(1) It shall be the duty of the commission and the commission shall have the power:

(a) To regulate common carriers by motor vehicle and contract carriers by motor vehicle not exempted in this chapter, doing business in this state, and to that end, the commission may establish reasonable requirements with respect to continuous and adequate service, transportation of baggage and express, uniform system of accounts, records and reports, preservation of records, and safety of operation and equipment, including maximum hours of service of employees.

(b) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, to avail itself of the special information of the Mississippi Transportation Commission in promulgating safety requirements and in considering applications for certificates or permits with particular reference to conditions of the public highway or highways involved, and the ability of the said public highway or highways to carry added traffic; the Mississippi Transportation Commission upon request of the commission shall furnish such information.

(c) To administer, execute and enforce all other provisions of this chapter, to make necessary orders in connection therewith, and to prescribe rules, regulations and procedure for such administration.

(d) To inquire into the organization of motor carriers, and into the management of their businesses, to keep itself informed as to the manner and method in which the same is conducted, and to transmit to the Legislature, from time to time, such recommendations as to additional legislation relating to such carriers as the commission may deem necessary.

(2) The commission may from time to time establish such just and reasonable classifications of groups of carriers included in the terms “common carrier by motor vehicle” and “contract carrier by motor vehicle,” as the special nature of the services performed by such carriers shall require, and the commission may from time to time establish such just and reasonable rules, regulations and requirements, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, to be observed by the carriers so classified or grouped, as the commission deems necessary or desirable in the public interest.

(3) The commission may from time to time enter into joint and cooperative agreements with other governmental agencies in regard to safety, forms, operating procedures and regulatory jurisdiction.

(4) The rules, regulations, requirements and classifications adopted in pursuance to the power and duty of the commission by this section granted and imposed shall conform as nearly as practicable to the rules, regulations, requirements and classifications promulgated by the Interstate Commerce Commission, the United States Department of Transportation, or any other appropriate governmental agency.

(5) The commission shall not have the duty nor the power to regulate the rates of common carriers by motor vehicle which undertake, whether directly or by a lease or any other arrangement, to transport household goods.

(6) The commission shall not have the duty nor the power to regulate the rates of contract carriers by motor vehicle, who or which, under special and individual contract or agreements, and whether directly or by a lease or any other arrangement, transport household goods.