WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 29, 2005) — Starting Sunday, carriers hauling shipments using the Border Release Advance Screening and Selectivity release system must have FAST-approved drivers hauling the load.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will slap non-compliant carriers with fines of $5,000 for two weeks. After May 15, 2005, the border agency will begin denying the conveyance to proceed into the U.S. and turn the trucks around back to Canada, U.S. Customs announced in a press release.

“The enforcement of this requirement of the Trade Act of 2002 will promote free and secure trade by using common risk-management principles, supply chain security, industry partnership, and advanced technology,” said Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. “This will lead to improved efficiency of screening and clearing of commercial traffic at our shared border.”

Understanding that additional effort must be made to get drivers registered in FAST, CBP has increased staffing and extended the working hours of the FAST Processing Center and its FAST Enrollment Centers. This will help alleviate the expected increase in new applicants trying to satisfy the May 1, 2005 compliance date. CBP has also notified carriers in an attempt to expedite issuance of the FAST cards for their drivers.