The Department of Safety and Homeland Security will implement the following enhancements in the highest volume centers in an effort to better serve the citizens of Tennessee:

• Hire additional Driver License Examiners, Road Skill Testers and Greeters, whose primary objective is to vet each person that comes to the center ensuring they have the required documentation for their transaction and direct them to proper workstation to begin the process.
• Pursue cutting-edge technology that will expedite services at the Centers and allow citizens to conduct their business outside a Driver Services Center.
• Dispatch the Department’s two mobile trucks in remote and high volume areas. The mobile trucks are full service and capable of issuing REAL IDs.
• Continue the expansion of County Clerk partnerships across the state to issue REAL IDs.

Since July 1, 2019, the Department has experienced a significant increase in customer volume at Driver Services Centers across Tennessee due to the issuance of REAL IDs to meet the standards of the REAL ID Act. The REAL ID Act is a federal mandate that goes into effect October 1, 2020. The Department is also expecting additional customer volumes at the Driver Services Centers beginning January, 2020 due to the change in Public Chapter 479 as it relates to the issuance of conceal handgun permits.

“When visiting a Driver Services Center, please plan for longer than usual wait times. Your patience during this increased workload is appreciated,” said Assistant Commissioner Paula Shaw.