Victory Liner


Victory Liner, Inc. is a bus company in the Philippines that was established in 1945 by José Hernandez, is recognized as one of the primary providers of bus transportation in the Philippines, servicing key locations across Luzon. Initially using a fleet of repurposed military vehicles, the company was instrumental in meeting the post-WWII demand for public transport.
Over the years, Victory Liner has strategically grown its operations, upgrading its fleet and expanding service routes to meet the evolving needs of travelers. Today, it operates a comprehensive network that connects Central and Northern Luzon provinces, such as Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Benguet Baguio, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and Cagayan.
Victory Liner deploys more than 1,000 buses in its daily operations.

Etymology

The name "Victory Liner" draws its inspiration from the post-World War II era sentiment. In the 1940s, the term "Victory Joe," a nod to America's victory, resonated widely within the Philippines. José Hernandez, correlating his first name "Jose" with the English equivalent "Joe," deemed "Victory Liner" an apt and evocative name for his emerging transport business.
This naming choice coincided with the company's early expansion, incorporating a team that included Hernandez as a driver-mechanic and Angel Mangahas in a similar role, with Leonardo D. Trinidad as the conductor, Santiago Crisostomo as the mechanic, and Marta, Hernandez's wife, overseeing finances. Subsequently, Eugenio D. Trinidad, another brother-in-law, joined as a helper-conductor, contributing to the growing family operation.

History

Victory Liner's beginnings trace back from the years of Japanese occupation in the country. Jose I. Hernandez, a mechanic from Macabebe, Pampanga, collected bits and pieces of machinery, metals and spare parts from abandoned United States Armed Forces vehicles, intending to build a delivery truck from scratch for his family's resale 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 was his conductor. Later on, the Hernandezes incorporated the business and Victory Liner became one of the main transport modes to shuttle passengers and goods to and from Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Tarlac, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan, Apayao, and Kalinga.
In 2007, Victory Liner introduced its deluxe class for its Baguio and Cagayan Valley services. The company was eventually passed on to the son of Jose Hernandez, Johnny Hernandez.
In 2011, Victory Liner initially equipped 50 air-conditioned buses with Sun Cellular Wireless Broadband to allow passengers with Wi-Fi-capable devices to log on to the Internet.
In April 2012, Victory Liner partnered with AirAsia Philippines to provide shuttle service for inbound and outbound passengers of Clark International Airport.
In August 2023, Victory Liner classified its bus services as "Express" and "Inner Cities" to make simplified travel choices for the passengers.
On October 13, 2023, during the 78th anniversary event of Victory Liner, the bus company launched its Royal Class sleeper bus for its Baguio, Tabuk, and Tuguegarao services. The new buses were manufactured by Volvo, with Thaco assmebling the structural body. The videos of the sleeper buses went viral on social media, causing some Royal Class trips to be sold out due to popular demand. Passenger services of the Royal Class sleeper buses begun on October 23. As part of the anniversary, Victory Liner also restored its "Jardinera" vintage bus. The type, which was the very first bus that plied the Manila–Olongapo route in 1945, embarked on a "Nostalgia Ride" tour around several tourist spots in Baguio.
In November 2024, in its vision of carbon-neutral sustainable transport, VLI launched the country's first two electric buses. The 65 passengers Higer Buses have each 485 kWh battery for 350 to 400 kilometers journey.

Fleet

Victory Liner maintains and operates different buses from various manufacturers.

