Start your Tennessee CDL career
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No-nonsense Tennessee CDL prep: Class A, B & C practice tests and study guides. Pay once, study anywhere.
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No subscription, no auto-renewal: 120 days of access included, or extend to 180 or 365 days at checkout.
Everything You Need to Pass Your Tennessee CDL Exam Tests
BeginCDL is Tennessee CDL test prep without the bloat: nothing to install, update, or change on your device, just log in securely and study.
We use the official Tennessee CDL study guides for our CDL test prep students, rebuilt so they can prepare section by section, on any device. The CDL practice tests use the full question bank for practice tests and CDL exam modes. The Tennessee CDL practice test and CDL exam modes are designed to work with you at your pace. No filler lessons, no upsells, no subscription. Studying CDL classes and endorsements should be easy, not complicated. Let BeginCDL help you study for your career the right way.
Failing your Tennessee CDL exam costs more than preparing.
CDL school costs thousands. Do not let the permit test hold you up. A failed CDL or endorsement test means paying for a retest, which is another trip to the testing site or school, and a later start on your new TN CDL career. Study it once, pass it the first time, and start your Tennessee CDL career on schedule.
Tennessee CDL Free Practice Test
Take our free Tennessee CDL practice test with no account, or see how the program works. Buy only the tests you need. No subscription.
Tennessee CDL Study Material, Built for Tennessee Drivers
Pick Tennessee once and the whole site follows: your study guides, practice tests, and prices are matched to Tennessee, and the Tennessee Driver Services licensing steps and requirements are just a few clicks away.
Tennessee CDL Study Guides
Every Tennessee CDL study guide has been rebuilt from the official Tennessee CDL manual, with the original diagrams. All the Tennessee CDL exam prep study material is built for desktop, tablet, and phones.
Tennessee CDL Practice Tests & Exam
Three modes: practice with answers explained, exam conditions with nothing revealed until the end, and a missed-question drill that replays only what you got wrong. Pass at 80% and the test is marked ready.
Tennessee CDL Quick Review and Q&A
Each one boiled down to the facts the test asks about, plus every question with its correct answer and manual reference for a fast read-through the night before.
Tennessee CDL Narrated Audio
Every purchase includes the Tennessee CDL manual read aloud, section by section, so you can study on the road, on a break, or in line at Tennessee Driver Services.
All 7 CDL Endorsements Covered in Tennessee
Air Brakes
Most trucks and buses in Tennessee have air brakes. Skip this test and your CDL carries an air brake restriction.
Study Air Brakes →Combination Vehicles
Pulling a trailer in Tennessee takes a Class A, and that means Combination Vehicles: coupling, air lines, and off-tracking.
Study Combination Vehicles →Hazardous Materials
Placarded loads in Tennessee need the H endorsement plus a TSA background check. Placards, shipping papers, and emergencies.
Study Hazardous Materials →Tank Vehicles
Liquids and gases in tanks over 119 gallons surge. Tennessee tank drivers must know outage, baffles, and rollover risk.
Study Tank Vehicles →Passenger
Drive 16 or more people in Tennessee, from hotel shuttles to motor coaches. Loading, emergency exits, and passenger safety.
Study Passenger →School Bus
Tennessee school districts require the S endorsement on top of P. Student stops, railroad crossings, mirrors, and evacuations.
Study School Bus →Doubles & Triples
Haul two or three trailers on the Tennessee routes that allow them. Stability, coupling, and following distance are the test.
Study Doubles & Triples →Not sure which Tennessee CDL you need?
Answer a few questions and the selector tool gives you a starting point based on your vehicle and operation in Tennessee.
Use the CDL Selector →Tennessee Licensing at a Glance
State Profile
Tennessee's central position and automotive industry make it one of the most active CDL freight corridors in the South.
Key Interstates: I-24, I-40, I-65, I-75
Getting Your CDL in Tennessee
How to book the skills test
Tennessee gives CDL road skills tests at Driver Services Centers (call 615-502-4179, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central, to schedule) and through certified third-party testing organizations listed by county on the Department of Safety site, which may charge their own fee. Knowledge tests and the learner permit are handled at any full-service Driver Services Center.
