Efficient Use

• Create New Shipment: To save time, enter USPPI and consignee codes on first screen.
• Retrieve shipments to use as templates for new shipments. Especially helpful if you have many similar shipments. Remember to change the Shipment Number
• To retrieve a shipment, you can enter just the shipment number.
• Freight Forwarder: For most shipments this does not need to be entered. If you are a freight forwarder the information will be added automatically. If you are an USPPI, this section is optional.
• There is no need to enter optional fields/sections, e.g. Equipment Details.
• Navigate from section to section when editing. You only need to go back to View SED to submit your shipment.
• Lookups: Use "?AA..<tab>" instead of "?<tab>". to go straight to results.
• Lookups: If you cannot find your port of unlading, try searching on the country name to see all ports in that country.

Good Practices

• New users within an existing account should take the tutorial & quiz before being given account username. Give them the tutorial username and password first.
• Use your own consignee codes or let AESDirect create them – don’t mix.
• Pre-enter frequently used Consignees.
• Use a meaningful (for your company) Shipment Number.
• Many data elements (Carrier Code, Commodity Code) have their own help pages. Links are to the right of fields.
• To Delete a Section use the “Clear Section” button.

Useful Things to Know/Do

• Read and Understand the new USPPI regulations. If you have questions call the Census Bureau Regulations Branch.
• Use the XTN# in exemption statement, not ITN#
• Once AESDirect accepts your shipment it will be accepted by AES. Use the XTN# in your exemption statement and move the cargo.
• You can use multiple browser windows: e.g. one for USPPI setup, One for Shipment Reporting, and one to Create Shipments.
• If you take a break, don’t close your browser, minimize it. That way you can come back later. Also, lock your computer or use a screen saver.
• Use AESDirect to e-mail a submission response to your logistics chain partners. Just add their e-mail addresses to the e-mail response field. Separate each e-mail address with a comma
• Tailor Shipment Reporting Center preset reports to suit your company’s business.
• Custom Shipment Reporting Center reports can provide different views of your data - by USPPI, consignee, carrier.
• If you're not sure of transportation details, estimate them and then amend later.
• In Canadian transshipments the border crossing point defines the mode of transport, export date, export port, and carrier for a shipment.
• Consignees in Mexico require Mexican state code.
• Problem with a SCAC code: enter UNKN and let us know about the problem.
• Do not enter In-Transit shipments – use the paper process.
• Use the On-Line Help.
• Remember, for value, quantity, and gross weight you should enter whole numbers only, no decimal points or decimal places, commas, or any non-digits.
• If your HTS code is rejected, check HTS Codes Not Valid for Export list.
• If quantity is Kilograms (KG) then the gross weight must be greater than or equal to the quantity.
• Commodity code must be 10 digits, with no “.” or “-”.

For More Information

• Phone: 1-800-549-0595 or 1-877-715-4433
• Fax: 301-457-1159
• Email: askaes@census.gov
• AESDirect: www.aesdirect.gov
• Customs AES Site: www.customs.gov/aes
• Census Site: www.census.gov/foreign-trade