B-165986, MAR. 11, 1969

B-165986, MAR. 11, 1969

TO MR. HAROLD J. FARRALL:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 17, 1968, AND THE VOUCHER ENCLOSED THEREWITH, CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES CLAIMED BY MR. FRANK A. HUNTER IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHANGE OF HIS OFFICIAL STATION FROM MEREDITH, COLORADO, TO SALIDA, COLORADO, UNDER TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION NO. FAP-33-69 DATED NOVEMBER 12, 1968.

YOUR OFFICE QUESTIONS THE NATURE OF THE EVIDENCE AND THE WEIGHT OF PERSONAL EFFECTS (1,680 POUNDS) WHICH HE CLAIMS TO HAVE TRANSPORTED IN HIS PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE; 640 POUNDS ON NOVEMBER 17, 1968, AND 1,040 POUNDS ON DECEMBER 1, 1968. WE ARE NOT INCLINED TO QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE WHICH YOU MENTION; BUT ON THE VOUCHER WE DO QUESTION THE ITEMS "10,660 LBS.' AND "3,080 LBS.' AS INDICATED BELOW.

IN OUR VIEW, THE EVIDENCE OF TRANSPORTATION OF THE WEIGHTS INVOLVED INDICATES THAT A NET WEIGHT OF ONLY 7,740 POUNDS IS ALLOWABLE, COMPUTED AS FOLLOWS:

11/17/68 PERSONAL CAR LOADED 5500

PERSONAL CAR WEIGHT 4860

---- 640

11/17/68 U-HAUL TRUCK LOADED 11,880

U-HAUL TRUCK EMPTY 7,800

------ 4,080

12/1/68 PERSONAL CAR LOADED 5840

PERSONAL CAR WEIGHT 4860 (*)

---- 980

12/5/68 LOADED PICK-UP TRUCK 5780

TARE OF PICK-UP TRUCK 3740

---- 2,040

TOTAL ALLOWABLE NET WEIGHT 7,740

(*) GAS TANK NOT FULL, 60 POUNDS ADDED TO CAR WEIGHT.

REGARDING THE COMMUTED RATES WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO TRANSPORTATION OF THE ALLOWABLE NET WEIGHT, THE RULE STATED IN OUR DECISIONS B-165676 DATED JANUARY 6, 1969, AND B-162065 DATED AUGUST 10, 1967, IS TO THE EFFECT THAT WHERE MORE THAN ONE SHIPMENT AND A CHANGE OF RATE ARE INVOLVED (WITHIN THE TIME RESTRICTION) THE MAXIMUM ALLOWANCE CONSTRUCTIVELY UNDER SECTION 6.3 OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A 56, REVISED, WOULD BE THE COST OF TRANSPORTING THE PROPERTY IN ONE LOT UNDER THE MOST FAVORABLE RATE. SEE THE METHOD OF COMPUTATION DESCRIBED IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE DECISION B-162065. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWABLE FOR 7,740 POUNDS AT THE RATE OF $6.33 PER HUNDREDWEIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN $489.94, HAD THE GOODS BEEN SHIPPED IN ONE LOT. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE 4,720 POUNDS X $6.15 PER HUNDREDWEIGHT, OR $290.28, PLUS 3,020 POUNDS X $6.33 PER HUNDREDWEIGHT, OR $191.17, TOTALS $481.45. ALSO, THE SURCHARGE FOR THE TOTAL WEIGHT ALLOWABLE WOULD BE $6.00 INSTEAD OF THE $8.25 AS CLAIMED.

THE FOREGOING ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS POSED IN YOUR LETTER. THEREFORE, THE ITEMS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS ON THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE CERTIFIED ONLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $481.45 PLUS $6.00 SURCHARGE AS INDICATED ABOVE. WE FIND NO QUESTION REGARDING THE TRAVEL MILEAGE AND SUBSISTENCE, TEMPORARY QUARTERS AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES ALLOWANCES AS STATED ON THE VOUCHER WHICH APPEAR TO CONFORM WITH THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION AND CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED.