55-50-404 - Commercial driver license required. - Tennessee Statutes

55-50-404. Commercial driver license required.

(a)  Except when operating under an instruction permit and accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver license valid for the vehicle being operated, no person may operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the person has been issued, and is in immediate possession of, a valid commercial driver license.

(b)  No person may be issued a commercial driver license before passing a written and driving test for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that complies with the minimum federal standards in 49 C.F.R. part 383, and has satisfied all other federal requirements, as well as any other requirements imposed by state law. The tests shall be prescribed and conducted by the department.

(c)  A commercial driver license may be issued only to a person who operates or will operate commercial motor vehicles and who is domiciled in this state; provided, that a commercial driver certificate may be issued to a person who operates or will operate a commercial motor vehicle and is not domiciled in a state that issues a commercial driver license in accordance with 49 C.F.R. part 383.

(d)  A commercial driver license may not be issued to a person during a period in which the person is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle, or while the person's driver license is suspended, revoked or cancelled in any state; nor may a commercial driver license be issued to a person unless the person first surrenders all previously issued driver licenses, either commercial or noncommercial, issued by any state. The department shall electronically notify the state of issuance that the license has been turned into the department and should be cancelled.

[Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 5; impl. am. Acts 1939, ch. 205, §§ 2, 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.13 (Williams, § 2715.18); Acts 1973, ch. 224, §§ 1, 2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-706; Acts 1988, ch. 584, § 6; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-106, 55-7-404; Acts 1994, ch. 905, § 3; 1997, ch. 179, § 3; 2005, ch. 235, § 4; 2009, ch. 321, § 20.]