[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 41, Volume 4]
[Revised as of July 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 41CFR302-8.2]

[Page 166-169]
 
           TITLE 41--PUBLIC CONTRACTS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
 
                   CHAPTER 302--RELOCATION ALLOWANCES
 
PART 302-8--TRANSPORTATION AND TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, PAPERS, AND EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 302-8.2  General limitations.

    (a) Maximum weight allowance. The maximum weight of household goods 
that may be transported or stored at Government expense is limited to 
18,000 pounds net weight for all employees. The total weight of 
household goods stored under Sec. 302-9.2 plus the weight of household 
goods transported under this part shall not exceed the maximum weight 
allowance prescribed in this paragraph.
    (b) Professional books, papers, and equipment. (1) For purposes of 
this part, the term ``professional books, papers, and equipment'' 
includes those professional or specialized items and other materials 
which are personally owned by the employee for use in the performance of 
official duties. The term does not include sports equipment or office, 
household, or shop fixtures and furniture; e.g., bookcases, file 
cabinets, desks, and racks of any kind even though used in connection 
with the professional books, papers, and equipment.
    (2) There is no statutory authority to transport personally owned 
professional books, papers, and equipment in addition to the maximum 
weight allowance (Sec. 302-8.2(a)) established by law for transportation 
of an employee's household goods and personal effects. However, there 
may be instances in which the weight of the professional books, papers, 
and equipment would cause an employee's household goods shipment to be 
in excess of the maximum weight allowance. In such instances, the 
personally owned professional books, papers, and equipment may be 
transported to the new permanent duty station as an administrative

[[Page 167]]

expense of an agency (not chargeable to travel and transportation 
appropriations). Shipment of these items as an administrative expense 
would be instead of shipment as an allowance of the employee.
    (3) Authority to transport professional books, papers, and equipment 
as an administrative expense shall be subject to agency policy and 
discretion within the following guidelines:
    (i) The employee shall furnish an itemized inventory of professional 
books, papers, and equipment for review by an appropriate authorizing 
official at the new permanent duty station. In addition, the employee 
shall furnish appropriate evidence (as determined by the agency 
concerned) that transporting the itemized materials as part of the 
employee's household goods would result in an excess of the employee's 
maximum weight allowance.
    (ii) The authorizing official at the new permanent duty station 
shall review and certify that the professional books, papers, and 
equipment as itemized are necessary in the proper performance of the 
employee's duties at the new duty station and that if these items were 
not transported to the new duty station, the same or similar items would 
have to be obtained at Government expense for the employee's use at the 
new duty station.
    (iii) When professional books, papers, and equipment are certified 
as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section and shipped for the 
employee as an administrative expense of an agency, shipment shall be by 
the actual expense method; the commuted rate method shall not be used. 
When shipped in the same lot with the employee's household goods and 
other personal effects under the actual expense method, the professional 
books, papers, and equipment shall be packed and weighed separately; the 
weight thereof and the administrative appropriation chargeable shall be 
stated as separate items on the Government bill of lading. In unusual 
instances in which it is impractical or impossible to obtain separate 
weights, a constructive weight of 7 pounds per cubic foot may be used.
    (c) Determining the net weight--(1) Uncrated shipments. When 
household goods are shipped uncrated as in a household mover's van or 
similar conveyance, the net weight shall be that shown on the bill of 
lading or on the weight certificate attached thereto, which, under 
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulations, includes the weight of 
barrels, boxes, cartons, and similar materials used in packing, but does 
not include pads, chains, dollies, and other equipment needed to load 
and secure the shipment. When a noncommercial means of shipment is 
involved (see Sec. 302-8.3(a)(3)), the ICC regulations shall apply for 
determining the net weight. When an employee's claim is based on 
constructive weight as authorized in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, 
the net weight shall be the weight as determined under that provision.
    (2) Crated shipments. When property is transported crated, the net 
weight shall not include the weight of the crating material. The net 
weight shall be computed as being 60 percent of the gross weight. 
However, if the net weight computed in this manner exceeds the 
applicable weight limitation and if it is determined that, for reasons 
beyond the employee's control, unusually heavy crating and packing 
materials were necessarily used, the net weight may be computed at less 
than 60 percent of the gross weight.
    (3) Containerized shipments. When special containers designed 
normally for repeated use, such as lift vans, CONEX transporters, and 
household-goods shipping boxes are used and the known tare weight does 
not include the weight of interior bracing and padding materials but 
only the weight of the container, the net weight of the household goods 
shall be 85 percent of the gross weight less the weight of the 
container. If the known tare weight includes interior bracing and 
padding materials so that the net weight is the same as it would be for 
uncrated shipments in interstate commerce, the net weight shall not be 
subject to the reduction. If the gross weight of the container cannot be 
obtained, the net weight of the household goods shall be determined from 
the cubic measurement on the basis of 7 pounds per cubic foot of 
properly loaded container space.
    (4) Constructive weight. If no adequate scale is available at point 
of origin, at

