Relocation Options for 2023 Active Posting Season (APS) Released

Early relocation, storage entitlements, and personal contracts are among the options Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members will have this posting season amid challenges Canadian relocation companies continue to face post-pandemic.

According to the CAF, in the last two years, “challenges to the Canadian relocation industry have infrequently resumed in relocating CAF members being denied service from the CAF’s contracted moving company.”

In a new CANFORGEN, the CAF lays out options for members and their families if faced with a situation where the CAF’s contracted moving company denies them service. However, the CAF also assures its members that the anticipation for this situation is lower this year.

All members are advised, at the start, to submit their DND 4443 to their local Base Traffic Movement Coordinator (MC), which will specify their requested loading date as soon as possible after receiving posting instructions. The reply of the moving company after receiving this request will determine the course of action members are allowed to take in various circumstances.

Early Move

If the Movement Coordinator (M/C) informs them that the moving company is unavailable for their dates, members are instructed to consider an earlier move.

If a CAF member chooses an early relocation date, they are entitled to interim lodgings, meals and miscellaneous from their core benefits. Additionally, they’ll be entitled to extra interim lodging, meals and miscellaneous from the date of their pack and clean to their original relocation date.

“For example, a member submits a relocation date for July 18, 2023: the MC informs the member that the moving company can only accommodate a relocation date of July 12. The member who accepts this earlier relocation date will receive interim lodging meals and miscellaneous benefits IAW CAFRD Article 5.04 (1) (A) for July 11-13 and interim lodging and meals and miscellaneous benefits IAW CAFRD Article 5.04 (3) for the period of July 14-18,” states CANFORGEN 07/23.

Procedure for Other Options

If an early move is not a viable option for a CAF member, then other options are available. However, before exploring these alternatives, the member will be required to receive a copy of their Furniture and Effects Automated Management System (FEAMS) cost estimate.

“This is an estimate of how much it would have cost the CAF to move the member’s household goods and effects from origin to destination under the CAF’s removal services contract. The FEAMS cost estimate will serve as the reimbursable limit to the member for personally arranging the movement of their household goods and effects from origin to destination,” further adds the CANFORGEN.

Finding a Moving Company Personally

One of the options the CAF has laid out for its members is for them to obtain a professional mover on their own accord. A door-to-door move is “strongly encouraged,” however, in this situation, members can be allowed up to ten days of storage in transit benefits. Any additional period of storage requires stringent prior approval.

The FEAMS Estimate Cost is required here to receive reimbursement from BGRS alongside an official confirmation from the MC that the contracted mover could not complete the member’s relocation. Therefore, a member is encouraged to obtain at minimum three quotes for service, when possible, before selecting a moving company so that their reimbursement falls within their limits.

If a member’s expense exceeds the FEAMS Estimate Cost, they will be required to submit an adjudication request to DCBA alongside proofs and reasons for additional costs.

Conducting a Self Move

Members who have a smaller quantity of belongings can opt for a self-move by renting a moving trailer. The CAF warns, however, that any damages incurred to belongings will be the member’s responsibility.

With a self-move, a door-to-door move is also strongly encouraged. However, members can be allowed up to ten days of storage in transit benefits. Any additional period of storage requires stringent prior approval.

As with all options, the FEAMS Estimate Cost is required, alongside the receipt of rental and official confirmation from the MC that the contracted mover could not complete the member’s relocation.

If a member’s expense exceeds the FEAMS Estimate Cost, they will be required to submit an adjudication request to DCBA alongside proofs and reasons for additional costs.

Use of Local Storage Facility

The third option provided to members is, if they are given insufficient notice that they cannot be provided with a move by the contracted mover, they can choose to move their household goods and effects to a local storage facility. The CAF defines insufficient notice as a period of five days or less for a move within Canada and ten days or less for a move abroad.

The member will then be required to find a local storage unit on their own and then provide all supporting documentation about the contract to the MC. The member will also be required to submit an adjudication request to DCBA to receive a refund for the move to the local storage unit.

CAF members choosing this option will not be entitled to transportation or travelling expenses to return to the local storage unit to take part in the move by the CAF’s moving company at a later date. Therefore, they will be required to provide all the information about the storage unit to their MC so that the CAF can conduct the move with their contracted mover.

Other Relevant Matters

The CANFORGEN also highlighted other important points for members to keep in mind during their move, including stressing that the three options for the move cannot be combined.

The notice also touches on moving cars, addressing issues on obtaining a rental vehicle during the move, and addressing additional travel and transportation expenses because of an illness or commercial transportation delays.

The CAF Members are also reminded that the first point of contact is always the MC for all matters regarding their household goods and effects. BGRS is to be contacted for all other relocation matters.

A list of local CAF Relocation coordinators is located here. (Link may only work on the DWAN)