WASHINGTON — With average diesel prices surging to over $5.40 per gallon, the American Trucking Associations’ Moving & Storage Conference (ATA-MSC) recently secured relief for movers doing business with the Department of War (DoW).
“ATA’s Moving & Storage Conference is grateful to the DoW for listening to the concerns of the moving and storage industry,” said Dan Hilton ATA-MSC executive director. “Movers take great pride in supporting military families and are a key component of military readiness. However, surging fuel prices have squeezed their bottom lines and have made their operations increasingly difficult. We appreciate the DoW’s quick action to alleviate the severe financial challenges that many movers have been experiencing. This will help ensure that military relocations remain reliable, predictable and seamless in service to the men and women in uniform and their families who deserve nothing less.”
A Need for Change
Last week, ATA-MSC sent a letter urging Major General Lance Curtis, the Commanding General of Personal Property Activity, to refine the Fuel Rate Adjustment (FRA) methodology under the Defense Personal Property Program. In light of the rapid escalation in diesel prices related to the conflict in the Middle East, ATA-MSC requested that the FRA methodology be moved from a monthly to a weekly index.
On April 2, the DoW issued an advisory granting ATA-MSC’s request. Moving forward, fuel reimbursements will now be based on the U.S. On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price published weekly by the Energy Information Administration. The policy will be in effect until further notice.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
