FAST Card

[Moot]

FAST cards are valid for 5 years. Yesterday I overheard two drivers mention this. I checked my card and it had expired in July. Where did the time go? I delivered about a mile from the border so I stopped by the U.S. Customs FAST office.

The officer ran my card and verified that it had indeed expired but had not been recognized as such by the system. So I re-applied and now must wait up to 6 six weeks to get a new card.

The officer also noted that during the past 5 years my driver's license number and carrier had changed. So I had to fill out a form updating these changes. This form must be completed when ever the card holder's name, driver's license number, address or employer/carrier changes.

If your FAST card is due to expire soon, you should cough up the $50 and start the process. I guess the "F" in FAST doesn't really stand for FREE.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

FYI....IF and DHS is in a bad mood that day they can refuse your entry IF your FAST is not up to date....evrything should match should they hual your butt in for an examination.

 

[highway star]

Stay in touch with the FAST crowd, Moot. There's a problem with approval letters not being sent out. During the process of dealing with all that bovine excrement, I left the company I was doing cross border freight with and didn't bother with the follow up on it. But, I never got a letter. My story is a bit longer, but I won't bore everyone with all the details. Just keep in touch with them. This was a few months ago and they may have fixed the problem.

 

[nightcreacher]

FAST, my pet peeve.Just signing on a co-driver,and had to fork up another 50 bucks for a FAST card that will never get used,as I dont run Canada,the wheel base on my truck with a 53' trailer makes it illegal to go into canada,but FECC says all drivers must have a FAST card,Mine will expire in December,I'm not getting another.If my truck cant go either can I,and when they finally get that speed limiter thing going in Ontario,be another reason I wont be able to go

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Ohhh Steve you could still do Canada...Just not Ontario...I am sure you'd love driving around Montreal in the old district! *lol*

 

[nightcreacher]

but then they would want me to layover in toranto,lol

 

[LDB]

I filled out my 3rd application 2 weeks ago. It will be interesting to see if this one gets to them for processing. Just got back in the states from a Canada load. It was a good load but man, traffic around Toronto is a nightmare. No more loads east of the 410/403 unless they are full daylight not rush hour although it seems rush hour may be 24/7.

 

[P51bombay]

Ohhh Steve you could still do Canada...Just not Ontario...I am sure you'd love driving around Montreal in the old district! *lol*

Same thing in BC, 245" max.

 

[highway star]

Wow! After 7 months, SEVEN MONTHS, my letter from FAST came today. I have 90 days to complete the process. So, Moot, wassup with your app?

 

[pelicn]

We have the FAST card and have never used it

 

[jaminjim]

Lucky you!!

 

[cheri1122]

Mine expired last month, and I'm not bothering to renew it - like Pel, I never used it anyway.

 

[pjjjjj]

Mine expired last month, and I'm not bothering to renew it - like Pel, I never used it anyway.

Aw C'MON Cheri!
It'll be faster for you to come visit me if you renew ;0

 

[piper1]

but man, traffic around Toronto is a nightmare. No more loads east of the 410/403 unless they are full daylight not rush hour although it seems rush hour may be 24/7.

Actually traffic is OK between 11 am and 1pm. Usually while you're waiting for the receiver to be done lunch.

 

[Moot]

Wow! After 7 months, SEVEN MONTHS, my letter from FAST came today. I have 90 days to complete the process. So, Moot, wassup with your app?

Kim, I've been good to go for about a month. Now I need to get to the border for prints and pics. If the pictures turn out good I will send you one wallet size photo!

Pelicn, the FAST card makes for a fair ice scraper in a pinch!

 

[aileron]

The FAST card makes for a fair ice scraper in a pinch!

Ha ha, that is about the only thing that my Fast card was used for. But thinking about it, that was a very expensive ice scraper. I can do the same thing with a regular credit card that I get for free. Nevertheless, when it expires, I will not renew it.

 

[ClassicOne]

Am I the only person who actually used the FAST card? Back when I was actively driving to Canada, it was a fantastic. As long as everything was in order (that burden fell on me to verify all aspects of the load) we passed customs in two minutes (after waiting in line!!) Now I have to go renew it.

 

[RLENT]

I use mine every time I go to Canada or come out ..... whether the load I'm running is a FAST load or not ..... and yes - I'm usually cleared thru Customs in a couple of minutes.

 

[P51bombay]

Empty is one thing but how are you using the fast lane with a non fast load?

 

[RLENT]

Empty is one thing but how are you using the fast lane with a non fast load?

No, I'm not using the FAST lane if I have a non-FAST load - topic wasn't about the FAST lane .... but about the FAST card.

I was just saying that I use the FAST card (as ID) at whatever booth I wind up at - whether the load is FAST or not.