CBSA Ends CDRP This September — Your Drivers Should Already Be on FAST

CBSA is ending the Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP) on September 1, 2026. The reason is straightforward: hardly anyone uses it, and it overlaps with the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program, which does the same job better.

If you have cross-border drivers who are enrolled in CDRP but not FAST, this is your window to fix that. Applications submitted by September 1 will still be processed, and current CDRP cards stay valid until they expire. But the program is done.

Why CDRP Is Being Phased Out

Low uptake. CBSA ran the numbers and found that CDRP enrollment was minimal compared to FAST. The two programs serve overlapping purposes: both provide pre-clearance for low-risk commercial drivers crossing the Canada-US border. FAST is the larger, more established program, with dedicated lanes at major crossings and recognition on both sides of the border.

CDRP was a Canadian-only credential. FAST is joint Canada-US, administered by CBSA and US Customs and Border Protection. If you’re moving freight in both directions, FAST is the one that works at both ends.

The decision to end CDRP is pragmatic. Why run two parallel driver-clearance programs when one does the job and has the infrastructure already in place?

What This Means for Your Cross-Border Freight Operations

If your drivers are CDRP-enrolled but not FAST-enrolled, you have until September 1 to get FAST applications in. After that, CDRP is closed.

Current CDRP cards remain valid until expiry, so there’s no immediate disruption if your driver has a card that runs into 2027 or 2028. But when it expires, the replacement path is FAST, not CDRP renewal.

FAST enrollment is more involved than CDRP was. Drivers need to submit an application, pay the fee, pass a background check, and attend an interview at a FAST enrollment centre. Processing times vary, but it’s not a same-week turnaround. If you have drivers who need to be cleared for regular cross-border work, start the FAST application now rather than waiting for the CDRP card to expire.

FAST membership is valid for five years. The fee is CAD 50 (or USD 50 for US applicants). CBSA’s FAST program page has the application portal and enrollment centre locations.

Why FAST Is the Better Move Anyway

Even if CDRP weren’t being phased out, FAST is the stronger credential for regular cross-border drivers.

FAST gets you dedicated lanes at major crossings: Windsor-Detroit, Fort Erie-Buffalo, Lacolle-Champlain, Pacific Highway-Blaine. If your driver is moving freight through any of these crossings weekly, the time savings on the FAST lane add up. CDRP had no lane priority.

FAST is recognized by both CBSA and CBP. A driver with a FAST card is pre-cleared on both sides. CDRP was Canada-only. If your driver is running southbound loads, CDRP gave them nothing on the US side.

FAST also integrates with other trusted-trader programs. If your company is enrolled in CBSA’s Partners in Protection (PIP) or has Free and Secure Trade (FAST) company certification, having FAST-enrolled drivers is part of the compliance picture. CDRP didn’t tie into those frameworks.

The upfront effort for FAST enrollment is higher than CDRP was, but the operational return is better. If you run regular cross-border freight and your drivers aren’t FAST-enrolled, this is a good time to fix that regardless of the CDRP sunset.

TCCU Holiday Schedule (The Other Item in This Week’s CBSA Notices)

The Technical Commercial Client Unit (TCCU) office will be closed Monday, August 3, 2026 for the Civic holiday. TCCU production support will be running on an “after hours” schedule.

This is routine. TCCU handles technical support for EDI transmissions, CERS portal issues, and eManifest portal problems. If you have an urgent technical issue on August 3, the TCCU hotline (1-888-957-7224) will still be staffed, just on reduced hours.

Most import operations won’t notice. Your customs brokerage files CADs and handles releases on statutory holidays routinely. The TCCU closure is relevant if you’re troubleshooting a portal error or an EDI connectivity issue on that specific Monday. Otherwise, it’s background noise.

If you’re running freight through Montreal and need dock-to-stock clearance on August 3, that’s business as usual. Our physical operations partner FENGYE LOGISTICS handles inbound clearance and warehousing through statutory holidays, and we file CADs against morning arrivals the same day.

Bottom Line

CDRP is done September 1. If your drivers need cross-border clearance credentials, FAST is the replacement. Start applications now if you haven’t already. The enrollment process isn’t instant.

If you’re not sure whether your current driver setup is FAST-ready, or if you want to talk through the compliance side of cross-border freight, get in touch.

Source: CSCB