Using a single flatbed truck and 4 rows of bench seats, Frank Sr. launched what would later become Frank Martz Coach Company, transporting the local workers, coal miners and shoppers. A one-way fare from Wilkes-Barre Public Square to Plymouth would cost a total of 10 cents; 5 cents to get to Division Street in Wilkes-Barre from Public Square and 5 cents to continue to Plymouth. Fares of 5 cents remained into the 1960’s.

After two years of operations, Frank Martz Sr. purchased his first bus. The chassis was purchased from the White Company, and the body from the Singer Sewing Company. This bus now has the distinction of being the oldest operating transit bus in the world, and resides on lease at the Hershey PA Museum of transportation.

In 1931 the 239 Old River Road location was purchased with an additional terminal location on Public Square to handle the interstate bus routes to New York and Philadelphia. Stretching the length of a city block, the garage was capable of housing 42 motor coaches inside, a full service wash bay, tire storage, full maintenance facility with an inspection pit and also doubled as a car dealership for Rio Cars. The great depression demonstrated Frank Martz Sr.’s character and his determination to survive. After filing for bankruptcy and re-organizing, Frank Martz Sr. paid back 100% of his debts over the next 27 years with the help of his son Frank Martz Jr.

Frank Sr. first introduced air conditioning to the buses. A large block of ice would be placed on the roof of the bus with a large fan blowing the cool air into the passenger section of the bus. Once the ice had melted, the air-conditioning was over. In 1937, air conditioning became a standard in motor coaches.

Frank Martz Sr. and Fay had been blessed with two children of their own, Frank Martz Jr and Marjorie E. Martz. In 1936, after attending an Army/Navy football game, Frank Martz Sr. was stricken with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Frank Martz Jr., then a twenty-year-old sophomore at Duke University, left school and rushed home to Plymouth to take the helm of the company and keep if from the bank

Before Frank Jr.’s passing in 1964, Frank Henry, grandson to Frank Martz Sr, had begun his role in the company. During the summertime, Frank Henry would work in the garage cleaning the buses after their daily runs and lend a helping hand wherever needed. Under the mentoring of Frank Martz Jr, Frank

Over the next several years, Frank began to expand the company through acquisitions. Focusing on large populated areas that were within a day travel of Wilkes-Barre, Frank purchased Gold Line and Gray line sightseeing in Washington DC in 1974. This would serve as a major attraction for local high schools looking to take trips to the nation’s capital, along with many individuals living in Northeastern Pennsylvania wishing to travel to the new market.

In 1978 the gaming industry made its way to Atlantic City NJ, bringing a new wave of attractions and casinos to the East Coast. With the opening of the first casino, Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, roughly 200 miles away, Frank began operating one bus a day to Atlantic City. Shortly thereafter Frank received a phone call from Stuart Perlman, who along with his brother has just opened Caesar’s casino in Atlantic City, and saw Martz dropping off full busloads of customers every day at Chalfonte-Haddon Hall. They wanted Martz to come to Caesars as well. Over the next several years Atlantic City became one of the best operations for Martz, at its peak sending 14 buses a day to Atlantic City.

In 1985 the Martz travel agency was established. This served as a full service global air and cruise travel agency for the Martz services. Continuing with expansion, in 1986 First Class Coach was acquired in St. Petersburg, FL, looking to help balance the slow winter month’s business in Pennsylvania. In 1988 Tourtime America was acquired in Richmond, VA not far from Washington DC and the other Martz locations. In 1984 Martz acquired Franklin Motorcoach in Virginia, solidifying the Martz presence on the East Coast. While Frank was the chairman of the company during this time of growth and expansion, he credits the Martz employees for their help to make the company a leader in the transportation industry. With another generation of the family, Scott and Hank Henry, working their way through the company, Frank saw the company grow successfully alongside his children, which has been a dream come true for the family owned and operated company.