The commission may issue temporary permits to temporary household goods carriers for no more than one hundred eighty days, but only after the commission finds that the issuance of the temporary permits is consistent with the public interest. The commission may prescribe special rules and regulations and impose special terms and conditions as in its judgment are reasonable and necessary in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

The commission may also issue temporary permits pending the determination of an application filed with the commission for approval of a consolidation or merger of the properties of two or more household goods carriers or of a purchase or lease of one or more household goods carriers.