B-154289, JUN. 18, 1964

B-154289, JUN. 18, 1964

TO MRS. VERA D. HUNTSMAN, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS:

THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 22, 1964, REQUESTING OUR DECISION AS TO THE PROPER AMOUNT ALLOWABLE FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS ON A VOUCHER IN FAVOR OF L. B. WOYTYCH, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

BY TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION NO. 679, DATED JANUARY 23, 1964, MR. WOYTYCH WAS AUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION OF HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS PURSUANT TO HIS OFFICIAL TRANSFER FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA, TO WASHINGTON, D.C. THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE STORED IN ATLANTA FOR A PERIOD OF 60 DAYS AND THEN TRANSPORTED BY BEKINS VAN LINES TO FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA.

THE BILL OF LADING SHOWS THAT THE EMPLOYEE ACTUALLY STORED AND SHIPPED 8,610 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, OR 1,610 POUNDS IN EXCESS OF THE AUTHORIZED WEIGHT. THE EMPLOYEE HAS CLAIMED REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM FOR $623 TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES AND $231 TEMPORARY STORAGE EXPENSES.

AMONG THE CHARGES ITEMIZED ON THE BILL OF LADING ARE THE FOLLOWING:

TABLE

PICK UP $129.15

STORAGE AT ORIGIN 86.10

WAREHOUSE HANDLING 43.05

YOU POINT OUT THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM CANNOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID FOR "STORAGE" BY THE EMPLOYEE. IN VIEW THEREOF, YOU ASK WHETHER THE PICK UP AND WAREHOUSE HANDLING CHARGES MAY PROPERLY BE CONSIDERED STORAGE CHARGES OR WHETHER SUCH ITEMS REPRESENT TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PICK UP CHARGE WHICH APPEARS ON THE BILL OF LADING REPRESENTS THE CARRIER'S CHARGE FOR TRANSPORTING THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM THE EMPLOYEE'S RESIDENCE IN ATLANTA TO THE STORAGE-IN-TRANSIT FACILITIES IN ATLANTA. THEREFORE, SUCH ITEM MAY PROPERLY BE CONSIDERED AS A DRAYAGE CHARGE INCIDENT TO THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF THE GOODS. SEE B- 153463, MARCH 3, 1964 (COPY ENCLOSED). ALSO, WE HAVE HELD THAT WAREHOUSE HANDLING CHARGES ARE INCIDENT TO THE STORAGE OF EFFECTS. B-150153, FEBRUARY 21, 1963.

THEREFORE, THE TWO ITEMS WHICH YOU HAVE QUESTIONED MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID FOR STORAGE BY THE EMPLOYEE. HOWEVER, SINCE THE EMPLOYEE WAS AUTHORIZED STORAGE OF ONLY 7,000 POUNDS, THAT PART OF EACH OF THE AMOUNTS PAID FOR PICK UP, WAREHOUSE HANDLING AND STORAGE WHICH IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EXCESS WEIGHT MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID FOR STORAGE. THE EMPLOYEE MAY BE ALLOWED REIMBURSEMENT AT THE COMMUTED RATE PROVIDED SUCH AMOUNT DOES NOT EXCEED THE ACTUAL COSTS WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN INCURRED FOR PICK UP, HANDLING AND STORAGE OF 7,000 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

ACTION ON THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, SHOULD BE TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREGOING.