Fast driver Registration

Commercial Driver Participant Guide

Participant Guide

Table of Contents

Page

Table of Contents 3

Introduction 4

FAST Terms and Conditions 5

Change of Account Information 5

Lost/Stolen or Damaged/Defective Cards 6

Penalties 6

Crossing the Border 6

Entering the United States with Goods to Declare 7

Importing Restrictions for the United States for Personal Use Goods 7

FAST Procedures at Port of Entry 7

Denial and Revocation Inquiries 8

Introduction

I

n this guide, you will find information about the FAST Commercial Driver Program.

Please also note the following limited uses of the FAST Commercial Driver card outside of the FAST Program:

• 
  The FAST Commercial Driver card is accepted as proof of identity and citizenship and serves as a secure alternative to a passport for purposes of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. It may be used for this purpose in FAST lane processing or other land border travel to the United States including in non-commercial and pedestrian lanes. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you must always have appropriate immigration documents with you in addition to your FAST card when entering the United States.
  
• 
  YOU MAY NEVER USE YOUR FAST CARD TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES USING A SENTRI OR NEXUS LANE.
  
• 
  In general, FAST Commercial Driver cards are valid for five years. However, if a renewal request is filed before expiration, a FAST Commercial Driver card remains valid beyond its printed expiration date until a new card is activated or the renewal request is denied.
  

As an approved participant of the FAST Commercial Driver Program, you will receive:

• 
  this participant’s guide;
  
• 
  a FAST Commercial Driver card with photo identification;
  
• 
  for U.S. residents, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publication called, Know Before You Go;
  

FAST Terms and Conditions

When making a FAST trip to the United States, you must:

• 
  comply with all customs and immigration laws , and any other laws that are enforced by CBP;
  
• 
  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 is either not carrying his FAST Commercial Driver card or is not a FAST Commercial Driver participant, you must use the regular service lanes;
  
• 
  not transfer your FAST Commercial Driver card to another individual;
  
• 
  not violate the customs and immigration regulations of 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:

• 
  Close your FAST account using the Global Online Enrollment System (GOES) or return the FAST Commercial Driver card to a FAST Enrollment Center.
  

Change of Account Information

You must notify CBP in person at a FAST Enrollment Center if any information submitted as part of your FAST Commercial Driver application changes. The only exceptions are that address changes and new commercial driver’s license information may be submitted online using GOES.¹

Lost/Stolen or Damaged/Defective Cards

You must notify a FAST Enrollment Center at once if your card has been lost or stolen:

• 
  If your card has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must pay US $25 to be re-issued a card.
  
• 
  Defective cards will be replaced free of charge at any FAST Enrollment Center. The defective card must be surrendered.
  

The addresses and phone number for the FAST enrollment centers can be found at www.cbp.gov.

Penalties

CBP officers will strictly enforce the law. Any time you enter 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 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 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 that do not exceed your personal exemption, you must make an oral declaration to the officer in the booth. For more information, U.S. residents should refer to the U.S. pamphlet called Know Before You Go and Mexican residents visiting the United States should see 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.

Importing Restrictions for 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 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 U.S., 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 a FAST approved driver carries eligible goods for a Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) approved carrier and importer under high security seal. On the U.S. / Mexico border, the manufacturer must also be C-TPAT approved. The following procedures apply:

1. 
   In order to use the FAST lanes, all persons in the conveyance must be in possession of a valid FAST Commercial Driver card.
   
2. 
   When you enter the United States where there is a dedicated FAST lane or an RFID reader, stop and hold your FAST Commercial Driver card in front of the card reader and then stop at the inspection booth to complete the inspection process.
   
3. 
   For border locations without an RFID reader, present your FAST Commercial Driver card to the officer in the booth.
   

Denial and Revocation Inquiries

I

f your application to the FAST Commercial Driver Program is denied or your membership is revoked, you may inquire with a FAST Enrollment Center supervisor or in writing with the CBP Ombudsman if the reasons for the action are unclear. The Ombudsman’s address is:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

300 Interstate Corporate Center, Suite 303

Williston, VT 05495

Attn: CBP Ombudsman

FAST Driver Enrollment Center contact information is listed on our web site at: www.cbp.gov. You should make these inquiries before re-applying to the program.

1 Note that possession of a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) is not a formal requirement of the program.