Can You Use a Moving Container or Rental Truck for a PPM?
Here’s the quick answer: Yes, you can use a moving container or a rental truck for a PPM. DIY options like these can cost about 30% less than full-service movers, according to moveBuddha pricing data. This guide compares containers and trucks for a personally procured move (PPM), explains who gets your weight tickets, and lists which moving truck and container companies, including Budget, Penske, PODS, and U-Pack, offer military discounts.
New to PPMs? Start with our military PPM move guide, or compare the best moving container companies and best rental trucks.
Here’s how a moving container and a rental truck compare for a PPM:
| Moving container | Rental truck | |
|---|---|---|
| Who drives | The container company | You |
| Who loads and unloads | You, or a labor-only crew you hire | You, or a labor-only crew you hire |
| Who gets your weight tickets | The container company | You, at a certified public scale |
| Storage | Often built in, such as 30 days included with PODS | Extra rental days or a separate storage unit |
| Delivery timing | Follows the company’s transit time | Your own schedule, with the most predictable delivery date |
| Best for | Long-distance moves, or anyone who doesn’t want to drive a truck | Shorter moves and members who want the biggest profit |
If you’d rather hire professionals for some of the job, start with movers that have a proven track record:
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Can you use a moving container or rental truck for a PPM?
Yes. The Military OneSource PPM fact sheet lists renting portable moving and storage containers and renting trucks or trailers as two of the ways to do a PPM (formerly called a DITY move). You can use either one for a full PPM or for a partial PPM move, where a government-arranged mover ships the rest of your household goods.
The usual permanent change of station (PCS) rules still apply. You need PCS orders and approval from your transportation office before you rent anything. The Personal Property Activity (PPA) counts rental trucks and trailers, moving equipment rentals, fuel, tolls, and weight tickets as operating expenses. Those expenses lower the taxable part of your payment. Keep the rental agreement and every receipt for your claim.
Doing a DIY PPM?
Truck and container rentals both count as claimable PPM expenses.
Should you use a moving container or a rental truck for a PPM?
Use a rental truck if you want the biggest profit and don’t mind driving. A rental truck gives you the most predictable delivery date because you control the move.
Use a moving container if the move is long, you don’t want to drive a truck across the country, or you need storage between homes. Moving containers offer the next-best guaranteed delivery window after rental trucks, according to moveBuddha’s moving data.
- Choose a rental truck when: The move is short, you have help to load, and you want to keep the most money from your payment. You’ll pay for fuel and extra rental days, but those count as operating expenses too.
- Choose a moving container when: You need several days to pack, your spouse is moving solo, or you’d rather fly or drive your own car to your new duty station. The container company handles the driving and gets your weight tickets.
- Mix the two: You can combine methods on one PPM, such as a container for furniture and your own car for essentials, as long as every vehicle and container has its own weight tickets.
The bottom line: A rental truck usually leaves the most money from your payment, while a moving container trades a little of that profit for no driving and built-in storage.
Pro tip: Size your truck before you book. A truck that’s too small means a second trip and a second set of weight tickets. Check our moving truck size guide first.
Not sure which costs less for your route? Our moving cost calculator runs on 1,000+ live price points collected every month, so you can check real truck and container prices against your counselor’s estimate:
How do weight tickets work with a moving container or rental truck?
You need a certified empty and a certified full weight ticket for every container or truck you use, with a separate set for each trip. The net weight between the two tickets sets your PPM payment. The PPA says the container company is responsible for your empty and full tickets, while truck renters weigh the truck themselves:
- PODS: PODS gets PPM weight tickets for you on request. Ask through PODS Customer Care when you book.
- U-Pack: U-Pack gets your weight tickets for a $150 fee if you request them when you reserve.
- U-Box: Tell U-Haul in advance so it can get weight tickets for your U-Box at your origin.
- 1-800-PACK-RAT: 1-800-PACK-RAT mails or emails your weight tickets after your move is complete.
- Rental truck: Weigh the truck empty at a certified public scale, load it, then weigh it full without you or your passengers on board. If you’re towing your car, unhook it before each weigh-in. A truck stop scale like CAT Scale charges about $15 per weigh, and the fee counts as an operating expense. Penske’s military page links to a certified public scale locator to help you find one.
Don’t assume the tickets will show up on their own. Service members in military moving groups report container moves where weight tickets were never delivered, so get the company’s promise in writing when you book and ask for copies before your container is delivered. If a ticket is lost, you’ll need to submit a written justification, such as an accident report, with your claim, which can delay your payment.
Want the weight tickets handled for you? PODS drives your container and gets your tickets on request:
rating
4.8 / 5
Which moving truck and container companies offer military discounts?
Budget, Penske, PODS, U-Pack, and 1-800-PACK-RAT all offer military discounts on truck or container rentals. U-Haul doesn’t offer a percentage-off military discount, but it gives service members a free month of storage at their destination. Here’s what each company offers:
- Budget Truck Rental: Budget takes 20% off time and mileage charges for U.S. military personnel traveling with orders. Book online at least 24 hours ahead with code USMIO.
- Penske Truck Rental: Penske gives active-duty and veteran military 15% off with code MILITARY, and one-way rentals include unlimited miles. Bring a military ID or proof of veteran status to pickup.
