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Originally Posted by piper1
The story I got from the FAST folks was that the card was only a way to attach a "driver" to a pre approved fast load.
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True. When a FAST load crosses, the FAST card will match to the pre-approved information in the FAST load. But that's far from the only thing a FAST card is good for, or is used for.
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The program is to make sure everyone, shipper, consignor and carrier are all above board. Given the problems carriers have doing good background checks, you having that card lets the border guys know that at least they checked you out themselves.
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That's what the program was designed for, but it hasn't turned out that way. Very few shippers or consignees took the time and effort to get themselves FAST Approved. The carriers and drivers did, but it all falls apart unless everyone in the chain is Approved. The US-Canadian border people finally gave up and are using the FAST card for other purposes. One is for ID (the back of my FAST card says, "Not an official travel document", BTW, OVM, instead of 'not to be used for ID').
The relatively intense background check for the FAST card rivals that of the CDL and HAZMAT background check, as well as the background check for the passport, which is why the US government is, at least for now, allowing the use of a FAST card in lieu of a passport as valid proof of US citizenship and ID at the border.
When they scan that bar code on the FAST card they instantly know everything about you. They know your border crossing history, even if you've had any recent arrests or convictions in either country. And, obviously, they how long it's been since you last crossed and how long you stay in each country between crossings. The most frequent question I get from Canadian Customs at the booth is, "When did you last cross into Canada?"
Ya see, they already know the answer to that question. In fact, they know the precise answer, and I really don't, not usually, not without looking it up, unless I've crossed very recently. My answer is usually something like, "I dunno, it's been a while. Couple of months, maybe?" At least it's an honest answer, if not precise. But it's close enough to let them know that I am who I say I am, which is what they're after with that question. Of course, if I had crossed last week, I'd tell them so. But often there are times when weeks or months go by when I don't cross into Canada, and other times I'm crossing 2 or 3 times in a week. If they ever require a more precise answer, I'll simply look it up.
OVM: When I hand them my paperwork I always hand them my FAST card at the same time. I pinch the FAST card at the corner of the paperwork and they grab the card and the paperwork at the same time. I've never been asked for an ID in addition to that, but if I ever am I'll certainly know they want something other than my FAST card, so I'm sure I'll say something like, "Sure. Do you want my CDL or my birth certificate?"
The other day I crossed at Ft Erie, around 1AM on a lonely and relatively deserted Saturday morning, and handed the guy my A49 sheet and FAST card, and he studied the A49 sheet real hard, then asked if I had my FAST card. I told him, "No. I just gave it to you." He looked in his other hand, shook his head, said "You know its been a long day when that happens." He laughed, barely glanced at my FAST card, and then handed it back to me and said "Have a good one." Too funny.