Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Why would I need it? Why does a Birth Certificate, DL not be the same?
Canada Fast
- Thread starter Broompilot
- Start date
HI
Fast system requires a back ground check for US and Canada. The card is supposably none forgable or atleast not as easy to forge as a DL or Birth cert. It basicly releives the customs officers of responsibilty if you cross at their booth then go blow something up, they can say a higher authority gave you permission to enter the country.
In the future you will only be able to come back into the US with either a Fast Card or a passport.
Your vehicle is also identified through the Fast program. It is given a transponder that you stick to the windshield. This way when your vehicle passes by the reader at the booth the Customs agents computor show year, make and model of the vehicle.This same reader reads your ID card and shows the officer a picture of you. Kind of hard to steal somebody,s card and sneak across.
This system has greatly reduced the back-ups at the borders.Personaly I feel it is the only good thing to come out of the Home Land Security Office.
Thanks and have a good one.
Fast system requires a back ground check for US and Canada. The card is supposably none forgable or atleast not as easy to forge as a DL or Birth cert. It basicly releives the customs officers of responsibilty if you cross at their booth then go blow something up, they can say a higher authority gave you permission to enter the country.
In the future you will only be able to come back into the US with either a Fast Card or a passport.
Your vehicle is also identified through the Fast program. It is given a transponder that you stick to the windshield. This way when your vehicle passes by the reader at the booth the Customs agents computor show year, make and model of the vehicle.This same reader reads your ID card and shows the officer a picture of you. Kind of hard to steal somebody,s card and sneak across.
This system has greatly reduced the back-ups at the borders.Personaly I feel it is the only good thing to come out of the Home Land Security Office.
Thanks and have a good one.
jrcarroll
Expert Expediter
> HI
.
>Your vehicle is also identified through the Fast program. It
>is given a transponder that you stick to the windshield.
>This way when your vehicle passes by the reader at the booth
>the Customs agents computor show year, make and model of the
>vehicle.This same reader reads your ID card and shows the
>officer a picture of you. Kind of hard to steal somebody,s
>card and sneak across.
>This system has greatly reduced the back-ups at the
>borders.Personaly I feel it is the only good thing to come
>out of the Home Land Security Office.
>Thanks and have a good one.
Ok, now what if you drive different trucks? Also what if truck has pass and not the driver who is using it?
Our company has 3 trucks chances of using same truck each time is very slim...
.
>Your vehicle is also identified through the Fast program. It
>is given a transponder that you stick to the windshield.
>This way when your vehicle passes by the reader at the booth
>the Customs agents computor show year, make and model of the
>vehicle.This same reader reads your ID card and shows the
>officer a picture of you. Kind of hard to steal somebody,s
>card and sneak across.
>This system has greatly reduced the back-ups at the
>borders.Personaly I feel it is the only good thing to come
>out of the Home Land Security Office.
>Thanks and have a good one.
Ok, now what if you drive different trucks? Also what if truck has pass and not the driver who is using it?
Our company has 3 trucks chances of using same truck each time is very slim...
If you have 3 trucks crossing the border, each one should have a transponder. The transponder identifies the truck and the load it's carrying if it's a FAST load. If the driver has no FAST card he can't clear freight using the FAST system. He can use PAPS and the transponder isn't needed for that.
I would call the number on your FAST card. I'm sure they can hook you up.
You need it if you will be clearing freight with the FAST system. I don't know about the cost.
>Why would I need it? Why does a Birth Certificate, DL not
>be the same?
The FAST program is more than mere identification.
You will need it if you haul for FAST approved importers and you drive for a FAST approved carrier.
It is your customers and carriers that should make your decision on whether your join the FAST program or not.
I cut and pasted the COMMERCIAL DRIVERS PARTICIPANTS GUIDE.
Read it, it is very clear and concise.
>be the same?
The FAST program is more than mere identification.
You will need it if you haul for FAST approved importers and you drive for a FAST approved carrier.
It is your customers and carriers that should make your decision on whether your join the FAST program or not.
I cut and pasted the COMMERCIAL DRIVERS PARTICIPANTS GUIDE.
Read it, it is very clear and concise.
Cheri, are you with the 2 headed cat? I've heard that they are not yet FAST approved. Maybe Davekc or someone can confirm that.
