FAST – Commercial Driver Program Participant’s Guide
Free and Secure Trade
RC4319(E) Rev. 05
Table of Contents
Introduction
FAST terms and conditions
Change of information
Lost/Stolen or damaged/Defective cards
Penalties
Crossing the border
Entering the United States with goods to declare
Entering Canada with goods to declare
Importing restrictions for Canada and the United States for personal use goods
FAST procedures at port of entry
Need more information?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
In this guide, you will find information about the FAST Commercial Driver Program.
As an approved participant of this program, you will receive:
this participant’s guide;
a FAST Commercial Driver card with photo identification;
for Canadian residents, a copy of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) pamphlet called I Declare, and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publication called Visiting the United States;
for United States residents, a copy of the CBSA pamphlet called Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, and the CBP publication called, Know Before You Go; and
information on Canadian and American immigration rules related to cabotage.
FAST terms and conditions
Once you are approved for the FAST Commercial Driver Program you must:
comply with all CBSA legislation, and any other laws that are enforced by the CBP and the CBSA;
carry at all times and show when requested your FAST Commercial Driver card, and necessary personal identification including any immigration documents.;
make sure everyone in your vehicle has a valid FAST Commercial Driver card before you reach the border. If any of the passengers in your vehicle are not carrying their FAST Commercial Driver card or you have passengers in your vehicle who are not FAST Commercial Driver participants, you must use the regular service lanes;
not transfer your FAST Commercial Driver card to another individual;
not violate the immigration regulations of Canada or the United States concerning “cabotage” – or “point to point” movement of commercial shipments.
When you are no longer a participant in the FAST Commercial Driver Program you must:
return the FAST Commercial Driver card to any CBSA office in Canada or the United States; and
return unused Traveller Declaration Cards to any CBSA office in Canada.
Note: The FAST Commercial Driver card is not a travel document. Your authorized period of admission to Canada or the United States will depend on your underlying immigration status for each country or your citizenship in that country. Your immigration status and citizenship must be valid at all times, and you must possess appropriate immigration and identity documents in addition to your FAST Commercial Driver card.
Change of information
If the information that you provided in your application changes in any way, you must notify immediately, in writing, a FAST processing centre in both Canada and the United States.
Lost/Stolen or damaged/Defective cards
You must notify the processing centre in Canada at once if your card has been lost or stolen.
If your card has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must pay the program fee to be re-issued a card.
Defective cards will be replaced free of charge.
Note: The addresses for the FAST processing centres can be found at the back of this guide.
Penalties
CBSA and CBP officers will strictly enforce the law. Any time you enter Canada or the United States you are subject to compliance and enforcement checks. If you are found in violation of any condition of the FAST program, or of any law of Canada or the United States, officers may:
revoke your FAST Commercial Driver card. If your card is revoked, you must wait 90 days before you can re apply to the FAST Commercial Driver Program;
seize any undeclared goods and the vehicle you used to transport those goods;
issue penalties;
initiate administrative procedures; and
initiate criminal prosecution.
Crossing the border
As a FAST Commercial Driver participant, you must declare all goods you are importing whenever you cross the border into Canada or the United States.
Entering the United States with goods to declare
If you are entering the United States and are importing goods for your personal use, you must make a verbal declaration to the officer in the booth. For more information, residents of the United States should refer to the United States pamphlet called Know Before You Go and Canadian residents visiting the United States should review the publication called Visiting the United States.
If you are entering the United States and have goods to declare in excess of your personal exemption, you must use the regular lane.
Entering Canada with goods to declare
If you are entering Canada and are importing goods for your personal use that do not exceed your personal exemption, you must make a verbal declaration to the officer in the booth. For more information about importing goods into Canada, Canadian residents should see the CBSA pamphlet called I Declare and residents of the United States should review the pamphlet called Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents.
If you are entering Canada and have goods to declare in excess of your personal exemption, you must use the regular lane.
Note: Canadian residents have the option of obtaining Traveller Declaration Cards that can be presented any time you cross into Canada using the FAST lane. You must complete the card before arriving in Canada. When you arrive, hand your TDC to the officer in the booth. If you exceed your personal exemption, the duties and tax owing will be charged to your credit card.
Importing restrictions for Canada and the United States for personal use goods
You must not import controlled, restricted, or prohibited firearms or weapons, including Mace, pepper spray, and stun guns.
You must not import controlled, restricted, or prohibited goods, animals, or plants. This includes controlled, restricted, or prohibited substances, endangered animals and species, and restricted fruits and vegetables. For more information, see the CBSA pamphlets I Declare and Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, and the CBP publications Know Before You Go and Visiting the United States.
If you bring or carry more than US$10,000 in currency and monetary instruments into or out of the United States, you must use the regular lane and make a declaration to CBP.
FAST procedures at port of entry
FAST clearance can only be used if everyone in the vehicle is in possession of a valid FAST Commercial Driver card and transporting eligible goods for a FAST-approved carrier and importer. The following procedures apply:
When you enter Canada or the United States where there is a dedicated FAST lane, stop and hold your FAST Commercial Driver card(s) in front of the card reader (where available) and then stop at the inspection booth to complete the inspection process.
For border locations without a dedicated FAST lane, present your FAST Commercial Driver card(s) to the officer in the booth.
Need more information?
