What is the FAST program?

The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative involving the Canada Border Services Agency, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

FAST supports moving pre-approved eligible goods across the border quickly and verifying trade compliance away from the border.

It is a harmonized commercial process offered to pre-approved importers, carriers, and registered drivers. Shipments for approved companies, transported by approved carriers using registered drivers, will be cleared into either country with greater speed and certainty, and at a reduced cost of compliance.

What are the benefits of the FAST program?

FAST, based on sound risk management techniques, focuses on greater speed and certainty at the border and reduces the cost of compliance by:

• Reducing the information requirements for customs clearance
• Eliminating the need for importers to transmit data for each transaction
• Dedicating lanes for FAST clearances
• Reducing the rate of border examinations
• Verifying trade compliance away from the border
• Streamlining accounting and payment processes for all goods imported by approved importers (Canada only)

Who is eligible to apply?

There are three major participant groups who are eligible for FAST - importers, carriers and drivers. FAST will be available to those participants who have a demonstrated history of compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations, and have acceptable books, records and audit trails.

Protecting privacy and personal information

To become a FAST member, you are required to provide personal information to the CBSA. The CBSA uses the information you provide to determine your eligibility for the program.

All personal information collected is protected by the CBSA and under the Privacy Act. The CBSA shares this information with its partners in order to establish your admissibility. Program partners include the United States Customs Border Protection (CBP), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Unless you provide expressed written consent through the "FAST Driver Consent for Disclosure Form", or disclosure is legally authorized, the CBSA will not disclose your details to anyone other than those responsible for determining eligibility.

Where is FAST available?

Currently, Canada and the United States jointly offer expedited Customs clearance processes to pre-authorized drivers, carriers and importers at the following twelve major border crossings:

• Stanstead (55), Quebec / Derby Line, Vermont
• St. Armand/Philipsburg, Quebec / Highgate Springs, Vermont
• Lacolle, Quebec / Champlain, New York **Dedicated FAST Lane Southbound only**
• Lansdowne, Ontario / Alexandria Bay, New York
• Queenston, Ontario / Lewiston, New York
• Fort Erie, Ontario / Buffalo, New York
• Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan
• Sarnia, Ontario / Port Huron, Michigan **Designated FAST Lane**
• Emerson, Manitoba / Pembina, North Dakota
• North Portal, Saskatchewan / Portal, North Dakota
• Coutts, Alberta / Sweetgrass, Montana
• Pacific Highway, British Columbia / Blaine, Washington

In addition to the above, plans are being developed to have all major commercial crossings FAST capable by the end of 2004.

Where are FAST Driver Enrolment Centres located?

Currently, there are ten FAST commercial driver enrolment centres located at the following locations:

• Woodstock, New Brunswick / Houlton, Maine
• Stanstead (55), Quebec / Derby Line, Vermont
• St-Bernard-de-Lacolle - Highway 15, Quebec / Champlain, New York
• Windsor, Ontario / Detroit, Michigan
• Fort Erie, Ontario / Buffalo, New York
• Sarnia, Ontario / Port Huron, Michigan
• Emerson, Manitoba / Pembina, North Dakota
• North Portal, Saskatchewan / Portal, North Dakota
• Coutts, Alberta / Sweetgrass, Montana
• Pacific Highway, British Columbia / Blaine, Washington

Note: The enrolment centres are physically located at the bolded location.

Locations and Hours of Service

Please Note: Enrollment centers will be closed on all Canadian and United States statutory holidays, as well as, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Enrollment Center Sites	Location of Enrollment Centers	Hours of Service
Woodstock, New Brunswick/ Houlton, Maine	1403 Route 95 Belleville, New Brunswick E7M 4Z9 Tel: (506) 325-3199 Toll Free: 1 866 930-3278	Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Atlantic Time
Stanstead (55), Quebec Derby Line, Vermont	107 I-91 South Derby Line, Vermont 05830 Tel: (802) 873-3219	Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time By appointment only (819) 876-7821
St-Bernard-de-Lacolle - Highway 15, Quebec/ Champlain, New York **Joint FAST/NEXUS**	I-87 U.S. Customs Truck Cargo Inspection Facility 198 West Service Rd. Champlain, NY 12919 Tel: (518) 298-7220	Monday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Fort Erie, Ontario/ Buffalo, New York **Joint FAST/NEXUS**	Joint FAST/NEXUS Enrollment Center Commercial Vehicle Processing Centre 10 Central Avenue Fort Erie, Ontario L2A 6G6 Tel: (905) 994-6546	Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Windsor, Ontario/ Detroit, Michigan	Ambassador Bridge FAST Enrollment Centre 4285 Industrial Drive Windsor Ontario N9C 3R9 Tel: (519) 967-4052	Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Sarnia, Ontario/ Port Huron, Michigan	Blue Water Bridge U.S. Customs Truck Cargo Inspection Facility 2nd Floor, 2321 Pine Grove Ave. Port Huron, MI 48060 Tel: (810) 985-9541, ext. 261	Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Emerson, Manitoba/ Pembina, North Dakota	U.S. Customs Building 10980 Suite 2 Highway 29 Pembina, North Dakota 58271 Tel: (701) 825-6551	Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Central Time
North Portal, Saskatchewan/ Portal, North Dakota	U.S. Customs Building 301 West Railway Portal, North Dakota 58271 Tel: (701) 926-5670 (701) 926-4411	Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Central Time
Coutts, Alberta/ Sweetgrass, Montana	U.S. Customs Commercial Building 1-15 Sweetgrass, Montana 59484 Tel: (406) 335-9610 ext. 617 and 618	Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Pacific Highway, British Columbia/ Blaine, Washington **Joint FAST/NEXUS**	U.S. Customs 9901 Pacific Highway Blaine WA 98230 Tel: (360) 332-2380	Monday to Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time