(a) All certificates of public convenience and necessity to operate as a motor common or contract carrier of passengers or household goods issued prior to January 1, 1995, shall continue in full force and effect until revoked by the commissioner or surrendered by the holders thereof.

(b) All certificates of public convenience and necessity authorizing transportation of property and all registration permits for intrastate exempt commodity transportation that were in effect on December 31, 1994, shall be deemed null and void as of midnight December 31, 1994, and revoked by operation of law effective January 1, 1995. All persons holding certificates of public convenience and necessity authorizing transportation of property and all persons holding registration permits for intrastate exempt commodity transportation issued prior to January 1, 1995, who received a motor carrier of property permit from the Public Service Commission pursuant to its emergency rules shall be deemed to hold a motor carrier of property permit issued under Code Section 46-7-15.1.

(c) Any person holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity authorizing transportation of property issued prior to January 1, 1995, and any person holding a registration permit for intrastate exempt commodity transportation issued prior to January 1, 1995, who did not apply for a motor carrier of property permit pursuant to the Public Service Commission's rules on or before July 15, 1995, shall be deemed to have surrendered all rights to operate as a motor carrier for hire in Georgia and may not operate any motor carrier on or over any public highway of this state without first securing a motor carrier of property permit from the commissioner, upon application and payment of the required application fee.