How to Resolve Common AES Response Messages
December 17, 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.
Response Code: 538
Narrative: Shipping Weight Must Be Greater Than Zero For MOT
Severity: Fatal
Reason: The Mode of Transportation Code reported was one that identifies a Vessel, Rail, Truck, or Air shipment and the Shipping Weight was not reported.
Resolution: When the Mode of Transportation is Vessel, Rail, Truck or Air, the Shipping Weight must be reported.
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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