Getting Weighed During Your PCS
A complete guide to weighing your vehicle for a Personally Procured Move (PPM)
If you're doing a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), the military reimburses you based on the net weight of the household goods you move yourself. Without certified weight tickets, you cannot be reimbursed. This is the single most important piece of paperwork in a PPM.
Paid by Weight
Reimbursement is calculated per pound moved
Required Proof
Certified tickets are mandatory for your claim
No Ticket, No Pay
Missing weight tickets forfeit your reimbursement
Weigh Empty First (Tare/Empty Weight)
Before you load anything, drive your vehicle (plus trailer, if using one) onto a certified scale with a full tank of gas and all the equipment you'll have during the move. This gives you your empty weight.
Load Your Household Goods
Load the truck, trailer, or vehicle with everything you're moving. Don't add or remove personal items between weighs. The difference between empty and full is what you're paid on.
Weigh Full (Gross/Loaded Weight)
Return to a certified scale with your loaded vehicle. This is your net weight, the number your reimbursement is based on.
Keep Every Ticket Safe
Each weigh produces a certified ticket. Keep originals dry and intact. Scan or photograph them immediately as a backup.
The military accepts certified scales - ones that meet state Weights and Measures standards. The easiest and most reliable option is the CAT Scale network, but there are several other options depending on your route and location.
CAT Scales
RecommendedFound at truck stops nationwide (Pilot, Flying J, Love's, TA, and others). Over 2,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Certified, guaranteed accurate, and universally accepted.
Typical cost: ~$14 first weigh, ~$4 re-weighs
Public Weigh Stations
State-operated commercial vehicle scales — some permit non-commercial weighs, but policies vary. Call ahead. These are free when available but cannot always accommodate passenger vehicles.
Moving Companies & Landfills
Many local moving companies, recycling centers, landfills, and feed stores have certified scales they'll let you use for a small fee. Great fallback in rural areas.
On-Base Scales
Some installations have certified scales at the Transportation Office or vehicle processing center. Check with your local TMO before relying on this — availability is inconsistent.
For a weight ticket to be accepted by your finance office, it must include all of the following:
Forgetting the empty weigh
Without an empty weight, there's no way to prove net weight. If you forget, weigh the vehicle empty after unloading at your destination. It's not ideal but is acceptable.
Different drivers, gas levels, or gear
Anything that changes vehicle weight outside the household goods will skew your net weight. Keep conditions identical between weighs.
Losing the original tickets
Photograph or scan every ticket the moment you receive it. Keep originals in a folder with all PCS paperwork, not loose in the truck.
Using an uncertified scale
Bathroom scales, farm scales, or anything without state certification will be rejected. Stick to CAT Scales or verified public scales.