Current

;Almazora Motors Corporation
  • Almazora Tourist Star RE bus body
  • *Hyundai Aero Space LD
  • *MAN R39 18.350 HOCL
  • Almazora Tourist Star Regio bus body
  • *MAN R39 18.350 HOCL
  • *MAN RR3 19.360 HOCL
;Autodelta Coach Builders
  • Autodelta 12-meter coach body
  • *Volvo B7R
  • *Volvo B8R
  • Autodelta Marcopolo Audace 1050 replica
  • *Volvo B11R
;Del Monte Motor Works, Inc.
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM14 Series 1 bus body
  • *MAN R39 18.350 HOCL
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM14 Series 3 bus body
  • *Hino RK1JST
  • *Hyundai Aero Space LS
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM16 S2 HID bus body
  • *Volvo B7R
  • *Volvo B8R
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM18 bus body
  • *MAN RR3 19.360
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM23 bus body
  • *MAN RR3 19.360
;Higer Bus Company Limited
  • A80 KLQ6123K
  • V12 KLQ6126LY
  • V12 KLQ6126YEV
  • V91 KLQ6119QE3
  • KLQ6926G
;Hino Motors Philippines
  • Hino Grandeza II bus body
  • *RN8J
  • Hino Grandmetro bus body
  • *Hino RK1JST
  • Hino SBC-08 bus body
  • *Hino RK1JMT
;Hyundai Motor Company
  • Universe
  • *Express Noble
  • *Space Classic
  • *Space Comfort
  • *Space Luxury
  • Super Aero City
  • Unicity
;Kia Motors Corporation
  • New Granbird
  • *KM959SX Bluesky
  • *KM959S Parkway
  • *KM959H Sunshine
;King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd.
  • XMQ6117Y3
;Santarosa Motor Works Inc.
  • Santarosa Exfoh bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S '
  • *Nissan Diesel JA450SSN '
  • *Nissan Diesel SP215NSB '
  • Santarosa Cityliner bus body
  • *Daewoo BH117H
  • *Daewoo BV115 '
  • *Daewoo BF106 '
  • *Daewoo BS106
  • Santarosa Jetliner bus body
  • *Daewoo BV115
  • Santarosa Modulo bus body
  • *MAN RR3 19.360
  • *MAN R39 18.350
  • *MAN A85 18.280
  • Nissan Diesel PKB212N '
  • Iveco Euromidi CC150
Truong Hai Group Corporation
Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co. Ltd.
  • XML6103J92 "Marcopolo II"
;Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co., Ltd.
  • Yutong ZK6105H
  • Yutong ZK6107HA
  • Yutong ZK6119HA
  • Yutong ZK6122HD9
  • Yutong ZK6128H "C12 Pro"
;Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd.
  • Zhongtong LCK6129H

    Former

;Almazora Motors Corporation
  • Almazora Lion's Star bus body
  • *MAN A55 18.310 HOCL
  • Almazora Tourist Star SH bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Almazora Travel Star bus body
  • *MAN A55 18.310 HOCL
;Anhui Ankai Automobile Co., Ltd.
  • Ankai HFF6110KO6D
;Bataan Automotive Remanufacturing Corporation
  • Nissan Diesel RB46S
;Del Monte Motor Works, Inc.
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM10 Series 2 bus body
  • *Hyundai Aero Express HSX
  • Del Monte Motor Works DM12 Series 1 bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Del Monte Motor Works Euro Bus replica
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Del Monte Motor Works "Exfoh" replica
  • *MAN 754 16.290 HOCL
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Del Monte Motor Works Lion's Star bus body
  • *MAN A55 18.310 HOCL
Guilin Daewoo Bus Co., Ltd.
  • GL6127HKC1
;Hino Motors Philippines
  • Hino "Exfoh" bus body replica
  • * Nissan Diesel RB31S
  • * Hino RF821
;Hyundai Motor Company
  • Hyundai Aero Space LS
  • Hyundai Aero Queen
  • Hyundai Aero City '
;Isuzu Motors Ltd.
  • Isuzu Cubic '
Karl Kässbohrer Fahrzeugwerk
  • Setra S215H
;Kia Motors Corporation
  • Granbird
  • * KM948 SD-II Parkway
  • * KM949H HD Sunshine
;King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd.
  • King Long XMQ6118Y
  • King Long XMQ6119T
  • King Long XMQ6126Y
;Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation
  • Aero Bus P-MS725S
;Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
  • Fuji Heavy Industries 5E bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel UA31S
  • Nissan Diesel Space Runner RA
  • * Fuji Heavy Industries 7E bus body
  • **Nissan Diesel UA460
;Nissan Diesel Philippines Corporation
  • Nissan Diesel Euro Trans bus body
  • * Nissan Diesel JA430SAN
  • * Nissan Diesel RB46S
Partex Auto Body
  • Grandeza bus body
  • * Nissan Diesel JA450SSN
  • Generic non air-conditioned model bus body
  • * Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Generic air-conditioned model bus body
  • * Nissan Diesel RB46S
;Trans-Oriental Motor Builders, Inc.
;Santarosa Motor Works
  • Santarosa AKR bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel CPB87N
  • Santarosa Exfoh Hi-Deck bus body
  • *MAN A55 18.310 HOCL
  • Santarosa Exfoh bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel CPB87N
  • *Nissan Diesel RB31S
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Santarosa Explorer bus body
  • *MAN L68 14.223 HOC
  • Santarosa Flexstar bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Santarosa Modulo bus body
  • *MAN 754 16.290 HOCL
  • *MAN A55 18.310 HOCL
  • Santarosa SDX bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB31S
  • Santarosa SR615 Flexi bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • Santarosa SR620 NV bus body
  • *Nissan Diesel RB46S
  • *Hyundai Aero Express HSX
;Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co., Ltd.
  • Yutong ZK6100H
;Zyle Daewoo Bus
  • FX120 Cruising Star
  • FX212 Super Cruiser
;Modified & Custom-built buses by Five Star Bus Body
  • MAN A55 18.310 HOCL
  • Nissan Diesel RB46S