(Source: census@subscriptions.census.gov)
When a shipment is filed to the AES, a system response message is generated and indicates whether the shipment has been accepted or rejected. If the shipment is accepted, the AES filer receives an Internal Transaction Number (ITN) as confirmation. However, if the shipment is rejected, a Fatal Error notification is received.
To help you resolve AES Fatal Errors, here are some tips on how to correct the most frequent errors that were generated in AES for this month.
Fatal Error Response Code: 138
- Narrative: Port of Unlading Missing
- Reason: The Port of Unlading Code is missing. All vessel shipments, and any air shipments between the United States and Puerto Rico must provide a Port of Unlading Code.
- Resolution: The Port of Unlading Code is the foreign port where the exported merchandise is unloaded from the exporting carrier. Report a valid Port of Unlading Code for all vessel shipments, and any air shipments between the United States and Puerto Rico. Verify the Port of Unlading Code, correct the shipment and resubmit.
Fatal Error Response Code: 539
- Narrative: Shipping Weight Must be Zero for MOT
- 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 Fatal Error Response Codes, their reasons, and resolutions, see Appendix A – Commodity Filing Response Messages.
It is important that AES filers correct Fatal Errors as soon as they are received in order to comply with the Foreign Trade Regulations. These errors must be corrected prior to export for shipments filed predeparture and as soon as possible for shipments filed postdeparture but not later than five calendar days after departure.
For further information or questions, contact the U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Collection Branch.
Telephone: (800) 549-0595, select option 1 for AES
- Email: askaes@census.gov
- Online: census.gov/trade
- Blog: census.gov/globalreach