DPS / move.mil Walkthrough: Schedule, Track, and Fight for Your PCS Move
DPS is the portal for setting up and managing military household goods moves. It is also where a lot of PCS stress starts: account access, shipment dates, weight estimates, carrier communication, claims, and transportation office escalation. Treat it like a legal record of your move, not just a scheduling website.
Educational guide based on Military OneSource and Defense Personal Property Program public information. Your local transportation office controls move counseling and service-specific procedures. Last verified: July 7, 2026.
How to handle DPS / move.mil
Get orders and start the move record
Do not wait for the perfect PCS packet if you already have usable orders and your transportation office allows counseling. DPS needs enough information to create the shipment: origin, destination, desired dates, contact information, and shipment type.
Choose the right move lane
Most families are deciding between government-arranged HHG, personally procured move (PPM/DITY), unaccompanied baggage, non-temporary storage, or a combination. If you mix move types, document each one separately.
Enter realistic weights and dates
Your estimated weight and requested pickup/delivery windows shape carrier assignment. Underestimating weight or giving unreachable dates creates problems later when the carrier has to survey or rework the shipment.
Save every DPS confirmation and carrier message
Download or screenshot counseling confirmation, shipment numbers, pickup dates, delivery windows, inventory documents, claims submissions, and messages. Your move record becomes evidence if the carrier misses dates or damages property.
At pickup, control the inventory
Do not let vague item descriptions slide when they matter. High-value items, electronics, tools, firearms, pro gear, and damaged-before-pickup items need accurate inventory language before the truck leaves.
At delivery, note loss and damage immediately
Annotate visible damage and missing items at delivery. Photograph boxes before unpacking if crushed or wet. Start the claim timeline quickly; do not wait until the house is fully settled.
The problems people actually search for
DPS will not let me log in or keeps throwing certificate/browser errors.
Usually means: The issue is usually CAC certificate selection, browser compatibility, account setup, scheduled maintenance, or a DPS security error.
Move: Try a supported browser outside the Friday/Saturday maintenance window, clear the certificate choice, and call the DPS Help Desk if the same error persists. Screenshot the exact error.
Nobody has contacted me and my pickup date is coming.
Usually means: The shipment may not be awarded to a transportation service provider, the provider may not have performed the survey, or peak-season capacity is tight.
Move: Send your shipment number, requested pickup window, report date, and DPS status to the personal property office. Ask whether the shipment has been awarded and who owns contact next.
The movers wrote everything as scratched, worn, or damaged.
Usually means: The inventory is being written defensively to reduce carrier liability later.
Move: Challenge vague or false condition codes before signing. Add written exceptions, photograph high-value items, and keep your own inventory notes.
My stuff is late and nobody will give a real delivery date.
Usually means: The required delivery date, storage-in-transit, linehaul delay, or destination agent scheduling may be the real issue.
Move: Ask for the required delivery date, current shipment location, destination agent, and whether storage-in-transit has started. Put the request in writing and loop in the transportation office.
The claim offer is insultingly low.
Usually means: The carrier is pricing depreciation, repair instead of replacement, missing proof, or disputed inventory condition.
Move: Respond with inventory item number, photos, replacement cost links, repair estimates, pre-move proof, and why repair is not adequate if replacement is needed.
I did a PPM and now finance/transportation is rejecting paperwork.
Usually means: Missing empty/full weight tickets, bad dates, wrong vehicle/trailer info, missing DD forms, or receipts that do not match reimbursable categories.
Move: Rebuild the packet by required document type: orders, counseling, weight tickets, rental receipts, fuel/toll receipts if applicable, and final settlement forms.
Where people usually get stuck
DPS throws browser, certificate, or account errors before you can even schedule.
The shipment exists but nobody has confirmed dates.
The carrier writes vague or unfair condition codes.
The carrier misses dates, loses items, or damages property.
Build the proof packet before you escalate
- Orders and amendments.
- DPS shipment number and screenshots of current shipment status.
- Move counseling documents and shipment type: HHG, PPM, NTS, UB, or mixed.
- Requested pickup date, actual pickup date, required delivery date, actual delivery date, and every date the carrier promised.
- Household goods inventory, high-value inventory, exceptions you wrote before signing, and photos from pickup/delivery.
- For claims: item number, description, pre-move proof, damage photos, replacement cost, repair estimate, and carrier offer.
- For PPM: empty/full weight tickets, rental agreement, receipts, mileage, and settlement packet.
Things that make the problem worse
Who can actually fix it
Transportation office / personal property office
First stop for counseling, shipment setup, carrier assignment, pickup/delivery problems, and move-type questions.
DPS Help Desk
Use for access, security, or portal problems that block you from using DPS. Military OneSource lists 833-MIL-MOVE as the toll-free contact.
Transportation service provider
Use for carrier-level pickup, delivery, crew, inventory, and claims communication. Keep it in writing when possible.
Branch moving assistance / customer service contacts
Use when local resolution stalls, especially for peak-season failures, missed pickup, and serious claims issues.
Copy/paste messages that get cleaner answers
No carrier contact before pickup
Subject: DPS shipment approaching pickup window - no TSP contact Requesting assistance with a PCS shipment that has not received carrier contact. Name: [rank/name] Shipment number: [number] Origin: [city/base] Destination: [city/base] Requested pickup window: [dates] Report date / RNLTD: [date] Current DPS status: [status] Best phone/email: [contact] Can you confirm whether this shipment has been awarded to a TSP and who is responsible for scheduling the pre-move survey?
Damaged item claim rebuttal
Subject: Claim rebuttal - item [inventory number] I am disputing the claim offer for item [inventory number]. Item: [description] Carrier offer: [$] Issue with offer: [repair not adequate / replacement cost too low / wrong depreciation / inventory condition disputed] Evidence attached: delivery photos, pre-move photos, inventory page, replacement cost link, repair estimate Requested resolution: [$ or replacement/repair] Please review the attached evidence and provide the specific basis for any continued denial or reduced valuation.
Fast answers
Is DPS the same as move.mil?
DPS is the Defense Personal Property System reached through the move.mil/DPS access path. It is the system used to begin and manage many military personal property moves.
Can I do a PPM and a government move at the same time?
Often yes, but each shipment type must be documented correctly and approved through your transportation office. Do not assume reimbursement without counseling.
What is the most important move paperwork?
Orders, counseling documents, shipment number, inventory, high-value inventory, weight tickets for PPM, delivery paperwork, damage photos, and claims submissions.
When should I call the transportation office?
Any time dates change, a carrier misses contact windows, inventory is wrong, delivery is late, or DPS status does not match what the carrier is telling you.