DPS (move.mil): How to Schedule Your Military Move Step by Step

June 5, 2026

The Defense Personal Property System (DPS) at move.mil is the government portal every service member uses to authorize, schedule, and track a government-arranged household goods (HHG) shipment during a Permanent Change of Station. Getting the process right the first time -- especially around counseling, pickup date requests, and the 8-day spread -- can mean the difference between a smooth delivery and a delayed one. This guide walks through every step in order, from creating your account to confirming your shipment, and points you to the authoritative sources for each stage.

What DPS Is (and What It Is Not)

DPS is the Department of Defense web application that connects service members with Transportation Service Providers (TSPs) for government-arranged household goods moves under the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). You access it through move.mil, which also hosts the customer service portal and claims system.

DPS handles only the government-funded HHG shipment. It does not manage a Personally Procured Move (PPM/DITY), pro-gear shipments billed separately, vehicle transport, or the civilian moving companies you hire independently. For those legs of a PCS, you arrange civilian carriers outside the DPS system -- a process covered in detail at /newsroom/moving-concierge-for-military-pcs.

The MilMove transition. SDDC is incrementally migrating DPS to a newer platform called MilMove (also accessed through move.mil). As of this writing, service members at some installations submit move requests through MilMove while others remain on the legacy DPS interface. The step-by-step logic is identical; field labels may differ slightly. Your installation Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO), also called the Transportation Management Office (TMO) at some installations, will tell you which system you are on at counseling.

DPS Scheduling Timeline: Step-by-Step Overview

The table below shows the full scheduling sequence, when each step should happen relative to your report date, what you do, and where.

Step	When (before report date)	What you do	Where
1. Receive PCS orders	Before anything else	Obtain official orders with gaining unit address	Personnel office / eMILPO / MyNavy HR
2. Create or access DPS account	As soon as orders are in hand	Register at move.mil using your DS Logon, CAC, or milConnect credentials	move.mil
3. Complete pre-move survey	First login	Fill out the household survey estimating weight, rooms, and special items	DPS / MilMove shipment wizard
4. Schedule counseling appointment	At least 8 weeks out	Book a counseling session with your PPSO/TMO	DPS self-schedule or contact PPSO directly
5. Attend counseling	6-8 weeks out (earlier for OCONUS)	Review entitlements, confirm shipment type, receive weight allowance, sign DD Form 1299	In person, virtual, or phone with PPSO
6. Submit shipment request in DPS	Immediately after counseling or during it	Enter shipment details, request pickup date window	DPS / MilMove portal
7. TSP assignment	Within a few business days of submission	System assigns a Transportation Service Provider	Confirmation email + DPS dashboard
8. TSP contacts you to confirm	~7-10 days before pickup	TSP calls or emails to confirm pack and load dates	TSP directly
9. Pack and load	On scheduled dates	TSP crew packs and inventories goods; you sign inventory	Your residence
10. Track and receive delivery	Per delivery window	Monitor tracking in DPS; be present or authorize agent for delivery	DPS dashboard + delivery address

Step 1-2: Account Setup and Accessing DPS

Access to DPS requires a verified DoD identity. The most reliable method is a CAC reader and a CAC-enabled browser. If you do not have CAC access at home, you can authenticate using DS Logon (the same credential used for milConnect and myPay) or ID.me, which DPS began accepting as an alternative identity provider.

Go to move.mil and select "Sign In." Choose your authentication method. On first login, complete your profile with your rank, branch, Social Security Number (last four for verification), and receiving unit address from your orders. The system uses this information to pull your authorized weight allowance from the JTR tables -- published at travel.dod.mil -- and to route your shipment request to the correct PPSO.

If you cannot log in or your profile data appears incorrect, do not proceed. Contact your installation PPSO directly. A profile error that assigns the wrong weight allowance or the wrong destination PPSO will cascade through every subsequent step.

Step 3-5: Counseling -- The Required Gateway

Counseling is not optional. No DPS shipment can be submitted without a counseling record on file. Counseling is the formal session with your PPSO (or TMO) during which a transportation counselor reviews your entitlements, explains the shipment types available to you, confirms your authorized weight, and authorizes your move.

