Service members will benefit from MTMC/Industry cooperation
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- The personal relocation moves of the Department of Defense's service members may be easier in the near future.
Industry trade associations and the Military Traffic Management Command are moving closer to agreement on a number of measures that will directly benefit service members, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, commander.
"I am very serious about bringing immediate changes to the existing program where we can do so," said Privratsky.
These changes, he said, will require a cooperative spirit in the relationship between the military and the moving industry. Some changes may require "buy-in from the military services and potentially the Congress."
Privratsky made his comments to a committee meeting of the American Moving & Storage Association on Sept. 12 in Crystal City, Va.
MTMC is directly responsible for the move of an average of 613,000 service members and employees each year - the moving industry's largest single customer.
The results of several military initiatives designed to improve the current moving process are several years away, said Privratsky.
Several pilot programs have been initiated since 1993 to improve the moving system -- but they carry only a fraction of the total volume of moves. A full re-engineering of the entire process of Department of Defense moves is not expected until 2002-2003.
"The time is overdue for us to come together and take care of the other 600,000 families moving each year who await change," said Privratsky.
"We have been talking change and pilot pilots for over five years - and we have affected a whopping 25,000 household goods movements.
"It simply embarrasses me - and I hope it is starting to embarrass you."
The moving industry and MTMC - sharing "many common interests" - can make changes now to improve service members' moves now, he said.
"Treat us like your commercial customer," said Privratsky, "Give us the service and we'll pay for it."
Privratsky identified many specific areas where recent discussions between industry and MTMC are nearing agreement. They include:
· A toll-free phone number to link a service member with their moving company. "It should be implemented by April 2001," said Privratsky.
· Full replacement coverage for damaged service member goods.
· Elimination of "paper companies" - formed only to take part in the military moving program - to ensure organizations with a sound financial base.
· Allocation of the moving business based on quality and price.
· A modernized process of measuring customer satisfaction.
"These are all good recommendations and we are working on them" said Privratsky.
He told members of the moving industry that he has directed Lt. Col. Nonie Cabana, MTMC's chief of Passenger & Personal Property, to develop recommendations that can be implemented soon -- in less than one year.
Another big goal is door-to-door delivery of a service member's goods, said Privratsky.
Currently 90 percent of military customers' shipments go into storage. Only 10 percent of commercial shipments go into storage.
"I full recognize the difficulties our present processes pose for making this a reality for military moves," said Privratsky. "But, I think we need to change what needs to be changed wherever possible to provide door-to-door a reality - and to incentivize you for making it happen."
Members of the American Moving & Storage Association's Government Traffic Committee were enthusiastic to the speech.
"This is the most positive and refreshing thing I have heard in the 11 years I have been in this business," said Stephen Burns, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, of Wheaton World Wide Moving, of Indianapolis. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
Industry trade associations and the Military Traffic Management Command are moving closer to agreement on a number of measures that will directly benefit service members, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, commander.
"I am very serious about bringing immediate changes to the existing program where we can do so," said Privratsky.
These changes, he said, will require a cooperative spirit in the relationship between the military and the moving industry. Some changes may require "buy-in from the military services and potentially the Congress."
Privratsky made his comments to a committee meeting of the American Moving & Storage Association on Sept. 12 in Crystal City, Va.
MTMC is directly responsible for the move of an average of 613,000 service members and employees each year - the moving industry's largest single customer.
The results of several military initiatives designed to improve the current moving process are several years away, said Privratsky.
Several pilot programs have been initiated since 1993 to improve the moving system -- but they carry only a fraction of the total volume of moves. A full re-engineering of the entire process of Department of Defense moves is not expected until 2002-2003.
"The time is overdue for us to come together and take care of the other 600,000 families moving each year who await change," said Privratsky.
"We have been talking change and pilot pilots for over five years - and we have affected a whopping 25,000 household goods movements.
"It simply embarrasses me - and I hope it is starting to embarrass you."
The moving industry and MTMC - sharing "many common interests" - can make changes now to improve service members' moves now, he said.
"Treat us like your commercial customer," said Privratsky, "Give us the service and we'll pay for it."
Privratsky identified many specific areas where recent discussions between industry and MTMC are nearing agreement. They include:
· A toll-free phone number to link a service member with their moving company. "It should be implemented by April 2001," said Privratsky.
· Full replacement coverage for damaged service member goods.
· Elimination of "paper companies" - formed only to take part in the military moving program - to ensure organizations with a sound financial base.
· Allocation of the moving business based on quality and price.
· A modernized process of measuring customer satisfaction.
"These are all good recommendations and we are working on them" said Privratsky.
He told members of the moving industry that he has directed Lt. Col. Nonie Cabana, MTMC's chief of Passenger & Personal Property, to develop recommendations that can be implemented soon -- in less than one year.
Another big goal is door-to-door delivery of a service member's goods, said Privratsky.
Currently 90 percent of military customers' shipments go into storage. Only 10 percent of commercial shipments go into storage.
"I full recognize the difficulties our present processes pose for making this a reality for military moves," said Privratsky. "But, I think we need to change what needs to be changed wherever possible to provide door-to-door a reality - and to incentivize you for making it happen."
Members of the American Moving & Storage Association's Government Traffic Committee were enthusiastic to the speech.
"This is the most positive and refreshing thing I have heard in the 11 years I have been in this business," said Stephen Burns, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, of Wheaton World Wide Moving, of Indianapolis. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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