A FAST card (Free and Secure Trade card) is an essential tool for Canadian truck drivers who frequently cross the US border. It simplifies border crossings, reduces wait times, and opens doors to more job opportunities in the trucking industry.
However, obtaining a FAST card can be challenging if you have a criminal record, as the mandatory background check often leads to denial. Thankfully, Pardons Canada can help you overcome this obstacle and secure your future.
What is a FAST Card for Truck Drivers?
Essentially, the FAST card for truck drivers is a trusted traveller program designed for those who engage in cross-border trade. With a FAST card, drivers experience expedited customs clearance, reduced inspection times, and less hassle at the border.
This credential can not only make your daily operations smoother but also improve employability by demonstrating reliability and professionalism to potential employers.
How a Criminal Record Affects FAST Card Eligibility
When applying for a FAST card, a thorough background check is conducted, and any criminal record – even minor offences – can result in an immediate denial. This creates significant challenges for Canadian truck drivers whose livelihoods depend on cross-border transport.
Clearing your criminal record with a pardon (now known as a record suspension) can be instrumental in overcoming this barrier. If a trucker gets a Canada Pardon before applying for a FAST card, it is unlikely that the criminal record will show up in the application process.
How Pardons Canada Can Help
A record suspension seals your criminal record, ensuring it does not appear on standard background checks required for FAST card applications. Pardons Canada specializes in guiding Canadians through the pardon process, ensuring all paperwork is accurate and complete and significantly increasing your chances of success. With our expertise, you can move forward confidently and secure your FAST card.
Here is a letter we recently received from a truck driver who we helped to get a pardon:
“Thank you for sending my pardon promptly. Now, I can apply for my FAST card. This will enable me to go through the border much faster with little questions asked. It could possibly avoid going through an x-ray.”
“As far as employment, I can now go and apply for a job to be cream of the crop. When you have any kind of record, you will have to settle for the bottom of the barrel.”
“In the slow (business) time that we are in now, employers can be very particular about who they hire. The ones with the clean criminal record come first.”
“I will never drink and drive again or commit any criminal offence as they say you don’t know what you got till you lose it.”
Contact Pardons Canada About FAST Card for Truck Drivers
A FAST card is more than a convenience – it’s a vital tool for Canadian truck drivers hoping to further their careers. If a criminal record is holding you back, Pardons Canada can help. Our team of experts will guide you through the pardon process so that you can confidently apply for your FAST card.
Contact Pardons Canada today and take the first step toward your brighter future.