FAST (Free and Secure Trade) for Carriers and Drivers: A Plain-Language Guide
Free and Secure Trade (FAST) is a voluntary commercial clearance program run jointly by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It pre-screens drivers, carriers and importers so that low-risk trucks cross the Canada–US border faster.
What FAST brings at the border
- Dedicated FAST lanes, where available, for faster clearance.
- Minimal documentation to clear the border, and greater certainty of quick processing.
- Shorter delivery times and lower landed costs for imports.
- For Canadian and U.S. citizens, the FAST card is accepted as proof of identity and citizenship when entering Canada.
The three participants
FAST works only when every link is approved. Drivers, carriers and importers each undergo a risk assessment by both agencies.
- Into Canada: the carrier and the importer must be authorized under Partners in Protection (PIP), or under both Customs Self Assessment (CSA) and PIP; everyone in the truck needs a valid FAST card; and the goods must be eligible, shipped directly from the continental United States or Mexico.
- Into the United States: the truck must be run by a FAST-approved carrier under C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism), hauling goods for a FAST-approved importer, with a driver holding a valid FAST card.
The driver's FAST card
- The non-refundable processing fee for drivers is US$50. There is no fee for carriers or importers.
- The card is valid for five years, as long as the member keeps meeting the program's terms.
- Conditionally approved applicants book an interview at a FAST enrolment centre.
- Drivers carrying goods under the Customs Self Assessment (CSA) program must also be FAST-approved.
Rules that can cost a membership
Members must carry their card and travel documents, keep their personal and immigration information up to date, and never lend the card. The CBSA sets waiting periods before a former member can reapply:
- 6 years for transferring the card to another person, or for undeclared commercial goods, restricted or prohibited goods, or more than CAN$10,000 in currency.
- 1 year for helping a non-member use the program, missing documents, or failing to update information.
- Longer periods for enforcement actions under the Customs Act or criminal convictions.
Finding approved carriers
The CBSA publishes a list of FAST-approved carriers that agreed to have their name posted, with province and phone number. It is not exhaustive, so ask a carrier directly for its FAST status.