Travel and Transportation Expenses

An Authorized Certifying Officer for the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), requested a decision on the propriety of certifying for payment a reclaim voucher for travel expenses incurred incident to an employee's appointment to a manpower shortage position within ERDA. The employee may not be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in traveling to his first duty station by commercially rented automobile since the travel order limited reimbursable travel expenses to the cost of travel by a common carrier. The employee traveling to his new duty station is entitled to reimbursement for the transportation of his household effects at the commuted rate.