[Appeal of Determination of Indebtedness for Excess Weight of Household Goods]

An Army employee appealed the Claims Group determination that he was liable for the excess weight of household goods shipped incident to his transfer. When the employee was transferred from Europe to the United States, he was authorized to ship 11,000 pounds of household goods, the maximum that may be shipped at Government expense. The employee also took additional household goods out of storage in the United States and shipped them to his new duty station. The combined net weight of the household goods transported under the Government bills of lading totaled 14,280 pounds, and the claimant was billed for transportation charges attributable to the weight by which his household goods shipment exceeded the statutory maximum. The Army and the Claims Group denied a 15-percent allowance on the larger shipment from Europe because the net weight of the shipment did not include the weight of bracing and padding. GAO stated that: (1) since the weight of padding and bracing was excluded from net weight, the employee was not entitled to 15 percent reduction under Joint Travel Regulations; (2) in the absence of weight certificates or other demonstrative evidence to the contrary, GAO must accept the agency determination that the weight stated on the Government bill of lading was correct; and (3) weights of previous shipments are not relevant to determining weight of disputed shipment since inclusions and exclusions of household goods may have occurred. Accordingly, the Claims Group decision was sustained.