B737-200 ACFT TAXIING INTO GATE UNDER MARSHALLER AND WING WALKER GUIDANCE HIT PARKED CLEANING TRUCK WHICH WAS IN UNAUTH LOCATION. MARSHALLER COULDN'T SEE WING WALKER DUE TO DESIGN OF JETWAY.

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ON JAN/XA/98; I WAS THE CAPT ON FLT FROM ATLANTA TO JFK. EQUIP WAS A B737-200. DURING TAXI TO THE GATE; I WAS UNDER THE CTL OF A MARSHALLER AND 2 WING WALKERS. AS I BROUGHT THE ACFT TO A STOP AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MARSHALLER; THE L WINGTIP MADE CONTACT WITH A CLEANING VEHICLE PARKED NEAR THE JETWAY. IMPACT WAS VERY SLIGHT BUT PRODUCED A SMALL 1 INCH SQUARE DENT IN THE LEADING EDGE SLAT ABOUT 6 INCHES INBOARD FROM THE L WINGTIP LIGHT. THE MARSHALLER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OR COMMUNICATE WITH THE L WING WALKER DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE JETWAY WHICH BLOCKED THEIR VISION. I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO SEE THE L WINGTIP DURING THE FINAL 10-15 FT OF TRAVEL TO THE PARKING SPOT. THE ACFT WAS CTRED ON THE APPROPRIATE YELLOW LINE AND ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WERE FOLLOWED. THE CAUSES OF THIS INCIDENTS WERE: 1) POOR JETWAY DESIGN; 2) INABILITY OF WING WALKER TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT OR OTHER COM WITH THE MARSHALLER; 3) VEHICLE PARKED IN INAPPROPRIATE SPOT ON RAMP; 4) POORLY PAINTED 'NO PARK' LINES IN THE GATE AREA. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO ACR X AIRLINE'S SAFETY FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION.