Tennessee — Full ELDT Hub

Tennessee CDL & ELDT Training — FMCSA-Approved Online Courses

All FMCSA-approved ELDT courses for Tennessee drivers — Hazmat, CDL A, CDL B, Passenger, School Bus. Accepted at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS).

★★★★★ 5.0 Google Rating  ·  3,500+ Graduates
FMCSA-Approved 49 States Auto-Submitted to TPR Under 2 Hours No Hidden Fees
Quick answer: ELDT in Tennessee costs $20 per course at DLA Academy — FMCSA-approved, online, completed in under 2 hours, and auto-submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry within 24 hours. Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS) verifies completion through the federal TPR before testing. Required only for first-time CDL applicants and endorsement-adds after February 7, 2022.
Getting a CDL in Tennessee means working with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS). Since February 7, 2022, the federal FMCSA entry-level driver training (ELDT) mandate requires new drivers to complete approved online theory training before taking the skills test. DLA Academy is FMCSA-approved, listed on the Training Provider Registry, and the lowest-priced option in Tennessee.
Tennessee — State-Specific Note

Tennessee CDLs are issued by Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS).

Tennessee CDL Requirements — Quick Reference

To get any Commercial Driver's License in Tennessee you'll work through Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS). Federal ELDT requirements apply across all 49 states — DLA Academy's online theory courses satisfy the ELDT mandate, and behind-the-wheel training (where required for CDL A or CDL B) must be completed locally at an FMCSA-registered BTW provider.

For Hazmat endorsements, Tennessee uses the standard IDEMIA TSA enrollment process — schedule your fingerprinting through Universal Enroll.

Tennessee State Agency
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS)

Apply for your CLP, schedule skills tests, and verify ELDT submission through your state agency's CDL portal.

https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/cdl.html

Tennessee CDL & ELDT Fees (2026)

What you'll actually pay to get your Tennessee CDL: DLA Academy charges a flat $20 per FMCSA-approved ELDT course, and the federal TSA Hazmat background check is a fixed national fee. The state DMV fees below are set by TN DOS and vary — we link the official source rather than print a number that could be out of date.

Fee Amount Notes
FMCSA-approved ELDT theory (DLA Academy)$20 per courseFlat rate — Hazmat, CDL-A, CDL-B, Passenger, or School Bus
CDL-A Permit Prep (optional study aid)$15DMV knowledge-test practice — not ELDT
Tennessee CLP / permit feeVaries — check TN DOSSet by TN DOS, paid at the DMV
Tennessee CDL license feeVaries — check TN DOSSet by TN DOS
Tennessee endorsement fee (H / P / S)Varies — check TN DOSSet by TN DOS, per endorsement
TSA Hazmat background check~$86.50 (~$41 with a valid TWIC)Federal TSA fee via IDEMIA — Hazmat endorsement only

Only the DLA Academy ELDT price and the federal TSA Hazmat fee are fixed nationwide; TN DOS sets the permit, license, and endorsement fees. Confirm current amounts on the official TN DOS site before you budget.

More Tennessee CDL Resources

Real Drivers, Real Reviews
What DLA Academy Drivers Say

5.0 Google rating from 202+ verified reviews. 3,500+ drivers trained nationwide.

★★★★★

"DLA Academy's Hazmat ELDT was straightforward and finished in under two hours. Completion auto-submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry the same day."

Marcus T. — CDL A driver Verified · Google
★★★★★

"Twenty bucks for FMCSA-approved ELDT and it actually showed up on the registry when my DMV checked. Cheapest legit option I found."

Jessica R. — Owner-operator Verified · Google
★★★★★

"Took the 3-endorsement bundle (Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus). $50 total, completed on my phone, all three on the TPR within 24 hours. Done."

David K. — CDL driver Verified · Google

Verify DLA Academy by name at the FMCSA Training Provider Registry: tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov

Why DLA Academy
The Numbers Behind the 5.0 Stars
3,500+
Graduates Across 49 States
5.0
Google Rating
$20
Lowest Price — Every Course
24 hrs
Auto-Submitted to FMCSA TPR
FMCSA-Approved Listed on TPR 100% Online Self-Paced Mobile-Friendly No Hidden Fees 49 States Under 2 Hours
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ELDT and why do I need it in Tennessee?+
Entry-level driver training (ELDT) is a federal mandate that took effect February 7, 2022. If you're getting a new CDL or adding a class/endorsement after that date, you must complete FMCSA-approved online theory training. DLA Academy's courses meet this requirement. Once you finish, your completion is automatically submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry within 24 hours, and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS) verifies it when you apply for your CDL.
How long does an ELDT course take?+
Each individual ELDT course completes in under 2 hours. You can knock out CDL-A Theory, CDL-B Theory, Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus in one sitting. No waiting between modules — just log in, watch the required content, pass the knowledge check, and you're done. Completion is auto-submitted to FMCSA TPR immediately.
How much does ELDT cost in Tennessee?+
Individual ELDT courses are $20 each. CDL-A Permit Practice Test (the DMV study tool) is $15. DLA Academy is the lowest-priced FMCSA-approved option. Bundles offer genuine savings: the CDL Complete Bundle (CDL-A + CDL-B + Permit Prep) is $45 — saves $10 vs. $55 if you bought each separately. The 3-Endorsement Bundle (H+P+S) is $50 and saves $10. Hazmat + Permit Prep Bundle is $30 and saves $5.
Who needs ELDT in Tennessee?+
Anyone getting a CDL for the first time after February 7, 2022 needs ELDT. If your CDL was issued before that date, you're grandfathered and don't need retroactive ELDT. However, if you're upgrading from CDL-B to CDL-A, or adding any endorsement (H, P, S), you must complete the corresponding ELDT course, even if your base CDL is older. The new class or endorsement triggers the requirement.
What about behind-the-wheel training and the skills test?+
ELDT covers online theory only. You must complete behind-the-wheel (BTW) training separately at a local FMCSA-registered provider — DLA Academy does not provide BTW. After you finish both ELDT and BTW, you schedule your practical skills test with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TN DOS). For Hazmat endorsements, you'll also arrange TSA fingerprinting through IDEMIA Universal Enroll after ELDT completion.

Tennessee CDL Drivers — Start Your ELDT Today

FMCSA-approved ELDT courses starting at $20. Auto-submitted to TPR. Accepted at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

FMCSA-Approved No Hidden Fees Under 2 Hours 5.0 Google Rating 3,500+ Graduates 49 States
Tennessee ELDT — Starting at $20 FMCSA-Approved · 3,500+ Graduates
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