- PODS: PODS takes up to 10% off new orders for active-duty and inactive service members with code SERV10. Through the military exchange program, PODS advertises up to 25% off with code EXCH, and USAA members can save up to 15% through USAA Perks. Compare the offers when you book, since they can’t be combined.
- U-Pack: U-Pack takes $100 off for active-duty military with code DITY10, and veterans get $50 off with code MIL50.
- 1-800-PACK-RAT: 1-800-PACK-RAT takes 10% off for active-duty and retired military with code MILITARY10.
- UNITS: UNITS offers a military discount. Call for current terms in your area.
- U-Haul: U-Haul doesn’t offer a percentage-off military discount. It gives all service members one month of free storage at their destination with a one-way truck or trailer rental.
Discounts and codes change often, and most can’t be combined with other offers, so confirm the current deal when you book. If you’re moving in summer, book early. One-way trucks near large bases can sell out from May through August, the peak PCS season.
Budget is our top pick for a PPM truck rental. Compare rates for your move:
rating
4.3 / 5
How does a military discount change your PPM payment?
A military discount doesn’t change your PPM payment, but it raises your profit. You’re paid 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) for the weight you move, no matter what you spend. Every dollar that you save on the rental stays with you, minus taxes.
For example, if your truck rental costs $2,000, a 20% discount saves you $400. Your payment stays the same, so your profit goes up by $400. The PPA counts PPM profit as taxable income reported on a W-2, so keep every receipt to lower the taxable amount.
A military discount doesn’t raise your PPM payment, but it lowers your costs, and every dollar you save is yours to keep.
See how much a PPM pays for worked examples at different moving costs.
Your transportation office estimates your payment at counseling. moveBuddha’s calculator weighs distance, home size, move date, and service level together, so you can see whether a truck or container leaves you a profit before you book:
Can you hire labor-only help with a container or truck for a PPM?
Yes. Hired labor is an authorized PPM expense, so you can rent a container or truck and hire a crew just to load and unload. Labor-only crews don’t weigh anything, so you’ll still get your tickets from the container company or a certified scale.
Book that help before moving day. Hassan, who shared his Navy PCS through moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project, moved about 4,500 pounds in a moving container and paid $590 for unloading help he hadn’t planned for.
HireAHelper books local crews by the hour for loading and unloading, at one end of your move or both, and gives you an itemized receipt for your PPM claim:
rating
4.5 / 5
Rather hand off the whole job? You can also hire movers for a PPM. Compare two of moveBuddha’s top-rated Certified movers, both of which handle PPM moves:
Why moveBuddha:
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get up to $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
Can you store a moving container during a PPM?
Yes. Service members are authorized up to 90 days of temporary storage on a PPM, as long as it doesn’t exceed the GCC. That includes extending a truck, trailer, or container rental, or using a self-storage facility. You’ll need weight tickets, storage contracts, and receipts to claim it. Storage is reimbursed separately, not as an operating expense, and DFAS leaves it off its operating expense list.
Containers make this easier. PODS includes your first 30 days of storage, at your home or a PODS Storage Center. You can rent month to month after that. If you rent a one-way U-Haul truck or trailer, U-Haul gives service members one free month of storage at the destination.
Comparing containers for a long-distance PPM? U-Pack handles the driving and can get your weight tickets when you request them at booking:
rating
5 / 5
More about military PPM moves
- Military PPM move guide: Learn how a PPM works, how much it pays, and how to file your claim.
- Hire movers for a PPM: Find out how to hire and vet movers for your PPM, from full-service crews to labor-only help.
- Partial PPM move: See when moving part of your things yourself beats a full PPM or a government-arranged move.
- How much a PPM pays: See how to calculate your PPM payment, what lowers it, and what you keep after taxes.
FAQ
Can you use PODS for a PPM?
Yes, you can use PODS for a PPM. Portable moving containers are an approved PPM method, and PODS gets your PPM weight tickets for you on request. PODS also takes up to 10% off for service members with code SERV10.
Does U-Haul offer a military discount?
No, U-Haul doesn’t offer a percentage-off military discount. It gives all service members one month of free storage at their destination with a one-way truck or trailer rental.
Does Budget Truck Rental offer a military discount?
Yes, Budget Truck Rental offers a military discount of 20% off time and mileage charges for U.S. military personnel traveling with orders. Book online at least 24 hours ahead with code USMIO.
Do you need weight tickets with a moving container?
Yes, you need weight tickets with a moving container. You need a certified empty and full weight ticket for every container, and the container company is responsible for providing them, so ask when you book.
Is a moving container or rental truck cheaper for a PPM?
A rental truck is usually cheaper for a PPM, since you’re doing the driving. A moving container costs more but saves you the drive and often includes storage, so compare quotes with your estimated payment before you book.
Does a military discount increase your PPM payment?
No, a military discount doesn’t increase your PPM payment. You’re paid 100% of the GCC for the weight you move, so the discount lowers your costs and raises the profit you keep.
Can you get reimbursed for container storage on a PPM?
Yes, you can get reimbursed for container storage on a PPM. Service members are authorized up to 90 days of temporary storage, not to exceed the GCC, with weight tickets, storage contracts, and receipts.
Ready to price your PPM? Compare truck, container, and mover costs for your route before you book:
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