Wait times and timing tips
The Department of Safety does not publish wait times; state road tests are scheduled through the single 615 line, so call as soon as your permit period ends, or use a third-party organization in your county.
Tennessee CDL fees
| Class A learner permit (1 year) | $8 plus $6 application |
| Class B or C learner permit (1 year) | $7 plus $6 application |
| Class A CDL (8 years) | $64 plus $6 application |
| Class B or C CDL (8 years) | $56 plus $6 application |
| Tank, Passenger, HazMat, or Doubles/Triples endorsement | $2.50 each |
| School Bus endorsement | $20 |
| County clerk administrative fee | $4 |
| Third-party skills test | set by the organization |
Agency fees only. ELDT training, the DOT medical exam, and third-party test fees are separate.
What is specific to Tennessee
- Tennessee prices CDLs per year ($8 Class A, $7 Class B or C) over an 8-year term, plus a $6 application fee.
- County clerks add a $4 administrative fee when they process the transaction.
- Applicants under 21 are restricted to driving within Tennessee.
- The CLP holding period is the federal minimum of 14 days.
Source: Tennessee Driver Services, checked September 2026. Fees and procedures change; confirm with the agency before you book.
The most common Tennessee CDL study material
Tennessee Class A CDL Study Material
You save $18.80
Pulling a trailer over 10,000 lbs takes a Class A. Three written tests stand between you and that license: General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles. This covers all three, plus the skills test.
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes
- Combination Vehicles
- Skills Test
- CDL Manual Audio
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
Not ready to buy?
Take the free Tennessee CDL practice test first. Ten real General Knowledge questions, no sign-up, and you see your score right away.
Take the free TN practice test →Common Questions About Getting a CDL in Tennessee
How much does a CDL cost in Tennessee?
Fees set by Tennessee Driver Services: Class A learner permit (1 year) $8 plus $6 application; Class B or C learner permit (1 year) $7 plus $6 application; Class A CDL (8 years) $64 plus $6 application; Class B or C CDL (8 years) $56 plus $6 application; Tank, Passenger, HazMat, or Doubles/Triples endorsement $2.50 each; School Bus endorsement $20; County clerk administrative fee $4; Third-party skills test set by the organization. Skills-test fees charged by third-party testers, ELDT training, and the DOT medical exam are extra and vary by provider.
Where do I take the CDL skills test in Tennessee?
Tennessee gives CDL road skills tests at Driver Services Centers (call 615-502-4179, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central, to schedule) and through certified third-party testing organizations listed by county on the Department of Safety site, which may charge their own fee. Knowledge tests and the learner permit are handled at any full-service Driver Services Center.
How long does it take to get a CDL skills test appointment in Tennessee?
The Department of Safety does not publish wait times; state road tests are scheduled through the single 615 line, so call as soon as your permit period ends, or use a third-party organization in your county.
What is different about getting a CDL in Tennessee?
Tennessee prices CDLs per year ($8 Class A, $7 Class B or C) over an 8-year term, plus a $6 application fee. County clerks add a $4 administrative fee when they process the transaction. Applicants under 21 are restricted to driving within Tennessee. The CLP holding period is the federal minimum of 14 days.
What CDL class do I need?
It depends on the vehicle weight rating, trailer weight, passenger use, school bus use, and whether hazardous materials are transported. The selector tool gives a starting point, and your state licensing agency makes the final determination.
Do I need ELDT before testing?
ELDT generally applies when you are getting a Class A CDL, Class B CDL, Class B-to-Class A upgrade, or a Passenger, School Bus, or HazMat endorsement for the first time.
Is HazMat ELDT different?
Yes. HazMat ELDT is theory training and must be completed before the hazardous materials knowledge test. The TSA security threat assessment is a separate requirement.
Can I study before buying training?
Yes. You can compare CDL classes, review endorsement topics, and use the selector tool first. Tennessee study material add organized practice material, PDFs, audio, and training access.
Pass the Tennessee CDL Class (A, B, C) exam the first time.
600+ practice questions, quick reviews, and study guides organized by class and endorsement, with 120 days of access, extendable to 180 or 365 from the day you buy.
No subscription, no auto-renewal: 120 days of access included, or extend to 180 or 365 days at checkout.