Commercial Driver Education

You may feel overwhelmed with all the tests and paperwork it takes to obtain your CDL. The Tennessee Commercial Driver License Manual, available for download with Adobe Reader, is a good place to start educating yourself on basic information. Many applicants also opt to enroll themselves in a training school.

CDL Manual

The CDL Manual offers a wealth of information divided into four parts, plus a list of the sections you should study depending on the license class you want to obtain. Below is an outline for quick reference.

Part One

• Section 1: Introduction

• Section 2: Driving Safely

• Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely

Part Two

• Section 4: Transporting Passengers

• Section 5: Air Brakes

• Section 6: Combination Vehicles

• Section 7: Doubles and Triples

• Section 8: Tank Vehicles

• Section 9: Hazardous Materials

Part Three

• Section 10: Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection

• Section 11: Basic Vehicle Control Skills Test

• Section 12: On-road Driving Test

Part Four

• Section 13: School Buses

Training Locations

Many motor carriers train their employees, while other drivers take courses at private driving schools, vocational or technical schools, and community colleges. The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) has set minimum standards for training curriculums and certifies driver training courses that meet industry and Federal Highway Administration (FHA) guidelines. Many employers require their drivers to take PTDI-approved training.

While the Department of Safety (DOS) doesn't offer any approved third-party training course providers, you can find these companies in the yellow pages under "truck driving" and other related keywords.

Minimum Training Requirements

In order to pass your tests, you'll need to learn how to:

• Conduct both internal and external inspections of your vehicle.

• Show mastery of skills like forward stopping, straight line backing, alley docking, parallel parking, turning left and right, and the backward serpentine.

• Show usage of clutch, gears, brakes, lanes, etc.

The CDL Manual provides checklists, diagrams, and scoring methods for the above testing requirements.

ADDITIONAL TENNESSEE CDL INFORMATION

• Applying for a New CDL
• Renewing Your CDL
• Replacing a Lost CDL
• Commercial Driver FAQs