Licensed providers for professional drivers and small fleets, from official registersSources: 110 official government lists
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HazMat Training1,629Vehicle Inspection67,637CDL & ELDT Training4,122CDL Testing & DMV3,997TSA HazMat & TWIC Enrollment619BOC-3 Process Agents3,738Truck Parking1,915Truck Stops2,835ELD DevicesDOT Physicalssoon

How to get a CDL in Tennessee

68 testing offices28 skills test sites88 registered schoolsUpdated September 2026

Getting a commercial driver’s license in Tennessee follows the federal steps in 49 CFR Parts 383, 380 and 391, run by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. This page lists those steps with their rules, then what Tennessee has: where the test is given, the registered schools.

The steps

  1. Get a DOT medical card. A commercial driver must pass a physical with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry (49 CFR 391.41, 391.43); the certificate lasts up to 24 months.
  2. Pass the knowledge test and get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). The CLP lets you practise with a qualified CDL holder beside you and is valid for no more than a year (49 CFR 383.25).
  3. Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test (383.25(e)).
  4. Complete entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, if this is your first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade, or a first passenger, school bus or HazMat endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). 88 registered providers have a training location in Tennessee, 83 of them offering behind-the-wheel training.
  5. Take the skills test: vehicle inspection, basic control skills and an on-road test, in a vehicle of the class you want (49 CFR 383.113). Tennessee names 28 places as CDL skills test sites.
  6. Age. Driving across state lines requires being at least 21 (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)); a state may license drivers from 18 for driving inside the state only.

Where to take the CDL test in Tennessee

68 offices and test sites in Tennessee are on the official lists, and 28 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Chattanooga (3), Jackson (3), Columbia (3), Cookeville (3), Murfreesboro (3), Memphis (3), Nashville (2), Knoxville (2), Clarksville (2), Union City (2). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in Tennessee, with a map and search by city or ZIP.

CDL schools in Tennessee

88 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in Tennessee. The most are in Memphis (12), Nashville (7), Chattanooga (5), Murfreesboro (5), Jackson (3), Lenoir City (3), Knoxville (3), Johnson City (3), Clarksville (3), Cleveland (2). See all CDL schools in Tennessee.

Adding HazMat

The hazardous materials endorsement needs a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints (49 CFR 1572). 12 TSA enrollment centers in Tennessee take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in Tennessee.

Questions about getting a CDL in Tennessee

How long does it take to get a CDL in Tennessee?
At least 14 days: that is the minimum time between getting the CLP and taking the skills test (49 CFR 383.25(e)). Entry-level training and booking the test usually add several weeks.
Where can I take the CDL skills test in Tennessee?
28 places are named by the state as skills test sites; 68 testing and licensing offices are listed in total.
How many CDL schools are there in Tennessee?
88 providers on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry list a location in Tennessee.