HI
If your Carrier is in the fast program they should of gave you your transponder as soon as you notified them of receiving your Fast card.You will also need your bridge crossing decal, without this decal you can't use the Fast lane.You can clear Brass loads without the transponder,you the driver are the only one who needs to be approved for this type of clearance.
If your carrier is not in the Fast program it really isn't worth you having the card,transponder and decal.I was talking to a customs officer about 3 months ago and she said that the program is too expensive for most medium to small companies.Only the large multi billion dollar companies can afford to be in the program.The GM's Ford's and Chrysler's not the Home Depot's Dana's or Ted Tool and Die's.I don't agree with this policy.Had hoped that most companies could of qualified thus making the program worth while for the expedite industry.Instead it seems to cater more to the dedicated runs trucking companies.
This could pose a big problem for expedited carrier as they deal with several customers.It's like a double edged sword.They can't make it on just automotive freight but if they diversify then they take the chance of losing the auto freight.They have to decide whether to require all their drivers to be in the Fast program and cater mainly to the auto industry or haul no automotive freight across the border.
Fortunatly their are some pretty sharp minds in this industry who will figure out how to over come these problems.Sorry for the long winded post. Hope this helped.
If your Carrier is in the fast program they should of gave you your transponder as soon as you notified them of receiving your Fast card.You will also need your bridge crossing decal, without this decal you can't use the Fast lane.You can clear Brass loads without the transponder,you the driver are the only one who needs to be approved for this type of clearance.
If your carrier is not in the Fast program it really isn't worth you having the card,transponder and decal.I was talking to a customs officer about 3 months ago and she said that the program is too expensive for most medium to small companies.Only the large multi billion dollar companies can afford to be in the program.The GM's Ford's and Chrysler's not the Home Depot's Dana's or Ted Tool and Die's.I don't agree with this policy.Had hoped that most companies could of qualified thus making the program worth while for the expedite industry.Instead it seems to cater more to the dedicated runs trucking companies.
This could pose a big problem for expedited carrier as they deal with several customers.It's like a double edged sword.They can't make it on just automotive freight but if they diversify then they take the chance of losing the auto freight.They have to decide whether to require all their drivers to be in the Fast program and cater mainly to the auto industry or haul no automotive freight across the border.
Fortunatly their are some pretty sharp minds in this industry who will figure out how to over come these problems.Sorry for the long winded post. Hope this helped.
Thanks, guys - I'm sure I told my carrier that I got the FAST card - maybe I should tell someone other than the dispatcher? lol (I don't drive for the black cat carrier, though I do think it's a cool logo)
Luckily, I have a load onboard for delivery Monday morning within 25 miles of the carrier's HQ, so I can pop in to request the transponder & the decal.
On the subject of border crossing, though, I took a non-FAST load in through Lansdown a few days ago, and got to spend the night parked outside the Customs office. Didn't get to sleep much - NOBODY feels any need to be quiet around there at 4am! Also, it was the first time I used my little propane heater, and I was kind of worried that if I got too warm, I might toss my blanket too close to it, or on top of it - now I'll have to put up a net or something to be sure I won't wake up to a blazing fire that turns out to be my blanket.
Why I spent the night there is because the broker hadn't cleared the freight, though I'd faxed the papers at 4:15pm, and arrived at 2:00am. And no, I hadn't called to ask whether the freight had been cleared. An oversight that I will never commit again - but really, why is it necessary? I don't have to call my carrier to ask if they're going to pay me on time, & the carrier doesn't have to call me to ask if I'm going to deliver the load I picked up - why do brokers need to be asked if the job they agreed to do got done?
Just needed to vent - my first border crossing after investing the time & money for a FAST card, I get to spend the night at Customs! And the morning being directed to widely separated buildings, on foot, in subzero temperatures, not to mention the wicked wind chill!
OK, I'm done now. To whom do I pay the $5 for whining?
Luckily, I have a load onboard for delivery Monday morning within 25 miles of the carrier's HQ, so I can pop in to request the transponder & the decal.
On the subject of border crossing, though, I took a non-FAST load in through Lansdown a few days ago, and got to spend the night parked outside the Customs office. Didn't get to sleep much - NOBODY feels any need to be quiet around there at 4am! Also, it was the first time I used my little propane heater, and I was kind of worried that if I got too warm, I might toss my blanket too close to it, or on top of it - now I'll have to put up a net or something to be sure I won't wake up to a blazing fire that turns out to be my blanket.
