European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 10, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Dont miss the boat know the rules by Allen Cowan staff writer Bremerhaven the colonel drove his Van nearly 400 Miles to the port expecting free shipment on he was told he misinterpreted the regulations and his Van  be his Chin nearly dropped on the floor when i told said Steven who runs the vehicle processing he had to go Back and do it Over shipping privately owned vehicles to the United states at government expense is a Benefit carefully regulated by Uncle last the government spent nearly million transporting vehicles from Bremerhaven to the another went from the United kingdom and from the Western yet most people dont know the said Ronald safes chief of traffic management division Pov shipping entitlements Are by far the least under stood Owen he cites one quirk under which service members generally can ship a car stateside if they didst ship one to while Dod civilian employees who did not ship a car to Europe often cant ship one Frazier and Owen agree should know the rules before making the trip to the Frazier said the incident with the colonel and his which occurred in late is in this the Van didst qualify As a replacement the Reading the rules thought it people thinking there entitled to ship a car stateside at government expense find out at the port that they they listen to Barracks interpret the regulations or assume the old Clunker is entitled to a free Ocean what they dont Frazier is seek guidance from their transportation most people dont know what the rules Frazier most people dont understand them once a lot of people get Herje and its a but in not going to change the his advice is to Tell people to Check with their local transportation each Case could be Frazier people should explain their situation and get with that Owen and Frazier offer these guide lines on eligibility for shipping cars Home in general the entitlement extends to All service members except for e4s and below in the Navy assigned duty aboard service members who didst ship a car to Europe can ship one Home under two it must be american if its european made with american specific it must have been registered previously in the service members need not ship Home the same car they shipped to service members can ship one car Home two service members married to each other can each photo by Dave Didio Steven Frazier ship a car Home if each car is there is no limit on the value or size of the car to be the government will Only pay up to if a car is owners should take extra insurance for cars Worth More than if the car is repair costs Are reimbursed by the government Dollar for if the car is compensation is based on the Blue Book regulations Are the same for All except one difference for the air in certain european made cars can be shipped free if they qualify for replacement transportation officers can explain those other services require that the car be in the owners Possession for one year prior to the air Force says if the car has been ordered one year before it can go for civilian defense department id card the authority for free shipment Home originates with the com commanders follow military service members not entitled to a free ride can Send cars space Cost for an average size car runs be tween and As for getting the car to Frazier said there is no actual entitlement for the service member requests a pass from the company commander through the first it May or May not be Frazier suggests people take leave because a pass May hot allow enough time if problems the service member applies to transportation for which is 16 cents a mile based on the official distance from Point to mileage is not allowed for a member delivering a foreign made car not entitled to free service members returning to duty stations can take the duty commercial or hitch a people hire agents to deliver Frazier in those the service member should not get a pass and take the time if a spouse delivers the car with the proper letter of authorization or Power of attorney service member still cannot use a need information on shipping a car Home see the local transportation or Call the Export office of the vehicle processing Center at civilian Mil itary 24418187 or Auto on Sis photo by Dave Didio catalytic converters stored in there satisfied with the shipping agents such As Lampke do not directly Deal with the so service members should Deal Only with a licensed freight forwarder or an authorized agent of a freight for Lampke and Brexendorf have some suggestions for questions service members should ask is the person taking the Money an agent for a freight or will the contract pass through several hands before the car is shipped what is the name of the shipping the name of the its sailing Date from Europe and its arrival Date in the states legitimate forwarders know this dont be put will the shipper give an inspection of the with a representative of the freight forwarder reputable firms agree to any damage listed on the sign the form and get the agent to sign the keep a do the agents or shippers inventory the car reputable firms noting the Type of spare Ash tray anything and everything that might be lost or get a signed copy of the Are the items on that inventory insured if can they be covered customers Are Wise to get will shippers break Down shipping charges firms should be Able to list the Cost of Inland freight and the shipping ask to make a Small Down payment with the balance due when the car leaves the ask How to get the Bill of ask if the company will deliver the car most do and charge 5 percent extra for the will there be additional such As installation fees on catalytic converters at the port ask about what port charges May be assessed once the car arrives Are there unloading fees legitimate freight forwarders will say installation fees Range from to port May 1985 charges payable in the states Are about and unloading fees Range from to Check on Marine insurance and Inland Are there limits on coverage when does coverage and when does it end rates for Marine depending on the Range from percent to percent of the Market value of the some agents undercut other agents by Selling total replacement Cost Protection for half a that because its a big but these agents May not explain that this insurance covers Only a car that totalled nothing get the office and Home phone number of the firms agent at the port in the if the firm Doest have ask whom to Deal with if problems who stores the car at the stateside port Are there storage fees shop for shipping charges Are about the same from firm to if one Price is too High or too find out what services Are being Cut or what is the customer paying for that Hes not getting before leaving the the service member should pro vide the agent with a military address and phone and a civilian address and phone if a problem arises or so the firm can Send notice of customers armed with these Brexendorf and Lampke can avoid most find out the reputation of the Brexendorf youre dealing with a valuable piece of Why Trust it to a stranger without some Assurance military and commercial shippers Are reluctant to endorse any commercial freight these Are the ones they in alphabetical their and commercial phone Are 047140174 Brauns 047435067 Karl 047147051 047145091 ext 31 or the stars and stripes Page Vii