What happens at counseling:

The counselor confirms the type of shipment you are authorized (HHG, unaccompanied baggage, pro-gear, storage in transit)
You review your authorized weight allowance under the JTR; current tables by rank and dependent status are at travel.dod.mil and summarized at /newsroom/military-pcs-weight-allowance-by-rank-2026
You discuss whether you want a PPM, a full government move, or a combination (partial PPM)
You sign DD Form 1299 (Application for Shipment and/or Storage of Personal Property)
The counselor enters or approves your shipment authorization in DPS

OCONUS and long-haul moves require earlier counseling. The Joint Travel Regulations require counseling at least 8 weeks before a desired pickup date for most CONUS moves, and earlier for OCONUS. Your PPSO will specify the required lead time. Missing the counseling window is one of the most common causes of delayed TSP assignments.

Counseling can be done in person, by phone, or virtually depending on your installation. Schedule through DPS self-scheduling if your PPSO offers it, or call the PPSO directly. Contact information for every installation PPSO is listed in the move.mil "Offices" directory.

Step 6: Submitting Your Shipment Request in DPS

After counseling is complete and your authorization is in the system, you enter your shipment request in DPS or MilMove. This is the step that generates the actual move request that TSPs compete for.

Key fields to complete carefully:

Requested pickup date (RDD) and 8-day spread. DPS does not let you name a single pickup date -- you enter a preferred pickup date, and the system creates an 8-day spread (required pickup spread). The TSP must pick up your goods within that 8-day window. Choose the window carefully around your checkout date and lease end, because you cannot be physically present for both pack and pickup and also at your new duty station simultaneously. The PPSO can advise on a realistic window based on current TSP performance in your lane.
Delivery address. Enter a confirmed delivery address if you have one. If housing is not yet secured, discuss temporary delivery or storage-in-transit (SIT) options with your counselor before submitting. SIT is authorized under JTR Chapter 5 at government expense for a limited period.
Special items. Guns, pool tables, pianos, motorcycles, and items requiring special handling must be declared at this stage. Some items are not moved by TSPs (hazmat, perishables); your counselor will identify them.
Pro-gear. Authorized professional books, papers, and equipment (pro-gear) have a separate weight allowance from your HHG entitlement. Declare this as a separate line item -- do not mix it into the general HHG weight estimate.

After submission, DPS assigns a shipment confirmation number. Record it. This number is the reference for all future status checks, TSP communication, and any claims.

Step 7-8: TSP Assignment and Contact

Within a few business days of a complete, counseling-backed shipment submission, DPS assigns a Transportation Service Provider from the carrier pool serving your lane (origin-destination pair). The TSP's name, contact information, and pickup window will appear in your DPS dashboard and trigger a confirmation email.

If you have not heard from your TSP within 7 days of your required pickup window opening, contact the TSP using the number in DPS, then escalate to your origin PPSO. Do not wait. TSP no-shows are the most common source of PCS household goods delays, and PPSO can invoke remedies (reassignment to a backup TSP, directed dates) that you cannot invoke on your own.

What the TSP will confirm with you:

Pack date (1-3 days before pickup, depending on shipment size)
Pickup/load date
Delivery date estimate (or destination SIT address)
Contact name and truck information

Write down every name and date confirmed by phone. Follow up with an email to the TSP contact so the confirmation is in writing.

What to Do If Your Requested Dates Are Not Available

DPS operates on supply and demand. During peak PCS season (May through August), TSP capacity in popular lanes is frequently oversubscribed. If the TSP cannot accommodate your requested pickup window or if no TSP accepts your shipment within a few days:

Contact your PPSO immediately. The PPSO has tools to flag your shipment for reallocation to backup TSPs, request a directed date assignment, or escalate through SDDC channels. You do not have this escalation lever yourself -- PPSO does.
Adjust your dates if possible. Moving even 7-10 days earlier or later in the season can open carrier capacity. If your report date has flexibility, discuss with your gaining unit's personnel office.
Consider storage-in-transit for the receiving end. If you can accept delivery into SIT at the destination rather than to your residence, more TSPs may be available. SIT-to-residence delivery can often be arranged separately with a local civilian carrier -- a scenario where concierge assistance at /concierge can help source a screened local mover.
Document everything. If delays cause you to incur out-of-pocket lodging or storage costs, those may be reimbursable under the JTR. Your PPSO can advise, but you need contemporaneous documentation (receipts, screenshots of DPS status, dates of phone calls) to support a claim.

