The FAST program is a
bilateral initiative between
the United States and Canada
designed to ensure security
and safety while enhancing the
economic prosperity of both
countries. In developing
this program, Canada and the
United States have agreed to
harmonize, to the maximum
extent possible, their
commercial processes for
clearance of commercial
shipments at the border.
This will promote free and
secure trade by using common
risk-management principles,
supply chain security,
industry partnership, and
advanced technology to improve
the efficiency of screening
and clearing commercial
traffic at our shared border.
FAST is a harmonized
clearance process for known
low-risk shipments.
Thus, any truck using FAST
lane processing must be a FAST
approved carrier, carrying
qualifying goods from a U.S.
Customs -Trade Partnership
Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)
approved importer, and the
driver in possession of a
valid FAST – Commercial
Driver Card. The
following are the key
components:
Importer Registration:
Importers will complete
separate applications to the
customs administrations in the
United States and Canada.
Importers authorized to use
the FAST program for clearance
into the United States will
have a demonstrated history of
complying with all relevant
legislative and regulatory
requirements, and will have
made a commitment to security
enhancing business practices
as required by C-TPAT.
Carrier Registration:
Carriers will complete a
single FAST Highway Carrier
Application that includes a
security profile and a written
Highway Carrier Agreement.
A carrier may apply to either
or both Canada and the United
States. Each country
will perform an independent
risk assessment and each
country will issue independent
approvals for participation.
For the United States, a FAST
approved carrier will have met
all aspects of C-TPAT through
the FAST registration process.
Carriers authorized to use the
FAST program will have a
demonstrated history of
complying with all relevant
legislative and regulatory
requirements and will have
made a commitment to
security-enhancing business
practices as required by C-TPAT.
Commercial Driver
Application: Drivers
will complete a single FAST
Commercial Driver Application.
The application will be
risk-assessed by the customs
and immigration of both
countries. Applicants
identified as low risk will
report to an enrollment center
where they will be
interviewed, have their
original identification and
citizenship documents
reviewed, fingerprinted and
have a digital photo taken.
Low-risk applicants may then
be issued a FAST-Commercial
Driver Card. This card
will be a proximity card and
will display the digital photo
and biographical information
of the driver. During
FAST border processing a
reader will recognize that
driver as a FAST approved
commercial driver and will
display his/her photo and
biographical information in
the Primary Truck Lane.
Commencing December 2002,
FAST processing will be
available at the following
major U.S./Canada border
crossings:
