Last updated: October 7, 2026
Your truck did not cross, or it crossed and the goods were held. Every hour costs money. This guide explains, in order, what to do when a commercial shipment is held by Mexican customs in Nuevo Laredo or by U.S. customs in Laredo, and what we check first.
The first steps
- Get the reason in writing. The customs report, the hold notice or the system message. Without the exact reason, everything else is guessing.
- Pull the full file together. Invoice, packing list, pedimento or entry, Carta Porte, permits and certification of origin.
- Do not send corrections one at a time. An incomplete answer makes the hold longer. Understand the problem first, then answer once.
- Write down the dates. Deadlines to respond run from the notice.
If the hold is on the Mexican side
The most common causes after a customs inspection are: a wrong tariff classification, a missing permit or NOM, quantity or description differences against the invoice, a declared value the authority questions, a suspended importer registration, and Carta Porte errors. When the authority finds an irregularity it can issue a report and open an administrative procedure (PAMA) with seizure of the goods; the law then gives a short period to present evidence and arguments, so it pays to act the same day.
If the hold is on the U.S. side
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can hold a shipment for a document review, an X-ray exam or a physical exam. Other agencies can hold it too: FDA for food, drugs and medical devices, USDA for agricultural products, and others depending on the product. What helps most is a fast answer with the exact document the agency asks for and a clear description of the goods.
What we check first at Eilan
- The reason and the deadline. What the authority wants and by when.
- Both sides of the shipment. We file the U.S. entry and the Mexican pedimento with one team, so we see the whole file and not half of it.
- What can be corrected and who has to do it. We tell you plainly what can be solved, which document is missing and what belongs to the broker who filed the shipment.
- Where the freight waits. When the truck cannot cross yet, the freight can wait at our 200,000 sq ft warehouse in Laredo instead of on the trailer. See the Laredo 3PL warehouse.
So it does not happen again
Most holds start in the paperwork, before the truck leaves. That is why we check the documents before every truck is dispatched. Run the one-minute document check yourself. If your operation crosses every week, see how to switch customs brokers in 30 days and today’s bridge wait times.
Frequently asked questions
Can you review a shipment another customs broker filed?
Yes, we review the case and tell you what can be done. The shipment already filed stays with the broker who filed it; we can guide you and take your next shipments.
What do you need to start?
The reason for the hold in writing, the invoice, the packing list, the pedimento or entry, and the carrier’s details.
What freight do you handle?
Commercial freight, including hazardous materials and oversize loads. We do not handle personal vehicles or household moves.
Send us the case
Write to us with the reason for the hold and the shipment documents. Contact us or call +1 (956) 717-4150, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central.