Request for Payment Under Commuted-Rate System for Transport

A Government employee requested reconsideration of a decision which determined that insufficient documentation had been presented to support payment, under the commuted rate system, for the transportation of household goods incident to a permanent change of duty station. With his request for payment at the commuted rate based upon a constructive weight, the employee submitted an estimate of the weight of the goods made by a commercial carrier shortly before his move, and a list of the items shipped with measurements and extended weight. The applicable Federal Travel Regulation provides that if no adequate scale is available, a constructive weight based on 7 pounds per cubic foot of properly loaded van space, may be used. However, in such instances the employee should obtain a statement from the carrier showing the amount of properly loaded van space required for the shipment. It was held that although the evidence submitted was sufficient to permit reimbursement of the actual expenses incurred in moving the household goods himself, it did not support payment at the commuted rate since it did not provide evidence of properly loaded van space. Accordingly, the prior decision was affirmed.