The　aim　of　the　present　work　is　to　develop　a　high-order　shear　deformable　beam　model　and　investigate　the　transient　response　of　a　sandwich　porous　beam　when　acted　upon　by　a　non-uniformly　distributed　moving　mass.　It　is　assumed　that　the　total　mass　is　distributed　within　a　specified　distance　and　has　various　distribution　patterns.　The　sandwich　beam　is　composed　of　two　functionally　graded　(FG)　facesheets　and　an　FG　porous　core.　The　modulus　of　elasticity　of　the　porous　core　is　graded　owing　to　the　continuously　variation　in　porosity　in　the　thickness　direction.　The　open-cell　metal　foam　model　is　used　to　evaluate　the　mass　density　of　the　core.　A　new　high-order　shear　deformation　theory　is　proposed　and　implemented　to　develop　a　reliable　and　accurate　model　that　can　address　the　vibration　responses　of　the　beam.　The　equations　of　motion　are　derived　using　the　Lagrange　method,　whereas　a　standard　Newmark-beta　method　is　employed　to　solve　the　time-dependent　response.　A　few　numerical　examples　are　discussed　to　study　the　effects　of　various　sandwich　configurations　and　different　types　of　mass　distributions　on　the　vibration　behaviors　of　the　sandwich　beam.　The　results　indicate　that　dispersing　the　mass　toward　the　two　ends　of　the　load　to　the　extent　feasible　is　suitable　for　preventing　large　dynamic　deflections.