The PPM Claim Packet: Paperwork and Weight Tickets
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At a glance
DFAS lists seven documents for a PPM claim, from the signed DD 1351-2 to a POV's vehicle registration. This page works through them in DFAS's own order, adds the FMR's no-scale-within-10-miles fallback, and links to the expense lists and weight allowance instead of repeating them.
- Checked
- September 21, 2026
- Next check
- December 19, 2026
- Work it out
- PPM (DITY) move calculator Open the PPM (DITY) move calculator
On this page
DFAS lists seven documents for a Personally Procured Move (PPM) claim. This page works through that list in DFAS's own order, from the DD 1351-2 your reviewing official signs to the vehicle registration a POV or trailer move needs, and adds the DoD Financial Management Regulation's fallback for a shipment with no scale nearby. The DITY (PPM) move calculator works out what the move pays once your expenses and withholding are figured in; the PCS weight allowance sets the ceiling behind the weight tickets below.
The claim packet, in DFAS's order
- DD Form 1351-2. DFAS wants it "Completed and signed by Reviewing official".
- PCS travel orders, the orders that authorized the move.
- DD Form 2278. DFAS's checklist says it's "Calculated by the Transportation Office", and the FMR gives its full name: "DoD (DD) Form 2278, Application for Personally Procured Move (PPM) and Counseling Checklist."
- Certified weight tickets: "Copies of Certified Weight tickets including Gross (full) weight and one for Tare (empty) weight". The FMR states the same requirement independently: "Certified weight tickets (original or copy) for gross and empty weights, or a record of the approved constructive weight by the TO". The FMR is blunt about why this one matters: "No PPM monetary allowance claim can be computed without valid weight tickets or an approved constructive weight by the TO."
- The Operating Expense (OPE) worksheet, needed "if attempting to reduce your taxable income" — in other words, only if you're claiming expenses against the incentive.
- A copy of your paid rental agreement.
- Vehicle registration, "when utilizing POV and/or boat/trailer move" — so this one applies only to that kind of move.
No scale within 10 miles
That weight-ticket requirement assumes a certified scale is reachable. It usually is, but the same FMR chapter's rules for a personally-procured shipment claimed as an actual expense — rather than the standard PPM monetary allowance, and generally the civilian-employee track, though Service members use it in the narrow cases the JTR allows — cover the case where one isn't. For a van-carrier shipment billed by cubic measure instead of weight, the carrier can certify it a different way: "No scale within 10 miles. Shipment used _____ cubic feet of properly loaded van". That certificate stands in for a certified weight ticket only in that specific circumstance; a shipment that can reach a scale still needs one.
The expense lists live on the DITY calculator
Whether the OPE worksheet actually lowers your taxable incentive depends on which expenses DFAS treats as authorized. That table, and a calculator that applies it to your own numbers, are on the DITY (PPM) move calculator; this page doesn't repeat DFAS's list, so go there for the full picture and to see what your own receipts come out to after tax.
Your weight allowance sets the ceiling
The DD 2278 and the weight tickets both key off your authorized weight allowance, which depends on your pay grade and whether dependents are moving with you. Check the PCS weight allowance tool for your own figure, along with the separate pro gear and gun safe allowances that don't count against it.
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