[[Page 168]]

any point en route, or at destination, a constructive weight, based on 7 
pounds per cubic foot of properly loaded van space, may be used. Such 
constructive weight also may be used for a part-load when its weight 
could not be obtained at origin, en route, or at destination, without 
first unloading it or other part-loads being carried in the same 
vehicle, or when the household goods are not weighed because the 
carrier's charges for a local or metropolitan area move are properly 
computed on a basis other than the weight or volume of the shipment (as 
when payment is based on an hourly rate and the distance involved). 
However, in such instances the employee should obtain a statement from 
the carrier showing the amount of properly loaded van space required for 
the shipment. (See also Sec. 302-8.3(a)(3) with respect to proof of 
entitlement to a commuted rate payment when net weight cannot be shown.)
    (d) Temporary storage time limit. The time allowable for temporary 
storage in connection with an authorized shipment of household goods 
shall not exceed a period of 90 days. This time period also applies when 
an employee returns to his/her place of actual residence for leave 
before serving a new tour of duty outside the continental United States 
either at a different post of duty or at the same post of duty if the 
storage is provided instead of furnished quarters or a quarters 
allowance. However, upon an employee's written request, the initial 90-
day period may be extended an additional period not to exceed 90 days 
under certain conditions if approved by the agency head or his/her 
designee. Justification for an additional storage period may include, 
but is not limited to, the following reasons:
    (1) An intervening temporary duty or long-term training assignment;
    (2) Nonavailability of suitable housing;
    (3) Completion of residence under construction;
    (4) Serious illness of employee or illness or death of a dependent; 
or
    (5) Strikes, acts of God, or other circumstances beyond the control 
of the employee.
    (e) Origin and destination. Cost of transportation of household 
goods may be paid by the Government whether the shipment originates at 
the employee's last official station or place of residence or at some 
other point, or if part of the shipment originates at the last official 
station and the remainder at one or more other points. Similarly, these 
expenses are allowable whether the point of destination is the new 
official station or some other point selected by the employee, or if the 
destination for part of the property is the new official station and the 
remainder is shipped to one or more other points. However, the total 
amount which may be paid or reimbursed by the Government shall not 
exceed the cost of transporting the property in one lot by the most 
economical route from the last official station of the transferring 
employee (or the place of actual residence of the new appointee at time 
of appointment) to the new official station. In connection with return 
from overseas for separation, see Sec. 302-1.12(d). No property acquired 
by the employee en route between old and new official stations shall be 
eligible for transportation under this part.
    (f) Loss and damage liability. Limitations on the Government's 
liability for loss or damage of an employee's household goods are 
contained in the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees' Claims Act 
of 1964 (31 U.S.C. 3721-3723) and in agency rules and regulations issued 
under the authority thereof. Since agency practices and regulations 
under that Act differ, and in view of the different circumstances under 
which household goods are transported and temporarily stored under the 
authority of this part, each agency should advise transferred employees 
of the applicability and restrictions on claims against the Government 
for loss and damage as related to the transportation circumstances 
involved. Agencies should also be prepared to give advice to employees 
as to the liability of the carrier for loss and damage of transported 
household goods in the transportation circumstances involved so that 
they will be able to evaluate the need for insurance and the 
advisability of incurring a valuation charge. (For interstate shipments 
by motor

[[Page 169]]

carrier on commercial bills of lading, see 49 CFR part 1056.)

[54 FR 20324, May 10, 1989, as amended by FTR Amdt. 26, 57 FR 28636, 
June 26, 1992]