Who's Involved in Your Move
The "TSP"
That's us! Central Van Lines is your "Transportation Service Provider" (TSP). That is, for the part of your relocation that was assigned to us. And that's where it gets tricky. That's why we created this page for you.
It's likely, especially if you are moving internationally, that you have more than one move allotted to you. For example, we may be handling your Unaccompanied Baggage to another country. But your primary Household Goods move is assigned to another TSP. And perhaps you are leaving some stuff behind in permanent storage. If so, you've got a 3rd move and, you guessed it, a 3rd TSP. Moving a vehicle too? Lucky you...you've got 4 TSPs! And on and on it may go.
The important thing to know is that your TSP is the primary contractor for that move, and they are ultimately responsible for everything. While it may make more sense and provide a quicker result to deal directly with one of the TSP's "Agents" (see below agent sections), at the end of the day, the TSP is in charge.
So how do you know if Central Van Lines is your TSP? You have many options:
It's likely, especially if you are moving internationally, that you have more than one move allotted to you. For example, we may be handling your Unaccompanied Baggage to another country. But your primary Household Goods move is assigned to another TSP. And perhaps you are leaving some stuff behind in permanent storage. If so, you've got a 3rd move and, you guessed it, a 3rd TSP. Moving a vehicle too? Lucky you...you've got 4 TSPs! And on and on it may go.
The important thing to know is that your TSP is the primary contractor for that move, and they are ultimately responsible for everything. While it may make more sense and provide a quicker result to deal directly with one of the TSP's "Agents" (see below agent sections), at the end of the day, the TSP is in charge.
So how do you know if Central Van Lines is your TSP? You have many options:
- Look at any email we've sent you. It will indicate which move we're in charge of.
- Look at your list of shipments in DPS.
- Look at the top left of your Government Bill of Lading (note that this document will not typically be provided to you until within a few days of packing).
- Ask your nearest military Transportation Office.
- Call us toll-free at 877-916-5519, or email us at [email protected]. We'll at least be able to tell you which of your shipments we are responsible for, and can assist in directing you to your Transportation Office for further assistance with other shipments.
The "Origin Agent"
You will probably refer to them as "the packers". The origin agent is hired by us to conduct a premove survey either by telephone or in-person*, to pack and inventory everything, and to either load it on a truck if it's a Code D shipment, or to containerize it if it is going overseas or domestically crated.
As described above in the TSP section, you may have just as many origin agents as TSPs. Some times though, your storage TSP, HHG TSP, and Baggage TSP may all use the same agent. In that case, you've got multiple TSPs, but only one agent. In another scenario, you may have the same TSP for all your moves, but that TSP may use different agents for your HHG and Baggage. In that case, you've got one TSP, but multiple agents.
*Whether a premove survey is conducted over the phone or in person depends upon the estimated weight of the shipment, the distance between your home and the agent's office, and how much lead time there is between the date the shipment was assigned to the TSP and the date you are moving.
As described above in the TSP section, you may have just as many origin agents as TSPs. Some times though, your storage TSP, HHG TSP, and Baggage TSP may all use the same agent. In that case, you've got multiple TSPs, but only one agent. In another scenario, you may have the same TSP for all your moves, but that TSP may use different agents for your HHG and Baggage. In that case, you've got one TSP, but multiple agents.
*Whether a premove survey is conducted over the phone or in person depends upon the estimated weight of the shipment, the distance between your home and the agent's office, and how much lead time there is between the date the shipment was assigned to the TSP and the date you are moving.
The "Driver"
If you have a Code D shipment, your property may be loaded directly onto a moving van. There will, not surprisingly, be someone driving that truck. That's your "driver". He or she will also perform the majority of the loading of that truck. You will want to establish a means of communication with the driver for status updates along the way, and to coordinate delivery. Always ensure that your TSP is in the loop though if you are working on a direct-to-residence delivery with the driver privately.
There is no "Driver" on an overseas or domestically crated move. Of course, your property eventually is transported aboard a truck, and that truck has a driver, but this is not someone that you will be interacting with.
There is no "Driver" on an overseas or domestically crated move. Of course, your property eventually is transported aboard a truck, and that truck has a driver, but this is not someone that you will be interacting with.
The "Destination Agent"
You will probably refer to them as "the delivery company". If you have a Code D shipment that goes directly to your residence without any temporary storage, then you won't have a destination agent. Your property will be delivered to you by the driver of the moving van onto which your property was loaded at origin. If your Code D shipment goes into temporary storage at destination, or if it is an international or domestically crated shipment, then your property will be delivered to you by a "Destination Agent". They will be a local moving & storage company just like your "Origin Agent". Only they are delivering your property, not packing it.
The Military Transportation Office (TO)
If you didn't self-counsel for your move on the DPS site, then you went to your local base Transportation Office (TO) for counselling. This is your local military resource to book your shipment, learn about your move, and they may also provide on-site Quality Assurance services during packing and loading. There will also be a local TO at your destination.
The Military (Joint) Personal Property Shipping Office ((J)PPSO)
Wondering why you are moving to or from MacDill Air Force Base, FL, but you keep seeing something about San Antonio, TX popping up in emails and on documents? That's because the military has been consolidating personal property shipment booking and back-office functions to "Personal Property Shipping Offices" (PPSOs) and "Joint Personal Property Shipping Offices" (JPPSOs). There do still remain some military installations that control not only the local counselling and QA functions, but also the booking and back-office functions. They are becoming more and more rare though as time goes on. Therefore, it is most likely that you will have an Origin TO, an Origin PPSO/JPSPO, a destination TO, and a destination PPSO/JPPSO.
Your local interaction will mostly be with with the local TO, but it is good for you to understand some of the inner workings of the military personal property apparatus. It may help answer some questions that arise along the way, or at least leave you confused about one less thing in this strenuous time of your life.
Your local interaction will mostly be with with the local TO, but it is good for you to understand some of the inner workings of the military personal property apparatus. It may help answer some questions that arise along the way, or at least leave you confused about one less thing in this strenuous time of your life.