Illegal truck parking was a borderline epidemic five years ago in Manteca.

Multiple semi-trucks parked almost daily along arterials around the 120 Bypass interchanges at Airport Way, Union Road, and Main Street.

One March afternoon in 2021, there were 51 semi-trucks parked illegally along Moffat Boulevard between a point west of Powers Avenue and Austin Road.

Today, it’s a different story.

Trucks parked illegally on arterials are few and far between.

That doesn’t mean illegal truck parking isn’t an issue.

“It’s been greatly reduced,” noted Police Chief Stephen Schluer, adding “it still happens in neighborhoods.”

The department relies on calls from neighborhood residents to alert police of violations.

Community service officers that work seven days a week are tasked with the primary enforcement effort. When they are not available, complaints are handled by patrol officers.

On Thursday, crews connected with the Highway 99/120 Bypass project installed cyclone fencing along the southside of Moffat from a point just northwest of Woodward Avenue and to a point southeast of the new Austin Road overpass that is part of the project area.

The fencing re-enforces the city’s goal of keeping on top of illegal truck parking.

It creates a physical barrier that is preventing trucks and food vendors from parking in the Union Pacific right-of-way.

Manteca five years ago increased the number of no parking signs plus started towing violators along the Moffat corridor.

“After we towed two or so trucks, word got around (Manteca was serious),” Schluer said.

Then Councilman Gary Singh spearheaded council pressure to step up the enforcement of no parking zones that applied to trucks after they created not just serious sightline issues impacting motorist and pedestrian safety but also issues with nearby residents in terms of quality of life.

He recalled speaking with the owner of a truck repair firm on Moffat about whether semi-trucks parked on the street were customers of his when some people complained the crackdown was unfair to local businesses.

It turned out none of the truck owners were patronizing his business that he had invested in an off-street truck parking area to accommodate customers.

“They (truckers) were just using the business for cover (to illegally park),” Singh noted.

During that time period there were a number of instances where truck owners were doing repairs on rigs parked along Moffat including blocking the sidewalk with tool chests and such.

To contact Dennis Wyaytt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com