Tennessee Truck Driver Phone Law
Your CDL carries the federal hand-held ban (49 CFR 392.82) into Tennessee — no holding, dialing, or reaching for the phone. Tennessee's Hands-Free law (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-8-199) bans holding a device for every driver too, primary enforcement. The base fine is $50, but it jumps to $200 in an active work zone or a flashing school zone, a real raise in your exposure on the routes you run.
The federal ban applies here first
Federal law rides with your CDL in every state. FMCSA 49 CFR 392.82 bans all hand-held phone use while driving a CMV: no holding it to talk, no dialing more than a single button, no reaching for the phone out of your belted seat. A separate rule (49 CFR 392.80) bans texting and manual data entry. Only hands-free counts as compliant (mounted or in close reach, one-touch or voice, no reaching), and the only exception is calling 911. "Driving" includes sitting at a red light or stuck in traffic; you are clear only once fully off the road and stopped. Penalties run up to $2,750 for the driver and $11,000 for the carrier. It is a CSA serious violation: two convictions in any 3-year period disqualify your CDL for 60 days, three or more for 120 days (49 CFR 383.51).
Tennessee’s rule for all drivers
Your CDL carries the federal hand-held ban (49 CFR 392.82) into Tennessee — no holding, dialing, or reaching for the phone. Tennessee's Hands-Free law (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-8-199) bans holding a device for every driver too, primary enforcement. The base fine is $50, but it jumps to $200 in an active work zone or a flashing school zone, a real raise in your exposure on the routes you run.
- Hand-held: Hand-held ban — all drivers
- Texting: Full hands-free ban for all drivers (Tenn. Code Ann. §55-8-199, effective July 1, 2019) — no holding, texting, or watching video. Primary enforcement.
- Fine: $50 base (Class C misdemeanor) plus up to $10 court costs. Rises to $100 if it is your third or later offense or the violation causes a crash, and $200 if it happens in a work zone with workers present or a marked school zone with flashers operating.
- Points: State generally does not add license points for this fine-only Class C misdemeanor (confirm current TN DOS policy). Federal CMV bite: it is a CSA serious violation, and two in 3 years disqualify your CDL for 60 days — the point count is beside the point for a trucker.
Tennessee Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Tennessee?
What is the phone fine in Tennessee?
Is texting while driving illegal 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://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-55/chapter-8/part-1/section-55-8-199/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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