Why I spent the night there is because the broker hadn't cleared the freight, though I'd faxed the papers at 4:15pm, and arrived at 2:00am. And no, I hadn't called to ask whether the freight had been cleared. An oversight that I will never commit again - but really, why is it necessary? I don't have to call my carrier to ask if they're going to pay me on time, & the carrier doesn't have to call me to ask if I'm going to deliver the load I picked up - why do brokers need to be asked if the job they agreed to do got done?
Just needed to vent - my first border crossing after investing the time & money for a FAST card, I get to spend the night at Customs! And the morning being directed to widely separated buildings, on foot, in subzero temperatures, not to mention the wicked wind chill!
OK, I'm done now. To whom do I pay the $5 for whining?
Did the Broker not have an After Hours contact? Many Brokers will have a telephone number for After Hours problems; either a local person or a number to a 24 hour office.
I won't comment further as you don't state who the Broker was or why it wasn't set up.
The FAST card only works for Importers who are CSA (Customs Self Assessment) participants. It depends on what customers your carrier has whether it is a worthwhile investment for you to make.
Yes, it does get chilly in the St. Lawrence Valley in the fall and it'll get colder during the winter.
> On the subject of border crossing, though, I took a
>non-FAST load in through Lansdown a few days ago, and got to
>spend the night parked outside the Customs office. Didn't
>get to sleep much - NOBODY feels any need to be quiet around
>there at 4am! Also, it was the first time I used my little
>propane heater, and I was kind of worried that if I got too
>warm, I might toss my blanket too close to it, or on top of
>it - now I'll have to put up a net or something to be sure I
>won't wake up to a blazing fire that turns out to be my
>blanket.
> Why I spent the night there is because the broker hadn't
>cleared the freight, though I'd faxed the papers at 4:15pm,
>and arrived at 2:00am. And no, I hadn't called to ask
>whether the freight had been cleared. An oversight that I
>will never commit again - but really, why is it necessary? I
>don't have to call my carrier to ask if they're going to pay
>me on time, & the carrier doesn't have to call me to ask if
>I'm going to deliver the load I picked up - why do brokers
>need to be asked if the job they agreed to do got done?
> Just needed to vent - my first border crossing after
>investing the time & money for a FAST card, I get to spend
>the night at Customs! And the morning being directed to
>widely separated buildings, on foot, in subzero
>temperatures, not to mention the wicked wind chill!
> OK, I'm done now. To whom do I pay the $5 for whining?
I won't comment further as you don't state who the Broker was or why it wasn't set up.
The FAST card only works for Importers who are CSA (Customs Self Assessment) participants. It depends on what customers your carrier has whether it is a worthwhile investment for you to make.
Yes, it does get chilly in the St. Lawrence Valley in the fall and it'll get colder during the winter.
> On the subject of border crossing, though, I took a
>non-FAST load in through Lansdown a few days ago, and got to
>spend the night parked outside the Customs office. Didn't
>get to sleep much - NOBODY feels any need to be quiet around
>there at 4am! Also, it was the first time I used my little
>propane heater, and I was kind of worried that if I got too
>warm, I might toss my blanket too close to it, or on top of
>it - now I'll have to put up a net or something to be sure I
>won't wake up to a blazing fire that turns out to be my
>blanket.
> Why I spent the night there is because the broker hadn't
>cleared the freight, though I'd faxed the papers at 4:15pm,
>and arrived at 2:00am. And no, I hadn't called to ask
>whether the freight had been cleared. An oversight that I
>will never commit again - but really, why is it necessary? I
>don't have to call my carrier to ask if they're going to pay
>me on time, & the carrier doesn't have to call me to ask if
>I'm going to deliver the load I picked up - why do brokers
>need to be asked if the job they agreed to do got done?
> Just needed to vent - my first border crossing after
>investing the time & money for a FAST card, I get to spend
>the night at Customs! And the morning being directed to
>widely separated buildings, on foot, in subzero
>temperatures, not to mention the wicked wind chill!
> OK, I'm done now. To whom do I pay the $5 for whining?