PER DIEM, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE

HOFFMAN BUILDING 1, ROOM 836

2461 EISENHOWER AVENUE, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22331-1300

PDTATAC/tlw 7 December 1998

MEMORANDUM FOR PER DIEM COMMITTEE EDITOR

SUBJECT: MAP Item 54-98(E)/CAP Item 54-98(E)—Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD).

(EDITORIAL CHANGE)

1. SYNOPSIS: Currently, the JFTR, pars. U3300-C, U5155, and JTR, pars. C4252-B and C4658-A

establish guidelines for using the Official Table of Distances (OTD). The Army maintained the OTD

until a few years ago when Title 37 of the U.S. Code changed to require the Secretary of Defense to

establish mileage distances. Official distances, for the OTD, were then established by the Defense

Finance and Accounting Service in Indianapolis (DFAS-IN). These tables were used to determine the

official distance between any two points considered to be a separate journey.

Effective 10 February 1996, sec. 621 of the FY96 Authorization Act repealed the requirement

regarding calculation of allowances on the basis of mileage tables. This Authorization Act amended

section 404a(a) of title 37, United States Code, by striking out “based on distances established over the

shortest usually traveled route, under mileage tables prepared under the direction of the Secretary of

Defense”. Accordingly, this item replaces the OTD with the mandatory use of Defense Table of Official

Distances (DTOD) for computing official travel payments for TDY, PCS, and DITY moves. The DTOD

will be the DoD standard source for distance information worldwide.

2. These revisions should appear in printed change number 145 of the JFTR, and 399 of the JTR,

effective 1 January 1999.

Lynn Wawrzyniak

Travel and Transportation Branch

Attachment:

Revision 8
MAP Item 54-98(E)/CAP Item 54-98(E) Page 1 of 6

Clean Copy of Rev 8 (12-30-98)

JFTR CHANGES:

U2020 DEFENSE TABLE OF OFFICIAL DISTANCES (DTOD)

A. General. The DTOD:

1. is the standard source for worldwide distance information,

2. replaces all other sources used for computing distance (except for airplanes),

3. uses city to city distance (not zip code to zip code),

4. provides distances to tenths of a mile which must be rounded to the nearest mile for each

leg of a journey,

5. doesn’t apply to travel distance:

a. in and around the PDS or TDY sites,

b. between home/office and carrier terminal, or

c. for local moves, within the same city,

which is determined by odometer readings, and

6. website is found at http://www.dtod.com.

B. TDY and PCS Travel.

1. Effective 1 January 1999, Commands with access to the DTOD internet website, CDROMS or interfacing systems should use the DTOD to determine TDY and PCS distance

(using practical distance). Offices without DTOD access (as of 1 January 1999) should

continue to use the Official Tables of Distance (AR 55-60/AFM 177-135/ NAVSO P-2471

and AR 55-61/AFM 177-136/NAVSO P-2472) as the official sources for travel distance.

2. Effective 1 April 1999, the DTOD is the only official source for TDY and PCS travel

distance (except for airplanes).

B. DITY Moves.

1. The DTOD distance (shortest distance) used for HHG transportation must be used for

DITY moves effective 1 April 1999 (OCONUS) and 1 May 1999 (CONUS). Prior to these

dates, Commands should continue to use the same sources used for HHG transportation

distances.
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2. Effective 1 May 1999, the DTOD (shortest distance) is the only official source for DITY

distances.

U3300 TDY POC USE RULES

C. Official Distances.

1. Official Distance Determination. The DTOD is the official source for travel distance and

must be used for all non-local travel (except for airplanes). Travel in and around the PDS,

TDY sites, and between home/office and carrier terminal is determined by odometer

readings. See par. U2020 for DTOD requirements.

U5155 OFFICIAL DISTANCE DETERMINATION

A. Privately Owned Conveyance (Except Airplane). See par. U2020 for DTOD requirements.

B. Privately Owned Airplane. When privately owned airplane use is authorized/approved for

transportation, the distance between origin and destination must be determined from airway

charts issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of

Commerce, unless adverse weather, mechanical difficulty, or unusual conditions cause necessary

detours. Additional air distance must be explained in the travel claim. If distance can’t be

determined by airway distance charts the flight time multiplied by cruising speed of the aircraft

may be used to determine distance.

U5320 TRANSPORTATION METHODS

E. DITY Moves.

1. Applicability. This subparagraph applies to Armed Forces and USPHS members moving

HHG by privately owned/rental vehicles. The term ............ DITY move is appropriate.

f. The DTOD used for HHG transportation must be used for DITY moves (using shortest

distance). See par. U2020 for DTOD requirements.

