Announced Thursday, February 19 at its seventh annual Van Line Summit & Awards Gala, Bekins awarded top honors to an outstanding driver in the network as 2025 Driver of the Year. To be eligible for these awards, individuals must first earn a Driver of the Month award between January 2025 and December 2025 and consistently provide superior service to Bekins’ customers. By their excellent records in claims, customer service and safety, these drivers are among the best in the van lines’ fleet.
Manny Burnett, Boerman Moving & Storage, Woodbridge, Ill.
At just 30 years old, Manny Burnett has already built a career in the moving and storage industry that many drivers spend a lifetime working toward. Manny has been in the trucking business since he was 18 years old, starting out as a Class C driver. Within a year, he pushed forward and earned his Class A CDL at just 19, proving early on that he wasn’t just interested in driving—he was determined to become one of the best. Growing up surrounded by career drivers—uncles, cousins, and friends—only strengthened his drive to be a top-tier household goods mover and a true professional in every sense of the word.
““Manny is one of my longest recruits I have ever gone after,” said Vince Clemente, Operations Manager at Boerman Moving & Storage. “It took me nearly three years to finally get him to come over to Boerman Moving and Storage and join our fleet. But I can say without hesitation—he was worth every bit of the wait. Manny is an outstanding driver and truly one of the best and most professional drivers I have ever dispatched in my 28 years in this business. I consider Manny not only one of our very best drivers, but also a great friend. He represents the best of who we are, what we stand for, and what excellence looks like on the road and off it.”
Manny is respected everywhere he goes. Shippers love him. His hired labor will bend over backwards for him. Why? Because Manny leads by example. He isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with the crew. He works hard, takes pride in the job, and gives maximum effort every single day. He may be young—part of the “new school movers era”—but he is an old-school driver at heart.
Since joining Boerman and Bekins Van Lines, Manny has consistently maintained his #1 rating, and it’s easy to see why. He truly bleeds green and defines excellence in everything he does.
