Air carrier flight crew reported a ramp vehicle sped into the safety area toward their right wing as they taxied into the gate.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported a ramp vehicle sped into the safety area toward their right wing as they taxied into the gate.
Narrative
While the Captain was using DGS to park the airplane; a baggage loader vehicle which was in front of the airplane drove forward and fully entered into the safety area and then sped rapidly towards the right wing.It seemed that there was confusion outside the airplane amongst the ramp workers. The DGS was functional and I was focused on it. There has been much communication lately via bulletins and emails from Company regarding new ramp procedures that will eliminate the DGS and re-introduce the human element when parking airplanes. Today's experience parking at [Gate] XX was dangerous and confusing. In my opinion; the safest way to park airplanes is for the ramp workers & aircraft flight crew to ensure that everything is behind the line and then let the DGS and the Captain safely taxi the airplane to a stop. I personally don't want to go back to an old method of parking airplanes that we abandoned long ago for a reason. If Company has had some recent issues with DGS; I think we should focus on fixing those issues and not completely reinvent the wheel. It seems we are going back to an old way of doing things that we quit doing long ago or a reason. Today's X500' mile trip across an ocean with a zero time FO was uneventful up until the last 10 feet at ZZZ's Gate XX.
Second reporter narrative
During taxi in and gate arrival; 1 of 2 large pallet loading vehicles accelerated towards the aircraft while it was moving and about 20 feet from the stop point. The vehicle continued to move across the red caution line into the protected area while the aircraft was still moving. The vehicle impacted multiple smaller pallet and luggage carts. We could not see if the vehicle drove under the wing. Cause: Vehicle operator not following SOPs and Safety Guidelines.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.