B737-400 CREW HAS VEHICLE DRIVER APCH ACFT WHILE STILL TAXIING IN TO GATE.

Narrative

ACFT WAS TAXIING SLOWLY IN TO GATE. ALL MARSHALLERS IN PLACE; WANDS IN PLACE; ALL GIVING THE ALL-CLR. ACFT WAS APPROX 10-15 FT FROM THE GATE AND STILL MOVING AT A TYPICAL TAXI SPD FOR THIS PART OF OUR OP WHEN SOMEONE DRIVING A BELT LOADER BEGAN PULLING UP TO THE FORWARD PIT. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE CAPT TO STOP THE JET; WHICH HE IMMEDIATELY DID. THE BELT LOADER CROSSED ALMOST COMPLETELY OVER THE SAFETY LINE BEFORE IT STOPPED. AT THIS POINT THE JET IS STOPPED; THE BELT LOADER IS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE #2 ENG (FORTUNATELY SHUT DOWN!); THE R WING WALKER IS CONTINUING TO GIVE THE ALL CLR; AND THE CTR WING WALKER IS CONTINUING TO MARSHAL US TO THE STOP BAR. (I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.) I OPENED THE WINDOW AND POINTED AT THE BELT LOADER. A FOURTH RAMPER; WHO WAS WATCHING THE WHOLE THING DEVELOP; HAD TO GO OVER TO THE DRIVER OF THE BELT LOADER; AND TELL HIM TO MOVE; HE BACKED THE LOADER BEHIND THE SAFETY LINE; AND WE CONTINUED TO THE GATE. PREVENTIVE MEASURES: THIS CREW DID NOT REALIZE THE PROB UNTIL ANOTHER PERSON CAME OVER TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. 1) MARSHALLERS ARE PAYING 'LIP SVC' -- GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS; IF YOU WILL -- TO THEIR DUTIES. 2) THE BELT LOADER DRIVER HAD NO IDEA HE HAD DONE ANYTHING UNSAFE. HE WAS CLRLY COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH APCHING A MOVING ACFT. 3) I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SUGGEST. SAFETY HAS GOT TO BECOME A PRIORITY OVER GETTING THE JET UNLOADED QUICKLY. THAT ATTITUDE HAS GOT TO COME FROM THE SUPVRS. WHEN I'VE SEEN THIS TYPE OF THING BEFORE IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING PRESSURED TO RUSH THE JOB. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO IMPLY THAT THAT IS THE CASE HERE; BUT PERHAPS IT IS WORTH ASKING THE QUESTION.