'Pro gear' weight limits set to change

  • Published
  • By Joint Personal Property Shipping Office
CHELMSFORD, Mass. --  This spring a change in shipping personal books, paper and equipment, also referred to as "pro gear" or PBPE, is set to take effect.

Beginning with orders that have an issue date on or after May 1, personal books, papers and equipment will be limited to a maximum weight of 2,000 pounds. There is no authority to waive the limitation.

Servicemembers who transported more than 2,000 pounds overseas prior to the change will be grandfathered and allowed the same amount to the continental United States, or CONUS. For further information, see Joint Federal Travel Regulation, chapter five, part D, paragraph 5310.

Civilian employee professional books, paper and equipment are household goods and are a part of the permanent change of station weight allowance. The PBPE may be moved under Joint Travel Regulations, chapter 5, part D, paragraph C5154, but the maximum weight allowed is 2,000 pounds.

Also, PBPE has been redefined to, "PBPE includes household goods in a member's, employee's possession needed for the performance of official duties at the next or a later permanent duty station, or PDS."

Excluded from PBPE are the following:
-Personal computer equipment or peripheral devices.
-Memorabilia including awards, plaques or other objects presented for past performance or going-away gifts.
-Table service, including flatware and serving pieces, dishes as well as serving pieces, platter and heating units or other utensils and glassware.
-Other items of a professional nature that are not necessary at the next or subsequent PDS, such as text books from previous schools unrelated to future duties, personal books, even if used as a part of a past professional reading program or course of instruction and reference material that ordinarily would be available at the next PDS either in hard copy or available on the internet.

When PBPE weight is unobtainable by conventional weighing methods, the weight is now seven pounds per cubic foot.

For further information on these changes, contact the Traffic Management Office at 781-225-6399 or JPPSO Northeast at 800-234-7776.