B-170005, SEP. 24, 1970

B-170005, SEP. 24, 1970

TRANSPORTATION - HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS - COMMUTED RATE EMPLOYEE WHO MOVED HER HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN EXCESS OF 11,000 POUNDS PIECEMEAL BY TRUCK FROM OLD TO NEW STATION IN SEVERAL TRIPS IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT ON COMMUTED RATE BASIS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME, BUT MAY NOT BE ALLOWED ANY AMOUNT FOR SHIPMENT OF PORTION OF EFFECTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCATION AND FROM STORAGE.

TO MR. JOHN H. BRANSBY:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 3, 1970, YOUR REFERENCE NABCT-F, ACCOMPANIED BY A TRAVEL VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $727.60, IN WHICH YOU REQUEST OUR ADVANCE DECISION CONCERNING MOVEMENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF MRS. GENEVIEVE Y. SCHAFFER, AN ATTORNEY-ADVISOR, TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT MRS. SCHAFFER WAS TRANSFERRED FOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION FROM PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, TO HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA, ON MAY 10, 1968. THE TRAVEL ORDER ALSO AUTHORIZED SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM BELPRE, OHIO (ACROSS THE RIVER FROM PARKERSBURG), TO HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA, NOT IN EXCESS OF 11,000 POUNDS NET WEIGHT, AS WELL AS TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS NOT TO EXCEED 60 DAYS.

MRS. SCHAFFER STATES AND THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS HER STATEMENT THAT SHE HAD THE CURRY TRANSFER COMPANY MOVE 3,300 POUNDS OF HER HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO, TO PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, WHICH WERE PLACED IN STORAGE. THE RECORD ALSO CONTAINS A MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CALL FROM CENTRE CARRIERS (ALLIED VAN LINES) AT 2500 CLYDE AVENUE, STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA, TO MRS. SCHAFFER IN WHICH THE CARRIER SUPPLIED AN ESTIMATE OF COSTS FOR THE TRANSFER OF 11,000 POUNDS FROM PARKERSBURG TO HUNTINGDON.

IT APPEARS THAT MRS. SCHAFFER WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A CARRIER AND DECIDED TO MOVE HER OWN HOUSEHOLD GOODS PIECEMEAL BY TRUCK WHICH REQUIRED SEVERAL TRIPS FROM BELPRE, OHIO, TO HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHE HAS SUPPLIED SCALE RECEIPTS FOR HER TRUCK WHEN LOADED AND UNLOADED WHICH INDICATE A NET LOAD OF 1,290 POUNDS. SHE STATES THAT SHE MADE 10 SUCH TRIPS BETWEEN BELPRE, OHIO, AND HUNTINGDON IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR. ON THAT BASIS THE WEIGHT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS WHICH SHE TRUCKED FROM BELPRE, OHIO (NEAR PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA), TO HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA, EXCEEDED THE 11,000-POUND MAXIMUM LIMITATION FOR WHICH SHE IS CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENT.

SECTION 6.3 OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED OCTOBER 12, 1966, PROVIDES FOR THE SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM MORE THAN ONE POINT AS LONG AS THE TOTAL AMOUNT CLAIMED FOR REIMBURSEMENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE COST OF SHIPMENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IN ONE LOT BY THE MOST ECONOMICAL ROUTE FROM THE OLD DUTY STATION TO THE NEW DUTY STATION.

WE BELIEVE THE RECORD IS SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE SHIPMENT OF MRS. SCHAFFER'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM BELPRE IN EXCESS OF 11,000 POUNDS. THEREFORE, MRS. SCHAFFER IS ENTITLED TO THE COMMUTED RATE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF HER HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM BELPRE, OHIO, TO HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION TABLES IN EFFECT AT THE TIME. UNDER OUR DECISIONS B-162065, AUGUST 10, 1967, AND B- 165986, MAY 13, 1969, COPIES HEREWITH, THE AMOUNT PAYABLE TO MRS. SCHAFFER WOULD BE 11,000 POUNDS TIMES $7.79 PER HUNDREDWEIGHT, $856.90, PLUS A SURCHARGE OF 75 CENTS PER 1,000 POUNDS ($8.25) OR A TOTAL OF $865.15. THIS IS SO BECAUSE THE GOODS WERE TRUCKED (ONE TRUCKLOAD EQUAL TO 1,290 POUNDS NET) DURING PERIODS WHEN DIFFERENT COMMUTED RATES WERE IN EFFECT.

WE DO NOT FIND ANY BASIS FOR ALLOWANCE OF ANY AMOUNT FOR SHIPMENT OF THAT PORTION OF THE EFFECTS FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO, TO PARKERSBURG OR FOR THE STORAGE THEREOF.

THE VOUCHER IS RETURNED HEREWITH FOR PAYMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE.