B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
While turning into Gate X during daytime OPS at ZZZ; 3-4 tugs crossed directly in front of the aircraft forcing me (Captain) to quickly bring the 767 to a stop to avoid a potential collision.  After blocking in; I talked to maintenance and found out the problem. ZZZ OPS is short of people to marshal the aircraft in.  No wing walkers are present.  Maintenance marshalled us into parking.  Tug drivers are used to Wing Walkers and without the presence of them are driving in front of aircraft pulling into the gates.  Maintenance said this is not an uncommon problem. This is caused because of a need to change of habit pattern due to lack of Wing Walkers. Captain suggest ZZZ tug drivers; etc. Need to immediately be informed that Wing Walkers may not be present when aircraft are pulling into the gate.  This lack of Wing Walkers (due to a shortage of people) has taken away a primary cue that tug/ramp personnel had used previously.  Tell tug drivers to look for a marshaller with their wands raised and/or the aircraft turning into the gate.  What happened today was not good.
B-767-300 Captain reported a critical ground conflict during gate taxi in with ground vehicle traffic.