If you want to know more about the FAST Commercial Driver Program, please contact the FAST Commercial Driver Program processing centre at:
FAST Commercial Driver Program
4551 Zimmerman Avenue
P.O. Box 66
Niagara Falls ON L2E 6T1
CANADA
FAST Processing Center
United States Customs and Border Protection
50 South Main St., Suite 100R
St. Albans VT 05478
U. S. A.
Free and Secure Trade
RC4319(E) Rev. 05
Table of Contents
Introduction
FAST terms and conditions
Change of information
Lost/Stolen or damaged/Defective cards
Penalties
Crossing the border
Entering the United States with goods to declare
Entering Canada with goods to declare
Importing restrictions for Canada and the United States for personal use goods
FAST procedures at port of entry
Need more information?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
In this guide, you will find information about the FAST Commercial Driver Program.
As an approved participant of this program, you will receive:
this participant’s guide;
a FAST Commercial Driver card with photo identification;
for Canadian residents, a copy of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) pamphlet called I Declare, and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publication called Visiting the United States;
for United States residents, a copy of the CBSA pamphlet called Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, and the CBP publication called, Know Before You Go; and
information on Canadian and American immigration rules related to cabotage.
FAST terms and conditions
Once you are approved for the FAST Commercial Driver Program you must:
comply with all CBSA legislation, and any other laws that are enforced by the CBP and the CBSA;
carry at all times and show when requested your FAST Commercial Driver card, and necessary personal identification including any immigration documents.;
make sure everyone in your vehicle has a valid FAST Commercial Driver card before you reach the border. If any of the passengers in your vehicle are not carrying their FAST Commercial Driver card or you have passengers in your vehicle who are not FAST Commercial Driver participants, you must use the regular service lanes;
not transfer your FAST Commercial Driver card to another individual;
not violate the immigration regulations of Canada or the United States concerning “cabotage” – or “point to point” movement of commercial shipments.
When you are no longer a participant in the FAST Commercial Driver Program you must:
return the FAST Commercial Driver card to any CBSA office in Canada or the United States; and
return unused Traveller Declaration Cards to any CBSA office in Canada.
Note: The FAST Commercial Driver card is not a travel document. Your authorized period of admission to Canada or the United States will depend on your underlying immigration status for each country or your citizenship in that country. Your immigration status and citizenship must be valid at all times, and you must possess appropriate immigration and identity documents in addition to your FAST Commercial Driver card.
Change of information
If the information that you provided in your application changes in any way, you must notify immediately, in writing, a FAST processing centre in both Canada and the United States.
Lost/Stolen or damaged/Defective cards
You must notify the processing centre in Canada at once if your card has been lost or stolen.
If your card has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must pay the program fee to be re-issued a card.
Defective cards will be replaced free of charge.
Note: The addresses for the FAST processing centres can be found at the back of this guide.
Penalties
CBSA and CBP officers will strictly enforce the law. Any time you enter Canada or the United States you are subject to compliance and enforcement checks. If you are found in violation of any condition of the FAST program, or of any law of Canada or the United States, officers may:
revoke your FAST Commercial Driver card. If your card is revoked, you must wait 90 days before you can re apply to the FAST Commercial Driver Program;
seize any undeclared goods and the vehicle you used to transport those goods;
issue penalties;
initiate administrative procedures; and
initiate criminal prosecution.
Crossing the border
As a FAST Commercial Driver participant, you must declare all goods you are importing whenever you cross the border into Canada or the United States.
Entering the United States with goods to declare
If you are entering the United States and are importing goods for your personal use, you must make a verbal declaration to the officer in the booth. For more information, residents of the United States should refer to the United States pamphlet called Know Before You Go and Canadian residents visiting the United States should review the publication called Visiting the United States.
If you are entering the United States and have goods to declare in excess of your personal exemption, you must use the regular lane.
Entering Canada with goods to declare
If you are entering Canada and are importing goods for your personal use that do not exceed your personal exemption, you must make a verbal declaration to the officer in the booth. For more information about importing goods into Canada, Canadian residents should see the CBSA pamphlet called I Declare and residents of the United States should review the pamphlet called Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents.
If you are entering Canada and have goods to declare in excess of your personal exemption, you must use the regular lane.
Note: Canadian residents have the option of obtaining Traveller Declaration Cards that can be presented any time you cross into Canada using the FAST lane. You must complete the card before arriving in Canada. When you arrive, hand your TDC to the officer in the booth. If you exceed your personal exemption, the duties and tax owing will be charged to your credit card.
Importing restrictions for Canada and the United States for personal use goods
You must not import controlled, restricted, or prohibited firearms or weapons, including Mace, pepper spray, and stun guns.
You must not import controlled, restricted, or prohibited goods, animals, or plants. This includes controlled, restricted, or prohibited substances, endangered animals and species, and restricted fruits and vegetables. For more information, see the CBSA pamphlets I Declare and Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, and the CBP publications Know Before You Go and Visiting the United States.
If you bring or carry more than US$10,000 in currency and monetary instruments into or out of the United States, you must use the regular lane and make a declaration to CBP.
FAST procedures at port of entry
FAST clearance can only be used if everyone in the vehicle is in possession of a valid FAST Commercial Driver card and transporting eligible goods for a FAST-approved carrier and importer. The following procedures apply:
When you enter Canada or the United States where there is a dedicated FAST lane, stop and hold your FAST Commercial Driver card(s) in front of the card reader (where available) and then stop at the inspection booth to complete the inspection process.
For border locations without a dedicated FAST lane, present your FAST Commercial Driver card(s) to the officer in the booth.
Need more information?
If you want to know more about the FAST Commercial Driver Program, please contact the FAST Commercial Driver Program processing centre at:
FAST Commercial Driver Program
4551 Zimmerman Avenue
P.O. Box 66
Niagara Falls ON L2E 6T1
CANADA
FAST Processing Center
United States Customs and Border Protection
50 South Main St., Suite 100R
St. Albans VT 05478
U. S. A.