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Southbay Moving Systems Services

Military Movers in California

PCS orders, a PPM, or your final move after retirement: Southbay Moving Systems has been moving service members and their families since 1991. Our Salinas crew is minutes from the Presidio of Monterey and the Naval Postgraduate School, and we handle military moves anywhere in California.

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Time to hit the ground running! A military move is always tricky, regardless of how many times you’ve moved with the military. We at South Bay Moving understand that a military move to Central California can be difficult, and we’re ready and able to help you at a moment’s notice. We service all of Monterey, San Benito, Fresno, Madera, San Joaquin, and Merced counties. Here is your essential guide to military moving in Central California. Thank you for your service!

Our home base in Salinas puts us close to the Presidio of Monterey, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Coast Guard Station Monterey, with crews that regularly work in Monterey, Seaside, and Marina. Further south, we serve Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Roberts, and nearby towns like King City, and we move families to and from NAS Lemoore in the Central Valley.

What Is a Military Move?

There are three main types of moves within the military. Here are quick descriptions of each one and how we can help.
A Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move happens when a service member receives orders to a new permanent duty station. The government pays for it, either by arranging a household goods shipment for you or by reimbursing you for a PPM. You can handle part of a PCS move yourself, though hiring PCS movers can be extremely helpful. Our team has handled dozens of PCS moves, providing personalized and affordable support during every stage of the relocation. We can handle Central California long-distance moves from any part of the country.
A personally procured move (PPM), formerly called a DITY move, is one you arrange yourself. You are responsible for packing, transporting, and unpacking your belongings, though you can hire a mover to do the work. The government reimburses you based on the weight you move, up to your weight allowance, so keep certified weight tickets and receipts. Our DITY move calculator guide shows how the numbers work, and our guide to the U-Haul military program covers the rental-truck route.
Combo moves (partial PPMs) mix a government-arranged shipment with a PPM. You may decide to ship some of your items with the military and other items with a private moving company. The government can reimburse you for some expenses, but you must keep all of your receipts. This option can work if you have a number of expensive or bulky items you can move by yourself.

Who Pays for a Military Move?

Several allowances help cover the cost of a PCS move. Rates change every year, so check current figures with the Defense Travel Management Office. Here are the main ones:
Dislocation Allowance (DLA) helps with miscellaneous moving costs that other reimbursement programs do not cover. It is usually a small amount of money paid once during a PCS move.
Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA) helps with overseas relocations. You can receive money to cover the cost of rent and modify an old home for security reasons.
Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) covers the cost of housing and meals while you are waiting for permanent lodging. TLA may not cover all of your expenses, especially if you have children.
Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) is paid once you arrive at your new duty station. It pays a set rate for every mile you drive, per vehicle, and DTMO publishes the current rate each year.
Per Diem Allowance covers the cost of meals and lodging as you travel to your duty station. If you are spending multiple days on the road and need to stay in a hotel and buy food, you can cover your bills with this allowance.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) covers lodging and meals while you are living in a temporary house. It is paid up to a daily cap set by DTMO.
Advance Basic Pay is an interest-free loan that the government can give you during PCS moves. Your collateral is your military salary, and you repay the loan back in 12 installments.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides money for off-base housing. Advance BAH lets you get money in advance to cover the cost of moving into a home.
Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) provides money for service members who move overseas. Advance OHA can cover the expenses your BAH does not cover.

What Will SouthBay Military Movers Not Pack?

Southbay military movers cannot pack hazardous materials, including cleaning supplies, glue, and paint. They also cannot pack building materials, vehicles, and live animals. If you sell household goods, PCS movers cannot relocate them. They can move guns, but they will not move ammunition, so unload your firearms before moving day. Some movers do not pack live plants, batteries, food, or bulky items. Talk to your company so you know what you can bring with you. Our guide on how much you can pack for a military move covers weight limits and what counts toward them.

Moving With Different Branches of the Military

Army Moves

The Army provides ground forces, and it’s the oldest and largest branch of the military. Our Central California Army movers can help any Army member move to any installation in the state.

Navy Moves

The Navy is the United States’s forward-deployed force, running operations on, above, and below the water. If you’re engaging in a Central California Navy move to the coast or interior of California, we can help.

Marines Moves

The Marine Corps is America’s amphibious branch, providing support to the Army and Navy. Whatever base you are moving to, our Central California Marines movers can ship your items out in no time

Air Force Moves

The Air Force delivers forces anywhere in the world within a few hours. You need to be flexible and fast to serve in the Air Force, and our Central California Air Force movers can relocate you within a few days.

Coast Guard Moves

The Coast Guard helps law enforcement, environmental protection agencies, and the Navy. We can carry out a Central California Coast Guard move that brings you to a base on the coast or inside the state.

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Military Moving Resources

If you need a little help during your relocation, feel free to use these resources:
  • Military OneSource’s moving guide walks you through shipping household goods on PCS orders, from setting up your move to filing claims.
  • You can use the military’s official installation directory to look up your new base and how to set up your life there.
  • HOMES.mil helps service members find housing, including in off-base situations.
  • PCSmyPOV lets you schedule when you drop off and pick up your personal vehicle as part of a PCS move.
  • Plan My Move builds a custom moving checklist and timeline based on your orders.
  • The Defense Travel Management Office publishes current PCS allowances, including MALT, per diem, and dislocation allowance.
  • CalVet, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, helps veterans settling in California with state benefits and home loans.

Southbay Moving Is Your Best Military Mover.

Southbay Moving has more than 30 years of experience in military moves. Our team of 35 professionally trained employees helps more than 1,200 customers every year, including hundreds of active service members and veterans.

Our Central California military moving company is a bonded, licensed, and insured organization. A dedicated moving coordinator can help you plan and arrange your move and supervise the Central California military movers. We provide dedicated moving vans at affordable flat rates. If you need items stored, you can order long-term or short-term Central California storage services at our military-approved warehouse, and our crews can handle full packing so your household goods are ready on pickup day.

Moving Resources For California’s Military Service Men and Women

Our Military Moving Process

Military Relocation Process

Military Moving Forms

Military Moving FAQ

Can I hire Southbay Moving for my PPM (DITY) move?

Yes. In a PPM you arrange the move yourself, and that includes hiring a professional mover to do the heavy lifting. The government reimburses you based on the weight you move, so keep your weight tickets and receipts. Our DITY move calculator guide shows how the reimbursement is figured.

Yes. You need an empty and a full weight ticket from a certified scale for each vehicle you use. Our guide to military move weigh stations explains where to go and what to bring.

We are based in Salinas, close to the Presidio of Monterey, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Coast Guard Station Monterey. We also cover Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Roberts, and NAS Lemoore, and we move service members to and from bases anywhere in California through our intrastate and long-distance moving services.

Yes. Report dates and housing rarely line up perfectly, so we offer short- and long-term storage at our Central California warehouse until your new home is ready.

Yes. Retiring service members get one final government-funded move, with a limited window to use it. Our retirement move entitlements guide covers how long you have and what is covered, and we can plan the move around your timeline.

For shipments the military arranged, you file the claim through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) with the moving company assigned to your shipment. Our guide on filing a DPS military move claim walks through the steps and deadlines.

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