Tennessee Trucking Schools and Programs
With mountains, valleys, raging rapids and more, there are many perks to considering truck driving careers in Tennessee. Once you obtain your CDL, you will have no problem finding work in this southern state.
A commercial driver’s license, or CDL, is the designated license class required to operate large or complex vehicles in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) manages the standards by which CDL license classes are categorized. Class A commercial driver’s licenses enable the operator to operate a combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001lb or more. In Tennessee, issuance of commercial driver’s licenses is managed by the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles.
General Information
The Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles complies with all federal requirements regarding required documentation and knowledge assessments for CDL issuance. CDL applicants are required to present documentation to affirm their United States citizenship or lawful permanent residency, residency status in Tennessee, and medical fitness to perform CDL vehicle operations. The Department of Motor Vehicles requires CDL applicants to take a series of knowledge and skills assessment depending on the nature of the vehicle they will be operating. Tennessee CDLs are issued for terms based on Tennessee’s “Drive for Five” method of issuance. The license term varies from 4 to 7 years and is determined by the applicant’s next birthday that is evenly divisible by 5.
strong>Documentation Requirements
Individuals applying for a CDL in Tennessee will need to present the following documentation at a full-service driver’s license testing center:
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- Valid Department of Transportation Medical Card
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- Proof of Citizenship – Acceptable documents include social security card, birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization.
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- Proof of Domicile – Applicants must submit two separate documents indicating their current residential address in Tennessee. Acceptable documents include utility bills that reflect the applicant’s current address, current vehicle registration documentation, voter registration card, or a tax return from the most recent tax year. The Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles does not accept other forms or mailings such as bank statements or junk mail as proof of domicile.
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- Driver’s License or other state-issued identification
Written Testing Requirements
Applicants wishing to certify for a Class A CDL will be required to take the following exams:
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- General Knowledge Exam – The general knowledge exam must be successfully completed by all applicants and covers the basics of commercial vehicle operation.
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- Air Brakes Exam – The air brakes exam is required for all applicants operating a vehicle equipped with air brakes.
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- Combination Vehicle Exam – This exam is required for all applicants that will be operating a combination vehicle
In addition to passing a knowledge exam, individuals must also pass a driving test and a physical exam. The medical report contains that each driver should pass the following:
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- Hearing test
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- Vision test
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- Chemical/drug test
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- Blood pressure and pulse rate
Skills Testing Requirements
The State of Tennessee requires CDL applicants to pass a series of skills tests in order to demonstrate basic knowledge and safe operation of the vehicle they will be operating on Tennessee roadways. This testing includes aspects of pre-trip vehicle inspection and basic vehicle control. Applicants are required to provide their own vehicle and it must be of the same class as the vehicle for which they are attempting to obtain a CDL to operate.
The following operators are exempt from obtaining a CDL:
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- Military personnel
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- Recreational vehicle operators
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- Emergency vehicle operators
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- Farmers and nurserymen who drive only within 150 miles of the farm or nursery
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- Those who operate vehicles only to transport personal property
CDI
6201 Epps Mills Rd.
Christiana, TN 37037
CDI
776 Poplar Bluff Rd. E
Auburntown, TN
Chattanooga Votech Truck Driver Training
901 Pineville, Rd.
Chattanooga, TN 37405
CCD Professional Driver Training
134 Joe McCrary Rd.
Fall Branch, TN 37656
Drive Train
53 El Morgan Dr #C
Jackson, TN 38305
Knoxville Votech
1100 Liberty St.
Knoxville, TN 37919
Learn 2 Drive
19381 Hwy 28
Whitewell, TN 37397
M. S. Carriers Professional Driving Academy
1940 E. Brooks Rd.
Memphis, TN 38116
Nashville Votech Truck Driver Training
7204 cockrill Bend Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209
Smokey Mountain Truck Driving School
3173 Newport Hwy.
Sevierville, TN 37876
Southwest Tennessee Community College
5983 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134
Southwest Tennessee Community College
737 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103
State Votech Truck Driver Training
P. O. Box 89
Crump, TN 38327
State Tech Center Truck Driver Training
550 Alabama Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
State Tech Truck Driver Training
Phippe Bend Industrial Park
Surgoinsville, TN 37815
TDI Truck Driver Institute
6201 Epps Mill Rd.
Christiana, TN 37037
Tennessee Tech Center-Crup
P. O. Box 89
Crump, TN 38327
Tennessee Tech Center-Knoxville
1100 Liberty St.
Knoxville, TN 37919
Tennessee Tech Center-Memphis
550 Alabama Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
Tennessee Tech Center-Morristown
21 West Louise Ave.
Morristown, TN 37813
Tennessee Tech Center-Nashville
100 White Bridge Rd.
Nashville, TN 37209
Tennessee Tech Center-Shelbyville
1405 Madison St.
Shelbyville, TN 37160
Tennessee Technology Center-Dickson
740 Highway 46
Dickson, TN 37055
Tennessee Technology Center-Ripley
127 Industrial Dr.
Ripley, TN 38063
Transport Training
901 E. Baddour Pky
Lebanon, TN 37087
Transport Training
P. O. Box 990
White Pine, TN 37890
United Truck Driving School
1606 East Highway 25 #70
Dandridge, TN 37725
United Truck Driving School
1901 North Eastman Rd.
Kingsport, TN 37660
United Truck Driving School
1606 East Highway 25 #70
Dandridge, TN 37725
