Can You Get a CDL After a DUI in Nashville, TN?

If you're wondering whether your DUI will jeopardize your Commercial Driver's License in Nashville or elsewhere in Tennessee, the bad news is that your CDL will be suspended for one year. This suspension will apply even if you were driving your own vehicle at the time of the offense.

The good news is that if this is your first offense, your license won't be permanently revoked. And if you don’t already have a CDL but want to obtain one, you will still be eligible after the suspension ends – though a DUI on your record may limit your employment prospects.

In this post, we'll explain how a DUI will affect your CDL if you currently have one, and the impact if you want to obtain one but already have a DUI on your record.

Do You Lose Your CDL After a DUI in Nashville?

CDLs are typically required to operate any large commercial vehicle. This includes: 

• Tractor-trailers (18-wheelers / semis)
• Buses (school buses, city buses, coach buses)
• Hazmat vehicles (vehicles that transport hazardous materials)
• Tanker trucks
• Construction vehicles (dump trucks, cement mixers, etc., if they meet certain weight thresholds)

If you drive for a living in Nashville or anywhere else in Tennessee, a DUI guilty plea or conviction will jeopardize your Commercial Driver's License — and your livelihood — for at least a year. Due to the increased risk an accident could cause, anyone who drives hazardous materials will face a three-year suspension.

You will be able to reinstate your CDL (or become eligible to obtain one) after completing the suspension, provided you meet certain conditions.

A DUI triggers strict penalties regardless of whether the DUI occurred in a commercial motor vehicle or your own car.

CDL holders are held to a higher standard than regular drivers. Even a minor violation in a personal vehicle can lead to a suspension of your commercial license or lifetime disqualification under federal and Tennessee law.

Tennessee DUI Laws for Commercial Drivers

All states, including Tennessee, must follow regulations set by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), which govern commercial driver disqualifications. A DUI is considered a "major offense," triggering strict penalties regardless of whether the DUI occurred in a CMV or a personal vehicle. (49 CFR § 383.51)

While the standard blood alcohol concentration for a DUI is .08%, CDL holders face stricter limits. Anyone with a CDL can be arrested and charged with DUI if they have a BAC of .04% or higher, even if they’re driving their own vehicle. 

Additionally, refusal to submit to blood or breath testing counts the same as a DUI conviction.

What Happens After a First DUI?

CDL holders also face stricter penalties for a first DUI. Penalties include:

An automatic one-year CDL disqualification for a first DUI, even in a personal vehicle.
A three-year disqualification if you were hauling hazardous materials at the time of your arrest.

No restricted or hardship commercial license is allowed during the disqualification period.
These suspensions are in addition to any criminal penalties under Tennessee DUI law:

Penalties for a first DUI offense include:

• Up to 11 months, 29 days in jail
• A fine of up to $1,500
• License suspension and mandatory DUI education or treatment

How Does a Second DUI Affect Your CDL?

If you're convicted of a second DUI, the penalties can be financially devastating -- you'll be disqualified from holding a CDL for life. There's no option for reinstatement under Tennessee law.

Although some states allow a CDL to be reinstated after 10 years with rehabilitation, Tennessee does not offer that pathway.

Can You Apply for a CDL After a DUI?

If you don't already hold a CDL at the time of your DUI, but want to start a career as a commercial driver, you will have to wait out the one-year disqualification period. After that, first offenders may be eligible to apply for a CDL, as long as they meet these conditions:

• Completed suspension period and any criminal penalties
• Satisfied all court requirements (e.g., completed treatment, paid fines)
• Complied fully with the reinstatement process through the Tennessee DMV
• Passed skills tests and any required medical certifications

Employment Impact & CDL Reinstatement Challenges

When your CDL is suspended after a DUI, you'll likely lose your job. Most employers are unwilling to keep people on the payroll during their suspensions. When your license has been restored, you may face struggles finding a new job. Many employers in Nashville won't hire drivers with DUI convictions within the past 3 to 5 years.

Additionally, your insurance costs will increase. You'll need to obtain an SR-22 certificate, which not all insurance providers offer.

