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Immigration Requirements. Canadian
citizens entering the U.S. as visitors for business do not require
either a passport or a visa. Each applicant for admission is required
to satisfy the inspecting officer of his or her citizenship. Generally,
an oral declaration may be accepted or the inspecting officer may request
supporting documentation. Such documentation may include, but is not
limited too, a passport (valid or expired), birth certificate, or a
certificate of citizenship. Under heightened security procedures,
all travelers may be required to present photo-identification.
Driver Qualifications. State
and federal safety regulations require drivers of commercial motor
vehicles to meet certain minimum standards related to age, ability
to communicate in English, and ability to safely operate their vehicle.
Motor carriers (employers) must document and maintain each driver's
qualifications
in a driver qualification
file. Certain illegal offenses, such as driving under the influence
of drugs or reckless driving can disqualify a driver from driving. More
information.
Michigan
Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Commercial driver's licenses issued
by Canadian jurisdictions in conformance with the licensing standards
established in the Canadian National Safety Code are honored in the
U.S. Canadian drivers are not be required to obtain a non-resident
commercial driver's license in order to operate commercial vehicles
in the U.S. Moreover, to ensure the "single license concept," Canadian
drivers holding a commercial driver's license issued by a Canadian
jurisdiction are prohibited from obtaining a driver's license, commercial
or noncommercial, from a state or other licensing jurisdiction of
the U.S.
A Michigan resident
needs a valid operator Michigan Chauffeur license with a CDL designator added to
operate a vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GVWR) of
26,001 lbs. or more. More information.
Hours of Service. Federal
and state safety regulations limit a driver to the number of hours
he/she can work. this means, once a driver has worked a prescribed
number of hours, he/she is no longer eligible to drive until he/she
has met the off-duty requirements established in the regulations. Accurate
time records (for each driver) must be maintained at the employer's
principal place of business for a period of at least six months and
employers must ensure that driver compliance is met. More information.
Federal Drug and
Alcohol Testing Requirements. A comprehensive set of federal
regulations requires persons holding a Commercial Driver License
(including U.S. and Canadian drivers), and who operate a commercial
motor vehicle to be tested for controlled substances and alcohol.
These rules preempt any state testing requirements and apply to both
interstate and intrastate drivers. Companies can establish and conduct
the drug and alcohol testing program in-house or may contract with
a third party (consortium) to facilitate a drug and alcohol testing
program. Most companies subject to these rules use the services of
a third party. More information.
Michigan Alcohol
Laws. Under Michigan law, a person who has an alcohol content
of .04 grams or more may not operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
within Michigan. A CMV operator will be placed out of service for 24 hours
if he/she:
· Refuses
to take a preliminary breath test (PBT)
· Consumes
alcohol within 4 hours prior to operating a CMV
· Consumes
alcohol while operating a CMV
In
addition to being placed out of service, if a driver is convicted
of a violation of Michigan's drunk driving laws or those of another
jurisdiction, the driver will have their CDL revoked. More information.
Free
and Secure Trade (FAST) program. The Free and Secure
Trade (FAST) program is a Border Accord Initiative between
the United States, Mexico, and Canada designed to ensure security
and safety while enhancing the economic prosperity of each country. One
of the benefits of FAST is dedicated lanes at the border crossing
for greater speed and efficiency in the clearance of FAST Trans-border
shipments. Eligibility for the FAST program requires participants
(carrier, drivers, and importers) to submit an application, agreement,
and security profile depending on their role in the Customs and
Trade Partnership Against terrorism (C-TPAT) and FAST programs.
FAST
cards for drivers can be obtained on both the U.S. and Canadian side i.e.,
it is a binational program. In order to qualify for a FAST card a
driver must submit original documents establishing identity and citizenship;
be fingerprinted; have a picture taken; have a background check (Canada
and U.S) done. These drivers will be checked each time they cross
the border. As of November 2005, at the northern border about 59,000
drivers are carrying FAST cards, 86% of which are Canadian drivers. More
information.
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