Victory Liner: Map

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Victory Liner, Inc., is one of the largest and pioneer bus companies in the Philippines

today.

"Victory Joe" — origin of the name Victory Liner

The phrase "Victory Joe", reminiscent of America's victory in the World War II became a household word. Since Hernandez's first name is Jose, the English version of which is "Joe", Mr. Hernandez thought that Victory Liner would be a catchy name for his enterprise and so he adapted it.

History

Founded by Mr. Jose I. Hernandez, a pre-war mechanic, he collected bits and pieces of machinery, metals and spare parts from abandoned U.S. Military vehicles. He intended to build a delivery truck from scratch for his family's buy and sell business of rice, corn, vegetables and their home-made laundry soap.

Upon completion of the truck, he was surprised to see that what he envisioned to be a delivery truck turned out to be more like a bus.

On October 15, 1945, Mr. Hernandez's first bus plied the Manila

-Olongapo

-Manila line. He was the driver and Leonardo D. Trinidad (a brother-in-law) was his conductor.

1960s

Victory Liner pioneered in the conversion of front engine buses and the use of steel-bodied buses. In the late 1960s,the company adapted the use of diesel engines for its growing fleet.

1970s

Victory Liner provided the riding public with air-conditioned provincial bus service, a novelty at that time. It was also the first bus company to institute the queuing system for orderly boarding of buses.

1980s

Victory Liner was the first to use the automatic transmission (the General Motors, Allison Transmission

automatic transmission) for its buses, and the use of television and video facilities in its buses. Also, during this decade the company embarked on an aggressive training program for its drivers, conductors, and mechanics on proper road safety, customer service, and bus maintenance. The company started expanding its franchise routes as well.

1990s – present

The emergence of new bus terminals in strategic locations in Metro Manila. It has maintained stability amidst setbacks resulting from the 1990 earthquake, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo

, the 1992 withdrawal of U.S Military Bases, the 1995 heavy lahar flows, and the high borrowing cost that crippled the country’s economy since July 11, 1997 de facto devaluation , all of which adversely affected its main routes.

Also, today, Victory Liner is now utilizing Hyundai, King Long, Nissan, MAN, Hino, Isuzu & recently Daewoo & Yutong buses.

Though times are harder than it was 50 years ago, the company is continuously undertaking an aggressive computerization program of its systems along with the ongoing modernization and upgrading of its bus fleet and facilities.

In 2005, the 6000 series was launched on its 60th anniversary.

The Company was passed to the son of Mr. Hernandez, Johnny Hernandez

In 2007, Victory Liner introduces a Deluxe class, Available only in Baguio and Tuguegarao trips.

Victory Liner is now also a sister company of FiveStar

Sta. Lucia Express or SLEx, along with Martinez Trans were purchased by the Hernandez Group which consist of Victory Liner, Five Star Bus Company, and Bataan Transit(A joint venture project of Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines and Victory Liner) During the early 2008. It was purchased by Carl Kieruf, the son of the General Manager of Victory Liner. According to reports the management of the Sta. Lucia Express and Martinez Trans was transferred to Five Star which provided its Euro Bus. Victory Liner contributed Hyundai Aero bus as an addition to its fleet after it had supplied Bataan Transit the same unit. Moreover, the Five Star management aims to dissolve entirely the Martinez Trans brand name this October 2009. Martinez Trans will be operated by Sta. Lucia Express entirely.

Fleet

Current Fleet

Daewoo
- BF106

Hino
- RF (only 2 units)*
- RK

(*)Formerly Grandtheater units. These 2 units are revived and refurbished last 1st Quarter of 2007.

Hyundai
- Aero City
- Aero
- Universe

Isuzu
- Cubic

King Long
- XMQ6118JB
- XMQ6126Y

MAN
- 18.232
- 16.290
- 18.310
- 18.280

Nissan Diesel
- CPB87N
- SP215NSB
- UA
- RB
- JA
- Eurobus

Yutong
- ZK6100H

Past Fleet

Hino
- Grandtheater**

(**)2 of the model are revived and refurbished last 1st Quarter of 2007.

Mitsubishi Fuso
- Aero Bus

Setra
- S215HR (only 2 units)

Recent Incidents

On November 30, 2006, at about 4:30 pm (16:35), a Victory Liner air-conditioned bus, with body number 1565, exploded and burned at the Olongapo City terminal after arriving from Pasay City . A bomb inside a box left by one of the passengers detonated, instantly killing the bus conductor. Luckily, the passengers had just disembarked from the bus when the bomb exploded. The driver also narrowly escaped when he got off the bus to report to the dispatcher. Some bystanders were also injured by the blast and suffered burns. The Olongapo City Fire Department responded immediately and doused the flames from the burning bus. Olongapo City Mayor James "Bong" Gordon also responded to the scene together with the police and medical teams. The New People's Army was suspected responsible for the bombing because the company was not able to pay revolutionary taxes.

On June 8, 2007, a Victory Liner air-conditioned bus was robbed in San Miguel, Bulacan by armed robbers. Three people were killed as a result. The robbers disembarked at Gapan City and escaped. The Victory Liner bus with body number 644 was from the Kamias Terminal in Quezon City and was en route to Banaue, Ifugao .

On December 27, 2007, a Victory Liner air-conditioned bus headed to Baguio City collided with a FiveStar Ordinary fare bus headed back to Manila. The passengers were taken to a nearby hospital in Tarlac .