Truckers absent from FAST interviews: CBSA

Thousands of truck drivers are failing to show up for their Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program interviews, say Canadian border officials.

The personal interviews are the last step in the process of obtaining a FAST card. When a driver applies for a FAST card, he or she receives a conditional acceptance, but has 90 days to go for an interview to complete the process.

As of July 27, 29,265 U.S. and Canadian drivers were conditionally approved for the FAST program after submitting applications. But only 17,812 turned up for their interviews within the 90 day window, said Chris Kealey, a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency.

Drivers who failed to show up will have to reapply, Kealey said.

Drivers have complained they are unable to make it to their interviews, because their work schedules conflict with the open hours and locations of the border offices where FAST interviews are conducted.