Canada Immigration, Canada Customs and U.S. Customs teamed up for panel sessions at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY, in March to provide truckers information on border crossing. The topic was the Free And Secure Trade program called FAST.

“This is about helping truckers handle border crossings faster,” said Anne Cascadden, international trade officer with the Canadian Consulate in Detroit.

Cascadden says FAST supports moving preapproved, eligible goods across the Canada-U.S. 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. Through the program, shipments for approved companies, transported by approved carriers using registered drivers, will be cleared into either country with greater speed.

According to Cascadden, many companies are now seeking FAST-registered drivers and refusing to hire those who are not registered.

For further information about theFAST program, visit the following Web site: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/fast/. Also watch the June Land Line for more about the FAST program, who can get preapproved and who can’t.