Border crossers?

Discussion in 'Canadian Truckers Forum' started by Ex-Trucker Alex, Jan 3, 2025.

  1. Ex-Trucker Alex

    Ex-Trucker Alex Road Train Member

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    I spent most of my trucking career pre 9/11, back when a CDL and the lack of a record was enough to get you and your truck into Canada in less than 1 hour. I even used to go "in transit" across southern Ontario when I had loads from the Buffalo area to auto factories further north in Michigan. Alas, those days are gone forever...

    So now, I still have my CDL, but it's an "enhanced license", meaning it is sufficient to cross into (and return from) Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean nations. My state is New York, and I believe all the states bordering Canada offer one; it costs an extra $40US when renewing, and it's good for I think 7 or 8 years?

    Does Canada have something similar, or do you all just carry passports now? What about US drivers from states which do NOT offer one? Passports in the US are more than $100 now, and at that price you wait for nearly a month to get one. For something closer to $300, you can get one tomorrow....
     
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  3. peterd

    peterd Medium Load Member

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    I retired a couple of years ago, but I used to have a FAST card. There is a FAST enrollment center at most border crossings.
     
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  4. MacLean

    MacLean Road Train Member

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    You could get a Fast card but I was told you still need a passport just in case. I’d just get the passport then if you decide to go to other countries you’re set.
     
  5. upnorthwpg

    upnorthwpg Road Train Member

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    Get a fast card. Good for 5 years. Also allows you to use the pre pass security line at airports too.
     
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  6. upnorthwpg

    upnorthwpg Road Train Member

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    The enhanced DL is good for land crossings only, as long as there is no dui in your past.
     
  7. Ex-Trucker Alex

    Ex-Trucker Alex Road Train Member

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    Well, hold on a minute; when they 'rolled out' the enhanced license more than a decade ago, it was billed as being good for access to and from "Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean nations". Which Caribbean nations have land borders with the US? I know St. Maarten's has a land border between the French and Dutch sides, but both are EU countries so there is no customs crossing anymore there. Does it work for sea crossings, maybe?
     
  8. upnorthwpg

    upnorthwpg Road Train Member

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    Correct. Land and marine crossings only.
     
  9. ed4207

    ed4207 Bobtail Member

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    I crossed from Mt to Sask last summer. I gave Canadian border guard my passport but ask him if enhanced drivers license would work.
    He had never heard of them and said passport only.
     
  10. Ex-Trucker Alex

    Ex-Trucker Alex Road Train Member

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    Back when I first started driving Canada, I still had my original passport, which I carried "just in case", but never once needed. I never offered it, either, because it still had a stamp from East Germany from back in 1979 when I visited Berlin. Back then, U.S. border guards often yanked your chain if you had any stamps from communist countries.
     
  11. Condi

    Condi Light Load Member

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    Enhanced dl is discontinued in Canada. I surrendered mine when it was up for renewal
     
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