Tennessee CDL DUI Consequences
With I-40 crossing the state and Nashville's growing logistics industry, Tennessee has many CDL holders. A DUI means federal CDL disqualification plus Tennessee's mandatory minimum sentences and a 10-year lookback.
Federal + State: You Face Both
As a CDL holder arrested for DUI in Tennessee, you're subject to federal CDL disqualification (1 year minimum) AND Tennessee state criminal penalties with mandatory minimums. These run on parallel tracks—winning one doesn't dismiss the other.
Tennessee DUI Criminal Penalties
State penalties you face in addition to federal CDL disqualification
| Offense | Jail Time | Fines | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st DUI | 48 hrs - 11 months 29 days | $350 - $1,500 | 1 year revocation |
| 2nd DUI (within 10 years) | 45 days - 11 months 29 days | $600 - $3,500 | 2-year revocation |
| 3rd DUI (within 10 years) | 120 days - 11 months 29 days | $1,100 - $10,000 | 6-10 year revocation |
| 4th+ DUI (Felony) | 150 days - 6 years | $3,000 - $15,000 | 8-year revocation |
Tennessee's Mandatory Minimums: Tennessee requires mandatory jail time for all DUI convictions. The 48-hour minimum for first offense is served consecutively with no early release.
Commercial Vehicle Impound in Tennessee
Nashville, Memphis, and the I-40/I-24/I-75 corridors are major trucking routes
Towing Costs
- •Base hook-up: $225-$375
- •Per-mile charges: $4-$7/mile
- •Heavy-duty recovery: $450-$1,500+/hour
- •Trailer towed separately
Storage Fees
- •Tractor: $35-$70/day
- •Trailer: $20-$40/day (separate)
- •Administrative fee: $35-$75
- •After-hours release may require appointment
Tennessee Impound Release Requirements
To retrieve a commercial vehicle from a Tennessee impound lot:
- • Valid government ID
- • Proof of ownership or registration
- • If carrier sending another driver: Written authorization on company letterhead
- • Full payment of all fees
Tennessee Implied Consent
Tennessee's Implied Consent law means refusing a breath or blood test triggers automatic license revocation. CDL holders face this state consequence AND federal CDL disqualification for refusal.
Immediate Suspension
Refusing a test results in automatic 1-year license revocation (2 years for second refusal). You can request a hearing, but the burden is on you to prove the stop or arrest was improper.
Finding a SAP in Tennessee
Tennessee has DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professionals in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and along the major interstate corridors.
Telehealth SAP evaluations are available statewide, useful for drivers in rural East Tennessee or the western cotton region.
How to find and work with a SAPFederal CDL Regulations
For information about federal CDL disqualification, the FMCSA Clearinghouse, and the Return-to-Duty process that applies nationwide:
CDL DUI Federal GuideRelated Tennessee DUI Guides
Sources & Official Resources
Information on this page is sourced from Tennessee state statutes and federal regulations.
Last updated: January 8, 2026
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