WASHINGTON — Already, about 20 percent of the 5,800 FAST driver accounts set to expire before Oct. 1, 2008 have been renewed in the first two months of the year.

As of the start of this month, US Customs and Border protection and Canada Border Services Agency had jointly processed 716 renewal requests for the first five-year renewals. That number has since climbed.

CBP calls the renewal rate, “a promising start.” In response the agency has issued the following guidelines for U.S.-Canada FAST Commercial Driver renewals to minimize any disruptions.

FAST drivers may file an application for renewal up to 90 days in advance of the printed expiration date on their card.

The renewal process for FAST memberships is similar to that for enrolling as a new member, with paper application fees of $50 Canadian or U.S. Applications can be mailed to FAST Commercial Driver Program, 4551 Zimmerman Avenue, P.O. Box 66 Niagara Falls, ON, L2E 6T1.

CBSA transmits an electronic renewal request to CBP upon receipt of the paper application and fee, and this message must be received by CBP on or before the expiration date printed on the renewing member’s card or CBP will revoke the membership.

Drivers who fail to renew their FAST membership in a timely fashion run the risk of having their membership expire.