Lobby groups balk at FAST processing fee

OTTAWA (Sept. 16, 2002) — Canada’s largest trucking industry lobby group said it will fight to change a proposed $80 fee for truck drivers to register with a new expedited border clearance program.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance said the United States Customs Service and Canada Customs and Revenue Agency plan to charge $80 every two years for a truck driver to register under the FAST (Free and Secure Trading) program. Under FAST, drivers, importers, and trucking companies agree to substantial background checks in exchange for speedy clearance.

“While the FAST program is a significant step forward in efforts by the two governments to introduce bilateral programs to expedite the flow of commercial traffic across the Canada-U.S. border, the $80 processing fee for truck driver registration/security checks every two years is not acceptable,” said CTA chief executive David Bradley.

The CTA said the American Trucking Associations have raised similar concerns.

“Discussions with Canadian and U.S. officials so far indicate that the level of the processing fee is non-negotiable,” Bradley said, “and while our associations do not support yet another charge on trade, we are hopeful that steps can be taken to attenuate the impact on the industry.”

Specifically, CTA and ATA want the two-year validity period of the FAST card extended to five years.

The CTA said neither association questions the rationale behind voluntary driver background checks for those who wish to obtain expedited clearance at the border.