Military Move Cost Calculator Taken Offline After Faulty Estimates Discovered

U.S. Transportation Command's online tool for calculating Personally Procured Moves was taken offline after it provided inaccurate estimates last year, a USTRANSCOM official said via email Friday.

The tool was launched in November 2017. It was taken down Nov. 1, 2019, after the command received reports of result discrepancies.

"The tool does not consistently generate accurate estimates for Service Members," a USTRANSCOM official said via email. "While the tool is offline, customers are referred to their servicing [Personal Property Processing Offices] for assistance in estimating PPM payments."

He did not give details on how inaccurate the estimates were, saying it "varied."

"We are committed to providing accurate, reliable information to [Defense Personal Property Program] customers, and as such expect a tight tolerance (plus or minus 2%) from the calculator," he wrote. "Estimates were outside this tolerance, which prompted USTRANSCOM to take the tool down."

Related: Why You Should Do a Personally Procured Move

Since the calculator was taken down, service members have successfully completed more than 10,000 moves, he said.

"USTRANSCOM's commitment is to deliver accurate information to Service Members, DoD employees, and their families; we will make the calculator available when we are confident we can deliver that accuracy," he said.

There are no estimates on when the PPM calculator will be back online. Officials said they will notify the services and personal property offices when it is up again.

-- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg.

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