HM Transport Inc.: Beyond the business of moving people

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the growth of car sales in the country, there are still many Filipinos who rely on public transport to get to work and school.

One of the commuting options within Metro Manila and in the outlying areas is through bus. Many commuters rely on bus services to get to their daily destinations safely and conveniently. It is also a popular option by those who travel to their hometowns for a weekend visit to their loved ones.

One of the biggest and most reliable bus companies in the country is HM Transport Inc., the third generation in the transportation business of the Mercado Family. Established in 1998 with only two second-hand buses, it has now grown to a fleet of 530 buses strong.

Homer Mercado, who owns and operates HM Transport Inc. with his daughters, shares that it was strong leadership and savvy acquisitions that led to the company’s growth.

“The company is a spin-off of JAM Transit. After JAM was sold, we maintained the routes to Laguna specifically Sta. Cruz, Calamba and San Pedro to Manila and Cubao. Later on, HMTI also bought the franchise of Kapalaran Bus Lines and St. Rose Transit that had the same route,” he says.

Aside from adding regular city routes, the company was also the first to venture into P2P. In 2007 the administration of Market Market in BGC invited bus operators to use their premises for terminal purposes. It was only HM that accepted their invitation.

“HM started one bus dispatch, leaving every day at 5 p.m. bound for San Pedro Laguna via Alabang. This type of service we would say is the first P2P in the country,” Mercado explains.

It has since entered the P2P transport in various Metro Manila routes to serve the motorists who would opt to leave their cars and take the premium bus service.

Through the company’s core values of Commitment, Passion and Integrity, it has put their passengers’ needs as a priority. Beyond profit, they are committed to providing first-class service to their partners, with safe, reliable, comfortable and innovative vehicles at a proposition that provides the best value for money and goes beyond expectations, in every given opportunity.

In order to offer transport services that put passenger safety and comfort at a premium, HM conducts various road safety and defensive driving seminars regularly  for drivers; customer relations for conductors, bus inspectors and terminal managers. It also goes as far as conducting Operational Safety and Health Training, BFP – Fire safety and Earthquake preparedness.

To ensure that their buses plying the streets are safe and free from breakdowns that will not only cause them a loss of profit but also inconvenience for the part of their passengers, Mercado says they find partner products that will keep their buses in good running condition on the road. “We are always on the lookout for products that can help improve engine performance. It is important that our buses are always in top condition, because that will mean less downtime for repairs and oil changes and more time to serve commuters.”

He says that they trust Caltex Delo as their lubricant for the provincial bus and city bus units. “Its use was compatible for both city and provincial routes. Our maintenance experts report that there is minimal sludge formation and no oil thickening so the filters do not become clogged. The engines are well-protected from wear and tear.” 

HM Transport Inc. trusts only Caltex Delo as its lubricant for its provincial bus and city bus units. Released

There are many challenges being faced by the transport industry at the moment, the bus operator reveals. These include the increase in cost of labor and cost of fuel. In terms of government regulation, there’s the provincial bus ban on EDSA; there’s also the slow processing of applications and vague memos which affect the bus operations.

In its commitment to serve the riding public and bring the commuters to their destinations, and then back home safely to their loved ones, HM is facing these challenges head-on by instituting cost-cutting measures such as labor streamlining, as well as finding the right products for the buses such as Caltex's Delo Diesel Engine Oil. These help keep down maintenance cost and reduce downtime for the buses plying their routes.

To know more about Caltex Delo, visit Caltex’s official website at https://www.caltex.com/ph/en.html.