Tennessee Engine & Jake Brake Rules
Tennessee is stricter than most. State law (T.C.A. § 55-7-117) says a truck may not use a compression brake unless it runs through an operational, approved muffler, and the muffler statute (§55-9-202) bans cutouts. Towns may regulate engine-brake noise but not ban it outright. Signs go up on Monteagle Mountain (I-24), the Smoky Mountain tourist corridor, and around Chattanooga. Keep the engine brake on for grades where there's no sign, just keep it muffled.
How Tennessee handles engine braking
Tennessee is stricter than most. State law (T.C.A. § 55-7-117) says a truck may not use a compression brake unless it runs through an operational, approved muffler, and the muffler statute (§55-9-202) bans cutouts. Towns may regulate engine-brake noise but not ban it outright. Signs go up on Monteagle Mountain (I-24), the Smoky Mountain tourist corridor, and around Chattanooga. Keep the engine brake on for grades where there's no sign, just keep it muffled.
What to watch for
- Ban scope: Local / posted
- Where posted & enforced: Signs are posted and enforced. The famous one is Monteagle Mountain on I-24 at the foot of a long grade. Expect them through the Smoky Mountain tourist corridor (Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg), around Chattanooga's Signal and Lookout Mountain, and in small East Tennessee towns. State law lets towns regulate the noise but not ban braking outright.
- Muffler / noise law: Yes, the real legal hook
- Fine: A local noise-ordinance citation, typically about $50 to $500 and set by each town. The state muffler-on-compression-brake requirement (T.C.A. § 55-7-117) is a separate equipment violation you can also be cited for, a Class C misdemeanor.
Tennessee Engine Brake FAQ
Are engine brakes banned in Tennessee?
Where are the "NO ENGINE BRAKE" signs in Tennessee?
What is the fine for using an engine brake where it is banned in Tennessee?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/regulating-jake-brakes. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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