A revisión is a secondary customs inspection at the border: on the Mexican side, the physical exam triggered by a red light; on the U.S. side, CBP secondary, which can mean X-ray, dock exam, or agriculture review. It adds hours, sometimes days, to a crossing.
Revisión is the general Spanish term for a customs inspection beyond the standard document check. On the Mexican side, a load that draws a red light goes to reconocimiento aduanero, where customs staff physically examine the freight against the pedimento. On the U.S. side, CBP can send a truck to secondary for non-intrusive X-ray imaging, a full dock exam where the trailer is unloaded, or an agriculture inspection, common during produce season.
Inspections are part of the crossing, so plan and price for them rather than treating each one as a crisis. Three practical points. First, time: an X-ray pass can add an hour or two, while a full dock exam can hold a trailer overnight or longer, so keep your customer informed with specifics, not guesses. Second, seals: after any exam the trailer is resealed with a new seal number, and that number must be communicated down the chain or the receiver may refuse the load. Third, exposure: through-trailer freight can be opened like any other, which is a reason shippers load-lock and photograph cargo before crossing. Carriers and shippers certified under CTPAT or OEA statistically see fewer exams, which is a big part of those programs' value.
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