(a) It shall be unlawful for any railroad or any of its agents or employees to enter into an agreement or contract with any shipper of any livestock, merchandise, or other freight for the purpose of abridging, modifying, limiting, or abrogating the statutory and common law duties and liabilities of the railroad as a common carrier. All agreements and contracts made for that purpose are declared to be void and shall not be enforced by any of the courts of this state.
(b) All rules prescribed by any railroad for the transportation of any merchandise, livestock, or other freight which are inconsistent with the common law and statutory duties and liabilities of railroads as common carriers or that in anywise limit or abridge the statutory and common laws and rights of any shipper are declared to be void and shall not be enforced by any of the courts of this state.