No motor vehicle shall be operated over any public road, highway, street or alley in this state, for public transportation of passengers or property, or both, for compensation until the owner or operator of such vehicle shall first have made application to and secured from the state road commissioner a permit or certificate of convenience to operate such vehicle. Such classification shall include public livery vehicles, cars for hire or for rent, taxicabs, bus lines, truck lines, and any other public transportation of passengers or property for compensation, without regard to whether such operation is between fixed termini or over regular routes or otherwise.

The state road commissioner may also grant certificates of convenience and necessity and permits for the transportation of persons or property, or both, for compensation in interstate commerce and regulate such interstate commerce under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of any statute that has been or hereafter may be enacted by the Congress of the United States, vesting in or delegating to the state road commissioner of West Virginia the authority, as an agency of the United States government, so to grant such certificates and permits, and so to regulate such commerce. If the Legislature shall by statute transfer from the state road commissioner to any other commission, board or officer, the authority to grant certificates of convenience and permits and to regulate intrastate transportation of persons or property, or both, for compensation, then the authority herein granted shall vest in such other commission, board or officer. The state road commissioner, or such other commission, board or officer, as the case may be, is hereby authorized to notify the proper department of the federal government of his or its assent to conform to the requirements, conditions and obligations of said statute of the Congress in regard to interstate commerce by motor vehicles.