(a) The Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Arkansas Department of Transportation shall prescribe the rules of procedure and for taking of evidence in all matters that may come before them.
(b) On the investigations, preparations, and hearing of cases, the commission and the department shall not be bound by the strict technical rules of pleading and evidence, but they may exercise such discretion as will facilitate their efforts to ascertain the facts bearing upon the right and justice of the matters before them.