Tennessee
Tennessee Truckers Have Until April to Prove Citizenship—Or Lose Their Jobs
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has begun notifying roughly 8,800 commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders that they must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence — or face an automatic downgrade to a standard driver’s license that strips away their commercial driving privileges.
The letters reportedly began landing in mailboxes this January as part of a records modernization and compliance effort tied directly to a federal directive and tightened transportation regulations.
The deadline to produce appropriate documentation, such as a passport, certified birth certificate, or naturalization certificate, is April 6, 2026. Drivers who miss the cutoff will see their CDLs downgraded to non-commercial status, effectively grounding them from operating the heavy trucks they’ve been driving for years.
For thousands of Tennessee truckers, many of whom have held their CDLs for well over a decade without issue, the announcement has landed like an unexpected regulatory earthquake.
Beyond Bureaucratic Paperwork
On the surface, the state’s action looks like a data cleanup: bring old records into alignment with rules that weren’t fully enforced when those licenses were originally issued. Federal rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) now require that all CDL records include proof of citizenship or lawful presence. Tennessee officials say their review identified older files lacking that paperwork and are now remedying the gap.
But a deeper look reveals something larger: this is part of a nationwide enforcement campaign. Under Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the USDOT has been pushing states to tighten CDL issuance and documentation practices. States that fall short risk losing critical federal transportation funds.
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles faced such federal pressure last year, leading to a freeze on processing non-domiciled CDLs and subsequent lawsuits from advocacy groups challenging the federal and state actions. Tennessee, by contrast, is not freezing issuances but is instead reaching back through its legacy files to ensure compliance.
In other words, Tennessee isn’t alone, and the driver community shouldn’t assume this is an isolated administrative glitch.
The Human and Industry Impact
For the average trucker, a CDL is a livelihood. Lose it, even temporarily, and you lose your job, benefits, and ability to support your family. The roughly 8,800 drivers affected represent nearly 6 % of Tennessee’s total CDL population, and that’s a sizable swath of the state’s freight workforce.
Industry leaders have publicly backed such compliance moves in general terms. They say strong, accurate licensing supports safety and integrity on the roads. But they also warn that operational burdens, like taking time off work to gather paperwork and appear in person at a Driver Services Center, can be heavy, especially for drivers already stretched thin by long hours and tight schedules.
And while Tennessee’s effort is framed as forward-looking, the broader context makes it clear this is part of a politically charged national debate about immigration, labor, and federal authority. That debate often plays out far from the truck stops and distribution yards where drivers live and work.
Critics, especially immigrant advocacy groups, argue that some drivers are being unfairly targeted, caught in an enforcement sweep that treats record-keeping gaps as evidence of non-compliance or questionable status. In some states, litigation has already begun over how these rules are applied, particularly where federal policy intersects with state licensing practices.
There’s also a practical quirk: many of these Tennessee drivers obtained their CDLs before the current documentation standards were in place. From their perspective, nothing about their driving history has changed, only the regulatory landscape has. Whether that constitutes fair notice is likely to be debated in legal arenas and trucking forums in the months ahead.
What Now?
For now, Tennessee CDL holders have their heads down, scrambling to round up birth certificates and passports before April’s deadline. Other states, watching Tennessee’s approach, may be preparing their own audits and notifications.
It’s become clear that enforcement around CDL documentation isn’t going away. It’s morphing into a broader federal-state compliance regime that will shape the commercial driving landscape for years to come, and that could redefine what it means to hold a CDL in the United States.
Sources: FreightWaves, https://www.wsmv.com, CDLlife
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As millions of people are expected to travel through Tennessee to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is suspending all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes.
The suspension will begin at noon on Thursday, July 2, through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6. Workers may still be on-site during the suspension, and reduced speed limits in work zones will remain in effect. TDOT added that drivers could still be impacted by some long-term lane closures for ongoing construction projects. Drivers are still urged to use caution.
“With so many people driving on and around the Fourth of July, we want to do all we can to ensure they reach their destinations safely and without delays,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid, P.E. “We are suspending lane closures during this busy holiday travel time. Be mindful that our HELP Trucks will be on patrol in urban and rural areas and drivers must obey the law by moving over and slowing down for all emergency vehicles on the side of the road.”
AAA predicts more than 1.6 million Tennesseans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Independence Day between Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, July 5. The company added that this will set a record for Fourth of July travel in Tennessee.
“For many families, traveling for Independence Day isn’t just a trip; it’s a tradition,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Vacations are one category where consumers are still willing to spend, even if that means cutting back on something else. With an extended holiday travel period, we expect busy roads, steady demand for flights, and continued interest in cruises across many parts of the country.”
For those looking to travel over the weekend, join 6 News anchor Bo Williams for our Upcoming Road Work stream on WATE6+ at 2:30 p.m. on Fridays. He will break down traffic conditions, construction projects and events that are expected to impact drivers in East Tennessee over the weekend.
The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 28, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 28 drawing
Evening: 5-3-8, Wild: 7
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 28 drawing
Evening: 5-6-1-2, Wild: 1
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from June 28 drawing
05-08-17-19-31
Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 28 drawing
04-11-31-54-58, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:
Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.
When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
- Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.
A position group that has stability at the top but questions behind the starter is running back. DeSean Bishop returns as the unquestioned starter after a dominant redshirt-sophomore year, but both the pieces behind him a year ago that split the load have departed.
Now, it’ll be a battle for reps between young returners Daune Morris and Justin Baker and Tulane transfer Javin Gordon. Tennessee has rotated up to three backs a game, as well, making a chance for two to be in a game-by-game position to contribute.
Bishop, the star of the room, has expectations that he could play his way into an NFL draft pick this upcoming year. This past season, he took 182 carries for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. That was good for a really strong average of 5.9 yards per tote.
More From RTI: Tennessee Left Off Eight-Team List of SEC College Football Playoff Contenders
Gordon, the Tulane transfer, joins after his true freshman year with the Green Wave. While it wasn’t at the SEC level, he was very productive, posting 128 carries, 516 yards and five touchdowns.
Morris and Baker return after limited roles. Morris was the fourth back, meaning he got more run than Baker when injuries did occur. He finished his freshman year with 35 carries, 133 yards and a touchdown while also returning punts. Baker took 14 carries for 43 yards.
“It’s huge because you look at the production, you got a guy that understands what he’s walking into in terms of seeing it week in and week out in terms of the caliber of teams that we’re going against,” Tennessee running backs coach DeRail Sims said in the spring about Bishop returning. “His understanding of what it’s like when the game’s on the line and having to go out there and make plays in all three facets of the game, in running the ball, the protection piece, and the passing game. So it’s huge having Bish back.”
The other pieces of the running back room are three-star freshman Will Rajecki and redshirt-senior Hunter Barnes.
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