T4030 GETTING THERE AND BACK (TRANSPORTATION ENTITLEMENTS)

E. Private Vehicle. When use of a private vehicle...........reimbursement of necessary

transportation costs incurred. For distance determination see par. U2020 (DTOD requirements).

T4040 LIVING EXPENSES (PER DIEM ENTITLEMENTS)
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D. Lodging Overnight Not Required.

1. Transportation. Travelers should arrange for transportation ........ such as tolls and

parking when using their private vehicles. For distance determination see par. U2020

(DTOD requirements).

ADD THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION TO JFTR, APPENDIX A, PART I:

DEFENSE TABLE OF OFFICIAL DISTANCES (DTOD)

The DoD standard source for worldwide distance information based on city to city distance (not

zip code to zip code) replacing all other sources used for computing distance (except airplanes).

For more information refer to the DTOD website at http://www.dtod.com.

ADD THE FOLLOWING ACRONYM TO JFTR, APPENDIX A, PART II:

DTOD = Defense Table of Official Distances
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Clean Copy of Rev 8 (12-30-98)

JTR CHANGES:

C1060 DEFENSE TABLE OF OFFICIAL DISTANCES (DTOD)

A. General. The DTOD:

1. is the standard source for worldwide distance information,

2. replaces all other sources used for computing distance (except for airplanes),

3. uses city to city distance (not zip code to zip code),

4. provides distances to tenths of a mile which must be rounded to the nearest mile for each

leg of a journey,

5. doesn’t apply to travel distance:

a. in and around the PDS or TDY sites, or

b. between home/office and carrier terminal,

which is determined by odometer readings, and

6. website is found at http://www.dtod.com.

B. TDY and PCS Travel.

1. Effective 1 January 1999, Commands with access to the DTOD internet website, CDROMS or interfacing systems should use the DTOD to determine TDY and PCS distance

(using practical distance). Offices without DTOD access (as of 1 January 1999) should

continue to use the Official Tables of Distance (AR 55-60/AFM 177-135/ NAVSO P-2471

and AR 55-61/AFM 177-136/NAVSO P-2472) as the official sources for travel distance.

2. Effective 1 April 1999, the DTOD is the only official source for TDY and PCS travel

distance (except for airplanes).

C4252 OFFICIAL DISTANCE DETERMINATION

A. Privately Owned Conveyance (Except Airplane). See par. C1060 for DTOD requirements.

B. Privately Owned Airplane. When privately owned airplane use is authorized/approved for

transportation, the distance between origin and destination must be determined from airway

charts issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of

Commerce, unless adverse weather, mechanical difficulty, or unusual conditions cause necessary

detours. Additional air distance must be explained in the travel claim. If distance can’t be
MAP Item 54-98(E)/CAP Item 54-98(E) Page 5 of 6

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determined by airway distance charts the flight time multiplied by cruising speed of the aircraft

may be used to determine distance.

C4658 OFFICIAL DISTANCE DETERMINATION

A. Privately Owned Conveyance (Except Airplane). See par. C1060 for DTOD requirements.

B. Privately Owned Airplane. When privately owned airplane use is authorized/approved for

transportation, the distance between origin and destination must be determined from airway

charts issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of

Commerce, unless adverse weather, mechanical difficulty, or unusual conditions cause necessary

detours. Additional air distance must be explained in the travel claim. If distance can’t be

determined by airway distance charts the flight time multiplied by cruising speed of the aircraft

may be used to determine distance.

T4030 GETTING THERE AND BACK (TRANSPORTATION ENTITLEMENTS)

E. Private Vehicle. When use of a private vehicle...........reimbursement of necessary

transportation costs incurred. For distance determination see par. C1060 (DTOD requirements).

T4040 LIVING EXPENSES (PER DIEM ENTITLEMENTS)

D. Lodging Overnight not required.

1. Transportation. Travelers should arrange for transportation ........ such as tolls and

parking when using their private vehicles. For distance determination see par. C1060

(DTOD requirements).
MAP Item 54-98(E)/CAP Item 54-98(E) Page 6 of 6

Clean Copy of Rev 8 (12-30-98)

ADD THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION TO JTR, APPENDIX A, PART I:

DEFENSE TABLE OF OFFICIAL DISTANCES (DTOD)

The DoD standard source for worldwide distance information based on city to city distance (not

zip code to zip code) replacing all other sources used for computing distance (except airplanes).

For more information refer to the DTOD website at http://www.dtod.com.

ADD THE FOLLOWING ACRONYM TO JTR, APPENDIX A, PART II:

DTOD = Defense Table of Official Distances