Passing the Tennessee commercial driver license (CDL) knowledge test is required if you’re interested in pursuing work as a commercial driver. Fortunately, the official Tennessee CDL manual is the perfect study tool. This manual from the Tennessee Driver Services Division (DSD) covers every aspect of commercial vehicle operation. From introducing you to the minimum requirements to the basics of vehicle control.

Will the TN CDL Manual Prepare You for the CDL Test

Once you’ve studied the Tennessee CDL manual, it’s essential you test your knowledge. To ensure you’ve mastered the material in the handbook and identify any gaps in your knowledge, why not take a few practice tests.  Make the most of your study time with our free Tennessee CDL practice tests.  Each practice test has been carefully designed to simulate what you can expect on the real exam.

Information Covered in the Manual

If you’re generally unfamiliar with the details of a commercial license but know what type of vehicle you will be driving, the manual’s introductory chapter specifies which class is required to operate certain vehicles. You can then refer to the CDL study chart, which breaks down which sections of the manual to study based on the particular class of license and endorsement you’re pursuing.

The Tennessee CDL manual also emphasizes the safest possible operation of commercial vehicles. The focus of each of the manual’s 14 sections is first and foremost how to be a safe and responsible commercial driver. This is especially true of the chapters detailing the vehicle inspection and driving portions of the test. This information will help you pass the test, but it will also ensure that you and the drivers around you will remain safe throughout your commercial driving career.

  • Introduction
  • Driving Safely
  • Transporting Cargo Safely
  • Transporting Passengers Safely
  • Air Brakes
  • Combination Vehicles
  • Doubles and Triples
  • Tank Vehicles
  • Hazardous Materials
  • School Bus
  • Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection
  • Basic Control Skills Test
  • On-Road Driving
  • Sharing the Road Safely