The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is updating older Commercial Driver License records to comply with current federal and state requirements.
About 8,800 of Tennessee’s 150,000 CDL holders will receive a notice by mail requesting they submit proof of citizenship or lawful presence. That documentation was not required when their licenses were originally issued.
Federal rules require all CDL records to include proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. Many long-standing CDL holders obtained their licenses before these requirements were in place, according to a statement from the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Tennessee is one of only a few states that do not issue non-domiciled CDLs.
As a result of President Donald Trump's executive order last, the department identified older files that need to be updated under the current federal and state standards.
Affected drivers will receive a letter by mail that explains which documents are acceptable and how to submit them. Only one valid document is needed to complete the record update.
By law, the updates must be completed in person at a state driver services center, according to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
“This action is designed to ensure that all CDL records meet today’s state and federal requirements and are in line with the Presidential directive. Drivers whose files predate modern documentation rules will receive instructions on how to complete their records,” said Russell Shoup, assistant commissioner of the Driver Services Division. “We appreciate the cooperation of Tennessee’s commercial driving community.”
Drivers who receive a notice may visit any Driver Services Center with one acceptable document such as a U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or other approved documents.
The Department has created a dedicated information page at: www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/commercial-driver-license/account-review.html. This page includes a list of acceptable documents and details on how to update a CDL record.
Employers or drivers with questions may contact the Driver Services Call Center at : [email protected].
