How to Resolve Common AES Response Messages
November 20, 2025
Note: This message is sent to all AES Updates subscribers and is for educational purposes only.
When submitting your Electronic Export Information (EEI) to the Automated Export System (AES), you can receive different response messages: Fatal, Compliance, Verify, Informational and Warning. It is important that AES filers address and/or correct Response Messages as soon as they are received to comply with the Foreign Trade Regulations.
To help you take the appropriate action, here is guidance on how to address one of the most frequent Response Messages that were generated in the AES for the previous month.
Fatal Error Response Code: 539
Narrative: Shipping Weight Must be Zero for MOT
Severity: Fatal
Reason: The Mode of Transportation Code is not Vessel, Rail, Truck or Air and the Shipping Weight is not reported as zeros.
Resolution: When the Mode of Transportation is other than Vessel, Rail, Truck or Air and the Export Information Code is not HH for household goods, the Shipping Weight must be zero.
Verify the Mode of Transportation and Shipping Weight, correct the shipment and resubmit.
For a complete list of the AES Response Codes, their reasons and resolutions, see Appendix A – Commodity Filing Response Messages.
As a reminder, filers have multiple resources that they can use when filing EEI to the AES. You can access User Guides, Walk-through videos and other resources at our website.
Please contact the U.S. Census Bureau’s Trade Data Collection Branch for further information or questions.
Telephone: (800) 549-0595, select option 1 for AES
Email: askaes@census.gov
Online: www.census.gov/trade
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