Where the Trucks Don’t Sleep: The Valley’s Warehouse Boom and Its Invisible Costs

DFP Investigations & Data Desk • Published Oct 25, 2025

Along Manteca’s edges, where orchards once buffered subdivisions, diesel engines hum through the night. New warehouse permits promise jobs and tax revenue—but residents say the air tastes like asphalt and opportunity.

Truck corridors are reshaping daily life. A typical 500,000-square-foot facility adds nearly 1,000 vehicle trips a day. For homeowners nearby, property values are rising slower than county averages even as rents surge.

City zoning maps show 2.8 million square feet of new logistics space approved since 2023. The development pace outstrips park and housing construction by 4:1. Health studies from SJ County (2024) note a 12% uptick in asthma ER visits near transport corridors.

The Valley’s growth math still favors freight over families — unless new zoning reforms redirect future revenue into green buffers and public transit.

“Every night feels like rush hour. The city says it’s progress — we just call it sleepless.” — Resident, South Manteca