Sec. 24. (a) Every contract carrier by motor vehicle shall:

(1) establish and observe reasonable minimum rates, fares, and charges for any service rendered or to be rendered in the transportation of passengers or household goods or in connection with the transportation of passengers or household goods;

(2) establish and observe reasonable regulations and practices to be applied in connection with those reasonable minimum rates, fares, and charges; and

(3) file with the department, publish, and keep open for public inspection, in the form and manner prescribed by the department, schedules, or, by consent of contracting parties in lieu of schedules, copies of contracts, containing the minimum rates, fares, or charges of the carrier for the transportation of passengers or household goods in intrastate commerce, and any rule or practice affecting the rates, fares, or charges and the value of the service under the rates, fares, or charges.

(b) A contract carrier may not, unless otherwise provided by this chapter, engage in the transportation of passengers or household goods in intrastate commerce unless the minimum charges for the transportation by the carrier have been published, filed, and posted in accordance with this chapter. A reduction may not be made in the charge either directly or by means of any change in any rule or practice affecting the charge or the value of service under the charge, except after thirty (30) days notice of the proposed change filed in the required form and manner the department may, for good cause shown, allow a change upon less notice. However, the notice must plainly state the change proposed to be made and the time when the change will take effect.

(c) A carrier shall not demand, charge, or collect less compensation for the transportation than the charges filed in accordance with this section, as affected by any rule or practice so filed, or as may be prescribed by the department. It is unlawful for the carrier, by the furnishing of special service, facilities, or privileges, or by any other device, to charge, accept, or receive less than the minimum charges so filed or prescribed. The carrier, or any class or group, of the carrier may apply to the department for relief from this subsection, and the department may, after hearing, grant relief to the extent, for the time, and in the manner as in its judgment is consistent with the public interest.

(d) Whenever, after hearing, upon complaint or upon its own initiative, the department finds that any minimum rate, fare, or charge of any contract carrier by motor vehicle, or any rule, regulation, or practice of the carrier affecting the minimum rate, fare, or charge, or the value of the service, for the transportation of passengers or household goods or in connection under the rate, fare or charge, is in violation of any provision of this chapter, the department may prescribe that transportation, just and reasonable minimum rates, fare, or charge, or a rule, regulation, or practice as judgment is necessary in the public interest and will not be in violation of any provision of this chapter. The minimum rate, fare, or charge, or rule or practice, prescribed by the department, may not give an advantage or preference to the carrier in competition with any common carrier by motor vehicle subject to this chapter, which the department may find to be undue or inconsistent with the public interest, and the department shall give due consideration to the cost of the services rendered by those carriers, and to the effect of the minimum rate, fare, or charge, or rule, regulation, or practice, upon the movement of traffic by such carriers. All complaints must state fully the facts complained of and the reasons for the complaint and shall be made under oath.

As added by P.L.99-1989, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.110-1995, SEC.19.