Nashville Reinstatement Requirements

To qualify for CDL reinstatement in Nashville, you must satisfy all DMV requirements specific to Davidson County.

There are no hardship or conditional CDLs during DUI disqualifications, so you will not be allowed to drive a commercial vehicle during that period.

While a DUI disqualifies your CDL, your regular driver's license may be reinstated separately. However, reinstating your personal license won't automatically restore your CDL.

How a Nashville DUI Defense Lawyer Can Help

If you’re a commercial driver who is facing a DUI charge, your career is at stake. Hiring a Nashville DUI attorney as soon as possible can help in multiple ways:

• Challenge the DUI charge or breath/blood test procedures.
• Seek reduction of charges (e.g., from DUI to reckless driving)
• Minimize disqualification duration
• Navigate DMV and court compliance to restore your CDL when eligible.

With the stakes so high — especially for second offenders who are facing lifetime disqualification — it's critical to act fast.

If you're facing DUI charges and hold — or want to obtain — a CDL, contact us immediately. We will do everything within our power to keep you on the road.

More Frequently Asked Questions About How a DUI Affects Your CDL

Can I get a CDL in Tennessee if I already have a DUI on my record?

Yes — but only if it was your first DUI and you've completed the one-year disqualification period. You must also meet all reinstatement requirements, including court-ordered penalties, DMV compliance, and passing CDL exams. A second DUI results in a lifetime CDL disqualification in Tennessee.

Does a DUI in a personal vehicle still affect my CDL?

Absolutely. In Tennessee, a DUI conviction in any vehicle — personal or commercial — triggers a one-year disqualification of your CDL. If hazardous materials were involved, the suspension period increases to three years.

Can I get a restricted CDL during my DUI suspension in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee law does not allow restricted or hardship commercial driver's licenses during a DUI-related disqualification period. You must wait until the suspension ends and complete all reinstatement steps before legally driving a commercial vehicle again.

Can I get a CDL if my DUI was in another state, but I live in Tennessee?

Yes, but you'll have to fulfill all Tennessee requirements, including the one-year CDL suspension. 

Tennessee participates in the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) and the Driver License Compact, which means that your DUI conviction in another state will show up in your record. Any out-of-state DUI will be treated as if it happened in-state when evaluating your eligibility for a CDL.

If it was your first DUI, you'll face a minimum one-year disqualification from holding or applying for a CDL — regardless of where the offense occurred. After that, you'll need to meet all of the eligibility requirements for reinstatement, including:

• All court-ordered penalties from the DUI have been completed (e.g., fines, treatment programs)
• Your regular driver's license has been reinstated
• You pass all CDL knowledge and skills tests
• You meet medical certification and SR-22 insurance requirements (if applicable)

If it were a second DUI (in any state), you would be permanently disqualified from obtaining a CDL in Tennessee.

What if I refused the breath or blood test at the time of my DUI arrest?

If you refuse a breath or blood test in Tennessee—whether you're driving a commercial or personal vehicle—your CDL will be automatically disqualified, even if you're acquitted of DUI.

Refusing a chemical test is considered a "major offense" under federal CDL rules (49 CFR § 383.51). As a result:

• First refusal: 1-year CDL disqualification
• Refusal while transporting hazardous materials: 3-year disqualification
• Second refusal (or second major offense): Lifetime CDL disqualification

Can a DUI be expunged to protect my CDL?

In most cases, a DUI conviction in Tennessee cannot be expunged, which means it will remain on your record permanently and may continue to impact your CDL eligibility and employment prospects.

Under Tennessee law, DUI convictions are specifically excluded from the list of offenses that can be expunged — even if:

• It was your first offense
• You've completed all penalties
• It happened years ago

This means the DUI will stay on both your criminal record and driving record, potentially affecting your CDL and job opportunities for life.

You may be eligible for expungement if charges against you are dropped or dismissed, or you're found not guilty. Contact a Nashville-area DUI defense attorney to discuss your eligibility and how to petition the court to have the DUI removed from your record.