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Military car shipping (PCS & POV transport)
PCS season doesn't wait, and neither does your report date. We ship POVs for service members across the Southwest constantly — San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Twentynine Palms, Ft. Bliss, Ft. Cavazos — with the base-access realities already figured out.
How military shipments work with us
CONUS-to-CONUS PCS moves usually leave your POV transport to you — the government ships household goods, but a second vehicle (or the only vehicle, on many orders) travels on your dime unless your orders say otherwise. That makes price and reliability the whole game, and it's why booking carrier-direct matters: the quote we give is the number on your BOL, not a broker estimate that "adjusts" the week you report.
Our corridors overlap the Southwest's military geography almost exactly: Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Luke AFB and Davis-Monthan in Arizona, Ft. Bliss in El Paso, and Ft. Cavazos on the I-35 corridor.
Base access: how pickup and delivery actually happen
A 75-foot car hauler doesn't get waved through a gate. Standard practice — and what every experienced military shipper expects — is meeting just outside the installation: a commissary lot, a park-and-ride, or a main-gate area. It adds five minutes, not days. On-post pickup is occasionally possible with sponsor escort, but plan on the off-base meet and you'll never be surprised.
Timing around your report date
- Book 2–3 weeks before your pack-out during summer PCS season (May–August); capacity tightens exactly when everyone's orders drop.
- Ship before you fly, not after. The car arriving a few days behind you beats it sitting at your old duty station with no one to release it.
- Designate a releaser. If you've already departed, anyone with the keys — spouse, buddy, unit contact — can release the vehicle; our driver documents condition with photos on the Bill of Lading either way.
What it costs (and keeping receipts)
Pricing follows the lane, not the uniform — a San Diego→Ft. Cavazos run prices like any San Diego→central Texas shipment (see the San Diego–Austin lane for the corridor's ranges). Keep your invoice and BOL: some entitlements and tax situations allow POV transport costs to be claimed, and your finance office will want the paper. We provide clean documentation on every move.
FAQ
Common questions
Can you pick up my car on base?
Usually we meet just outside the gate — commissary lots and park-and-rides are standard, since a 75-foot hauler can't clear most installation gates. On-post pickup is occasionally possible with escort.
I've already reported to my new duty station. Can someone else release my car?
Yes — anyone with the keys (spouse, friend, unit contact) can release it. Our driver documents the vehicle's condition with photos on the Bill of Lading regardless of who hands it off.
Is there a military discount?
Our carrier-direct pricing already removes the broker margin most military shippers unknowingly pay — that's typically worth more than a sticker discount. Ask when you quote; we take care of people moving on orders.
Get a quote
A firm Sacramento → Houston price from the company that hauls it
Send the basics and we'll come back with a firm quote and the next available pickup window on this lane. No deposit games, no bait-and-switch.