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- Last substantive update
- Official source pages reviewed
- October 22, 2026
Editorial dates describe the recorded review, not a guarantee that policies are unchanged. Confirm current requirements with the official references.
Pickup preparation is about removing ambiguity. Your household needs to know what travels on the truck, what stays behind, and who will make decisions when the crew asks a question. Treat packing days and loading day as separate events when building your calendar.
Confirm the appointment and access
Check the mover's contact details, planned packing and loading dates, building restrictions, elevator reservations, and parking arrangements. Explain narrow stairs, storage units, unusually large furniture, and access problems before the crew arrives. Ask whom to contact if the schedule changes.
Military OneSource's moving-day guide (opens in a new tab) covers the pre-move survey, household inventory, and separating items that should not be packed. Follow the shipment instructions you receive from the transportation office and mover.
Divide your home into three decisions
| Group | Examples | Household action |
|---|---|---|
| Ship | Furniture, books, ordinary household items | Make accessible and identify special handling questions |
| Carry | Medication, identification, keys, arrival supplies | Put in a separate controlled area |
| Resolve first | Chemicals, fuel, perishables, restricted or unusual items | Ask the mover and transportation office how to handle them |
Do not assume that something allowed in your car is allowed in an HHG shipment. Ask for the current prohibited-items guidance, including how to prepare equipment that has held fuel. Get specific instructions for firearms, batteries, and high-value items rather than improvising.
Build an inventory you can use later
Take clear photos of valuable or easily damaged items. Record model and serial information where useful, and show existing condition. Store the inventory somewhere you can access after your computer is packed. Include the garage, closets, and items going into storage.
Use a simple naming convention such as room, item, and date. If a desk later arrives with a broken corner, finding one labeled photograph is easier than searching hundreds of unorganized pictures.
Your personal record supports, but does not replace, the mover's inventory. Review descriptions and record disagreements before signing.
Protect your hand-carry zone
Pack the PCS essentials bag before the crew begins. Move it, important documents, wallet, vehicle keys, and devices into a clearly separated space. Tell everyone helping with the move which area is off limits for packing.
Set a plan for children and animals that keeps them away from open doors and lifting activity. Keep their supplies reachable without reopening packed cartons.
Use a moving-day role sheet
Assign one adult or authorized representative to answer crew questions and review paperwork. Give another helper a focused job if available, such as watching the hand-carry area or checking cupboards. Confirm any representative authorization with the transportation office.
Before the truck leaves, walk through every room, cabinet, storage space, and outdoor area. Check that items intended to remain have stayed and that intended shipments were collected. Save copies of signed documents and contact information.
Leave yourself an arrival record
Note which cartons contain essential household items and what furniture needs assembly. Record questions about delivery while they are fresh. If damage or missing items appear later, use the HHG loss and damage guide to organize evidence and locate the official process.
Avoid last-minute additions that have not been discussed, signing an inventory without review, and allowing the travel bag to disappear into the shipment.
Sources and references
- moving-day guide (opens in a new tab) — reviewed October 22, 2026.
Plan the next step
Explore the Family Ops preview for a look at shared military-life planning. Family Ops is coming soon; use the official sources above for approvals and eligibility decisions.
Related reading
Official references for this guide · 1
Source review date: October 22, 2026
Mil Marketplace is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. military or Department of Defense. Planning suggestions are general information; confirm requirements, eligibility, and current procedures with the responsible official office.
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