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What is the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Program?
The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program is a commercial clearance program for known lowrisk shipments entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. Initiated after 9/11, this innovative trusted traveler/trusted shipper program allows for expedited processing for commercial carriers who have completed background checks and fulfill certain eligibility requirements. More than 87,000 commercial drivers are currently enrolled in the FAST program nationwide. (The FAST program is open to enrollment by U.S., Canadian, and Mexican truck drivers.) FAST processing exists at 55 of 105 northern and southern land border ports that process commercial cargo. The majority of FAST processing occurs at dedicated FAST lanes in key northern border ports in Michigan, New York and Washington state and at southern border ports from California to Texas. Participation in FAST requires that every link in the supply chain, from manufacturer to carrier to driver to importer is certified under the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. C-TPAT is a voluntary government-private sector partnership in which companies involved in commerce destined for the U.S. demonstrate that they have implemented enhanced security measures within their facilities and day-to-day operations to prevent terrorists and weapons of mass effect from infiltrating the supply chain. CBP routinely conducts on-site visits to domestic and foreign facilities to evaluate and validate security measures undertaken by C-TPAT members. More than 7,500 companies worldwide are certified C-TPAT members. The availability of online filing of C-TPAT applications through www.cbp.gov helps to facilitate the enrollment process. Among the key benefits of FAST enrollment are: Access to dedicated lanes for greater speed and efficiency in the processing of transborder shipments, Reduced number of inspections resulting in reduced delays at the border, Priority (front of the line) processing for CBP inspections, and Enhanced supply chain security while protecting the economic prosperity of the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security
http://www.cbp.gov/
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