Personal property: MTMC's new Web process speeds carrier qualification

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, March-April, 2002

A new Web-based system will soon streamline carrier qualification for personal property carriers for the Military Traffic Management Command.

The new process--set to begin this spring--will cut carrier qualification time from four-to-six weeks to approximately 72 hours. The process will also increase some MTMC-required carrier standards.

"This is a dramatic departure and change in MTMC's administration of carrier moves for the Department of Defense," said Sylvia Walker, Program Manager, Carrier Qualification.

"I'm excited."

In the past, a personal property carrier seeking MTMC qualification would have to complete a multitude of paper forms. Beginning this spring, carriers will submit their applications on a specific site on the MTMC Web.

"The new process will require all currently approved carriers to submit electronic documentation to update MTMC's entire process, said Walker.

The new process brought a cautious approval from Terry Head, President, Household Goods Freight Forwarders of America, Inc.

"We support the use of the Internet to facilitate the qualification process," said Head.

Part of the MTMC-mandated changes will involve increased carrier standards. The standards were developed in close consultation with the moving industry associations, said Walker.

"MTMC is seeking higher carrier qualification standards," said Walker.

"The revised standards call for carriers to meet higher financial reporting and operating standards.

"These increased requirements will also include an increased cargo liability insurance and maintenance of a performance bond for domestic interstate moves."

These changes have already been published in the Federal Register for public comment.

"Most carriers I have talked to tell me they support the provision requiring increased financial record reporting," said Walker. "The industry wants their partners to be financially strong as well. This is a win-win situation."

These enhancements are not directly related to a quartet of moving pilots conducted in recent years, the results of which U.S. Transportation Command is in the process of tabulating.