Senate Bill 492 amends Tennessee law regarding commercial driver licenses by introducing new requirements related to English language proficiency. Specifically, it adds a provision stating that a driver may be deemed unable to hold a commercial driver license if they cannot read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to inquiries, and complete necessary reports. However, exceptions are made for drivers who can read and write in English but may not speak it adequately, provided they have documentation of an exemption from hearing standards.

Additionally, the bill establishes that if a driver is found unable to meet these English language requirements during a safety inspection, an out-of-service order will be issued, preventing the vehicle from being operated until a qualified substitute driver is present. Violations of this provision will result in a Class C misdemeanor for the employer, with a fine of $500, but no points will be added to the driver's record. The bill also mandates the development of an English language proficiency test by the department of safety, with the law taking effect for testing purposes immediately and for all other provisions on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-50-403, 55-50-405, 65-15-111