Military
Military Car Shipping And PCS Vehicle Transport
A PCS move has one feature no other relocation has: the date is fixed until suddenly it is not. Transport booked for a civilian move does not survive that.
Planning around orders that shift
Civilian relocations move to a date the customer chose. A PCS moves to a date the service chose, and that date can change with very little warning.
The practical answer is not to promise flexibility and hope. It is to build the booking so a change costs you nothing. That means agreeing early that dates may move, keeping the pickup window wider than a civilian move would need, and telling us the moment orders change rather than after the truck is dispatched.
The one thing that saves the most trouble. Book against the report date, not the date you would like the car collected. We schedule backwards from when it has to be there, with a buffer built in, so a few days of slippage does not become a crisis.
Where we collect and deliver
- On or near base — subject to the installation's access rules, which vary considerably
- Your current address — usually simpler than a base gate and worth considering
- Temporary lodging — where you arrive before housing is available
- A family member's address — common where the vehicle is stored during a deployment
- Storage facilities — in and out of long-term storage for unaccompanied tours
Base access is the detail people underestimate. Many installations restrict commercial vehicle entry, require advance clearance, or limit gate hours for trucks. Tell us the base at booking and we will confirm the procedure rather than sending a driver to find out at the gate.
Deployments and storage
Not every military move is a relocation. Vehicles also need to disappear for six months and reappear in working order.
If a car is going into storage before a deployment, decide who releases it at the other end before you leave. A vehicle in storage with nobody authorised to hand it over becomes a problem for whoever is trying to help you from three time zones away.
What to sort before pickup
- Who is releasing and receiving. Someone over 18 must be present at both ends. It does not have to be you, but they must be named in advance.
- Base access. Confirm whether the installation allows commercial collection and what clearance is needed.
- Registration and insurance. Keep your own policy active during transport rather than cancelling it early.
- Personal items out. Up to 100 lbs in the trunk is generally accepted, but nothing in there is covered by cargo insurance.
Cost and timing
Military moves price the same way everything else does: distance, vehicle size, trailer type, running condition and how flexible your dates are. Being flexible is where the saving is, and PCS moves are often more flexible than the person booking realises.
Summer is peak PCS season and it is also peak civilian relocation season. Capacity across the whole network tightens between May and August, so booking early matters more in those months than at any other time.
Ask us about current terms for service members when you request your quote.
Military transport questions
What happens if my orders change after I book?
Tell us as early as you can and we rebook. Nothing is charged until a carrier is assigned, so a change made before dispatch costs nothing. A change on collection day is harder, which is why we set a wider window on PCS moves from the start.
Can you collect from or deliver to a base?
Often, but installations differ. Some restrict commercial vehicle access or require advance clearance. Tell us the base at booking and we will confirm the procedure. Collecting from your address is frequently simpler.
Can someone else release or receive the vehicle?
Yes. Anyone over 18 can act on your behalf at either end, provided you name them in advance. This matters when you fly ahead of the vehicle.
Do you ship vehicles into and out of storage?
Yes, and it is common around deployments. Decide before you leave who is authorised to release the vehicle at the other end, or arranging collection later becomes difficult.
When is the worst time to book a PCS move?
Late spring through summer, when PCS season overlaps with peak civilian relocation. Capacity tightens nationally. If your dates fall in that window, book as far ahead as your orders allow.
Orders in hand?
Send your report date and both locations. We will build the schedule backwards from the date you have to be there.