How can I find out about my driver license?
Response:  Contact the Tennessee Department of Safety at (615) 253-5221.

Where can I find out about my vehicle’s tag and title?
Response: Contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue at (615) 741-3101.

What are the “lime green” trucks I see on the Interstate?
Response: The "lime green" trucks in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville are part of "highway incident management." HELP trucks respond to wrecks, debris in the roadway, disabled vehicles and other incidents that cause traffic congestion and related problems. Specially-trained HELP operators work closely with law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians and other emergency responders. For more information: visit our HELP program website.

Why does it seem there is more road construction now than ever before? 
Response: The interstate system has almost 30% of all the traffic in Tennessee. Many of Tennessee’s interstates are now 40-50 years old, and need maintenance and improvements. Several interchanges are being redesigned to allow traffic to flow more easily thereby, improving congestion.

Is there a telephone number I can call to get construction updates 24 hours a day?
Response: You can get continually updated construction information by calling 511 or by going to www.TN511.com.  Tennessee 511 uses an automated voice response system to provide information about traffic incidents, closures and other important roadway conditions.

Where can I get information about permits and trucking regulations? 
Response: To get information on Overweight and Overdimensional Permits please contact TDOT’s Central Services Offices at 615.741.3821. The Tennessee Department of Safety which enforces Tennessee’s trucking regulations and operates five commercial vehicle inspection sites throughout the state. They may be contacted at (615) 687-2326.

What kind of wildflowers do I see along the interstates in Tennessee?
Response: Many of the “eye-popping flowers” are red poppies. However, other varieties are also planted.

Why can’t TDOT crews work 24 hours a day to finish projects like they do in California?
Response: Due to budget issues, we have reduced overtime to employees. However, highway projects are let to contract and therefore, working contractors 24 hours a day would result in costs rising considerably even though a project might finish sooner. There is a balance we must strike in funding and stretching a project out longer term. However, we do offer contractors incentives to work faster on projects that have major impacts which essentially results in their working some 24-hour days. These decisions are made on a case by case basis. TDOT also encourages, and often requires, night-time work, if it can be done safely for the workers and the motorists.

Why doesn’t TDOT use toll roads to help with cost expenses?
Response: Click on this link for the latest information regarding the Tennessee Tollway Act.

In construction zones, when lanes merge for construction, you always have those who ride in the lane that is being closed off to the end. Why don’t you station a police officer out there and ticket these people?  This will help with accidents and traffic jams?
Response: The state does pay for uniformed law enforcement in some situations. However in ticketing at merge lanes it may be difficult to gauge when to post law enforcement and would be too costly on a 24-hour basis. In tapering down to a merge, it is anticipated that different vehicles will merge at different times which actually improves transition.