2023 Tennessee Code › Title 55 - MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105) › Chapter 50 - UNIFORM CLASSIFIED AND COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE ACT (§§ 55-50-101 — 55-50-903) › Part 3 - APPLICATION, EXAMINATION, AND ISSUANCE (§§ 55-50-301 — 55-50-354) › Section 55-50-302 - Classes of licenses - Endorsements - Applicability to temporary licenses and permits

(a)
The department, upon issuing a driver license, shall indicate thereon the class of vehicles the licensee may drive. Licenses shall be issued with the classifications and endorsements as defined in §
55-50-102
.
(b)
The department shall establish qualifications it believes reasonably necessary, in addition to the qualifications specified in this part, for the safe operation of the various types, sizes, or combinations of vehicles, and shall determine by appropriate examination whether each applicant is qualified for the license classification or endorsement for which application has been made.
(c)
The department shall not issue a license in Class A, B, or C or any of the endorsements specified in subsection (a) other than a for-hire endorsement unless the applicant meets the following qualifications in addition to all other applicable qualifications:
(1)
(A)
The applicant must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age; provided, however, the department is authorized to issue interstate CDLs to persons at least eighteen (18) years of age but less than twenty-one (21) years of age if such issuance is approved and authorized by the FMCSA and the department follows all FMCSA regulations regarding the issuance of interstate CDLs to persons at least eighteen (18) years of age but less than twenty-one (21) years of age; or
(B)
Notwithstanding subdivision (c)(1)(A), an applicant who is at least eighteen (18) years of age is eligible for a Class A or B license if:
(i)
The applicant does not require a special endorsement;
(ii)
A commercial vehicle operated by the applicant will be operated solely within this state;
(iii)
The applicant has met all other requirements for a CDL under this chapter; and
(iv)
Issuing a Class A or B license to the applicant is not prohibited under 49 CFR Parts 383 and 391, or federal rules;
(2)
The applicant must not currently be under a driver license suspension or revocation in this or any other state;
(3)
The applicant must certify in the license application that all of the qualifications are met.
(d)
The department shall not issue an initial school bus endorsement to any applicant unless:
(1)
(A)
The applicant is at least twenty-five (25) years of age; or
(B)
The applicant is at least twenty-three (23) years of age and:
(i)
An honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces;
(ii)
A member of the national guard or a reserve component of the United States armed forces; or
(iii)
A licensed teacher employed by an LEA;
(2)
The applicant has had at least five (5) consecutive years of unrestricted driving experience prior to the date of application; and
(3)
The department is fully satisfied as to the applicant's good character, competency, and fitness to be so employed.
(e)
An applicant for an initial school bus endorsement pursuant to subdivision (d)(1)(B) must submit to the department, as part of the application:
(1)
A certified copy of the applicant's certificate of release or discharge from active duty, department of defense form 214 (DD 214), if the applicant is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces; or
(2)
A letter recommending the applicant to operate a school bus, from:
(A)
One (1) of the applicant's commanding officers, if the applicant is a member of the national guard or a reserve component of the United States armed forces; or
(B)
The director of schools of the LEA that employs the applicant, if the applicant is a licensed teacher.
(f)
The department shall not issue a for-hire endorsement unless the applicant has had at least two (2) years of unrestricted driving experience prior to the date of application and the department is fully satisfied as to the applicant's good character, competency, and fitness to be so employed, and the applicant is eighteen (18) years of age and will be operating a Class D vehicle. Nothing in this subsection (f) shall authorize anyone under nineteen (19) years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR Part 390 ; provided, that the department is authorized to issue a for-hire endorsement to operate a Class D vehicle to an applicant who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and who is not currently under any driver license suspension, cancellation, or revocation in this or any other state, and the vehicle is owned by the applicant's family business to conduct deliveries of goods and products exclusively for family business.
(g)
This section is applicable to the issuance of temporary driver licenses and permits.
(h)
(1)
The department shall not issue or renew a hazardous materials endorsement unless a determination of no security threat has been issued in conformance with 49 CFR Part 1572.
(2)
The department shall revoke a current hazardous materials endorsement upon receipt of an initial or final determination of security threat in accordance with 49 CFR Part 1572.
(3)
Notwithstanding §
55-50-337
, a commercial driver license issued with a hazardous materials endorsement expires on the date the hazardous materials endorsement authorization expires.
(i)
An individual who holds a school bus (S) endorsement must attend annual training as required by the department in order to maintain the endorsement.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 333, s 1, eff. 1/1/2024.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 992, Secs.s 4, s 6 eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 38, s 2, eff. 1/1/2020.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 38, s 1, eff. 1/1/2020.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 289, s 3, eff. 1/1/2018.
Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.11 (Williams, § 2715.16); Acts 1955, ch. 114, § 2; 1957, ch. 199, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 209, § 1; 1959, ch. 272, § 1; 1967, ch. 238, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; Acts 1972, ch. 467, § 1; 1974, ch. 444, §§ 1, 2; 1975, ch. 82, § 1; 1976, ch. 841, § 1; 1977, ch. 90, § 1; 1977, ch. 189, § 2; 1978, ch. 643, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 247, §§ 5, 8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-704; Acts 1986, ch. 804, § 7; 1987, ch. 446, § 11; 1988, ch. 584, § 4; T.C.A., §§
55-7-104
, 55-7-302; Acts 1992, ch. 617, §§ 1-3; 1992, ch. 722, § 1; 1993, ch. 450, § 1; 1994, ch. 905, § 1; 1997 , ch. 179, § 1; 2005, ch. 235, § 3; 2007 , ch. 194, §§ 6, 7; 2009 , ch. 321, § 16.