Filing a Claim for Damaged or Missing Items

DPS is also the system through which you file a loss or damage claim after delivery. You have 75 days from delivery to file a notice of loss or damage with the TSP (called a Loss and Damage Report). You have 9 months from delivery to file a formal claim.

File the notice the day of delivery or within 24 hours if possible. Document with photos before the TSP crew leaves. The claim itself is filed through the DPS claims portal at move.mil. If the TSP denies the claim or does not respond, the dispute escalates to the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) at move.mil/customer-service.

A moving concierge has no role in government HHG claims -- those belong entirely to the DPS/SDDC system. For the civilian side of a PCS (PPM, specialty items, or SIT drayage), see the vetting steps at /guides/mover-vetting-checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I log into DPS at move.mil? Go to move.mil and click "Sign In." Authenticate with a CAC, DS Logon (same credential as milConnect and myPay), or ID.me. If your CAC reader is not working, DS Logon is the most reliable fallback. Contact the move.mil help desk or your PPSO if you cannot authenticate -- do not create a second account, as duplicates cause shipment processing errors.

Do I need counseling before I submit a shipment request in DPS? Yes. Counseling with your installation PPSO or TMO is required before a shipment request is authorized. DPS will not process a shipment without a counseling record. Counseling confirms your authorized weight, shipment type, and entitlements under the Joint Travel Regulations. Contact information for each installation PPSO is in the move.mil office directory.

What is the 8-day pickup spread and can I change it? When you request a pickup date in DPS, the system creates an 8-day required pickup spread -- the window within which the assigned TSP must pick up your goods. You cannot collapse this to a single date. If your dates need to change (checkout date shifted, housing fell through), contact your PPSO to request a modification before the TSP confirms. Changes after TSP assignment require PPSO involvement.

What happens if my TSP does not show up on the scheduled date? Contact the TSP immediately using the phone number in your DPS dashboard, then call your origin PPSO the same day. PPSO can reassign your shipment to a backup TSP and escalate to SDDC. Do not wait -- each day of delay compresses the delivery window and increases the chance of missing your report date.

Can I use DPS for a PPM (DITY move)? DPS is used to declare a PPM entitlement and initiate authorization, but the actual move is arranged by you with a civilian carrier outside DPS. After counseling authorizes the PPM, you hire and contract with a civilian mover directly. The government calculates reimbursement after you submit certified weight tickets and receipts to your Transportation Office. For help vetting PPM carriers, see /newsroom/moving-concierge-for-military-pcs or get screened quotes through /concierge.

Is DPS the same as MilMove? Not exactly. MilMove is SDDC's next-generation replacement for the legacy DPS application, and both are accessed through move.mil. SDDC is rolling out MilMove on a phased installation schedule while legacy DPS remains live elsewhere. The functional steps -- counseling, shipment request, TSP assignment, tracking, claims -- are the same in both; interface labels differ. Your PPSO will confirm which system you are on.

What if I need a civilian mover in addition to my government HHG shipment? Several PCS scenarios require a civilian mover: a PPM, a partial PPM, SIT-to-residence drayage at the destination, specialty-item transport, or a separate family member relocation. The full guide is at /newsroom/moving-concierge-for-military-pcs. To get screened quotes for a civilian leg, visit /concierge.

Need Help With the Civilian Side of Your PCS?

DPS handles the government-arranged HHG shipment. For the parts it does not cover -- a PPM, SIT drayage at the destination, specialty items, or a family member moving separately -- MovingRated vets civilian carriers and gathers binding quotes on your behalf. You keep full control of the hiring decision and contract directly with the mover. Tell us your move details once at /concierge and we will do the research.