the HomeSafe contract in June 2025. Household goods moves are now managed by the Personal Property Activity, which launched on May 1, 2026.
Who do I call at Offutt about my move?
Start with Offutt’s Traffic Management Office at (402) 294-5790, or call the PPA call center at 833-MIL-MOVE.
Moving to or From Offutt?
Whether it’s a PPM, labor-only help or a local move once you’re settled, we’ll send you a straight price range and your full moving agreement when you book.
Request your free estimate or call (402) 200-4661.
