Inspectors ask movers’ help Published Nov. 12, 2009 By Karen Woods 72nd Logistics Readiness Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Traffic Management Office's Personal Property Section at Tinker is responsible for coordinating the movement of household goods for members of all branches of service. The process does not stop after the member has received the counseling session and completed the application for shipment or storage. The job of the quality control inspector is just beginning. There are many challenges that an inspector faces when a shipment appears on their daily job lineup. First, they must plan out a daily route of stops, using government resources in the most cost-efficient manner, conserving time and expense. Daily, each inspector could be assigned up to 20 inspections and are responsible for an area that spans nine Oklahoma counties. An inspector may not be able to physically be at every residence, and in some situations, a phone survey may apply. After the inspector has finalized their daily schedule of inspection stops, the fun begins. Each inspector is on the road all day, every day. In the rain, sleet and snow and searing Oklahoma heat. Personal property shipments do not stop. In the event of inclement weather, an inspector has the important task of ensuring that agents or carriers are utilizing tarps to protect the personal property shipments at all times. Some of the hurdles that an inspector encounters at these stops are time-consuming and most are preventable. The Tinker TMO inspectors want to share some of those hurdles and help educate members so they are better prepared when the packers and carriers show up at a residence to begin the move process. Here are a few tips to prevent the most common hurdles: Members or releasing agents must be at the residence at all times on scheduled pack and pick up dates between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or members can be charged waiting time by the carrier. If a member has more than one shipment, the member must ensure that each shipment is separated. Each shipment could be awarded to separate companies. Ensure that the residence is not cluttered or dirty and all property is free of any soil or pest infestation. In this instance, a move can be discontinued immediately. When this happens, a member will have to remedy the issue then go through the process of rebooking. If rebooking is not possible, a member may have to personally secure movement of the personal property. After a shipment has been confirmed, a date change may only be requested with a letter from their commander, stating that the change is mission essential. A member may only cancel a shipment without penalty as long as 24-hours notice has been received through the TMO office. Without this 24-hour notice, a member can be charged an attempted pack or pick up fee. If a member has property in a storage facility or has pre-packed items, it is the members' responsible for the un-stacking and unpacking of these items. Pets must be secured at all times during the pre-move survey, pack and pickup of property. Begin the move on a good note, ensure packers are comfortable. If it's cold outside, turn on the heat and if it is hot, turn on the air conditioning. It is a team relationship. Members are responsible for disconnecting all water hookups and electronics, removing items from attics or crawlspaces and disassembling outdoor items and gym and exercise equipment. Be prepared for all unaccompanied baggage shipments, have a copy of orders ready to place inside each tri-wall carton packed by carrier or ensure that releasing agents are provided these orders. Members need to share all information provided to them in the counseling session with their releasing or receiving agents. If a member does not agree with how the agent has described conditions of property on the inventory sheet, the member should annotate disagreement in the remarks section. Once the personal property has been picked up by the carrier, the transit time is determined off of the weight and distance it must travel. Carriers are issued a required delivery date. If the carrier misses that RDD, then they are penalized. However, the RDD does not establish the actual delivery date. A shipment can arrive at destination on or before the actual RDD. For any problems that may arise, members are encouraged to call the TMO office QA section at 739-5727 and an inspector will respond immediately. Last, but not least, the TMO inspectors are in a position to provide service to everyone involved in the moving process: the members, agents and carriers, by ensuring that all responsibilities are met according to DOD regulations. Don't be a member with a shipment delay. Be educated and be prepared. Help us in ensuring that the Tinker TMO inspectors are not "inspecting the unexpected" on your next shipment. For more information on personal property shipments, contact the TMO Customer Service area at 739-3059.