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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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
|
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 |
|
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
|
|
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 |
|
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 |
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 |
