Narrative:

After tug release from pushback; the before taxi checklist was accomplished and clearance to taxi was received from ramp control. The initial taxi requires a hard 90 degree left or right turn. I turned on the taxi light; applied power. Just as the aircraft started to roll; I noticed movement off to my left. I was attempting to make a hard 90 right turn. The movement was a baggage tug moving along the painted vehicle road directly in front of the aircraft. I turned on the runway turnoff lights; but the tug driver never even looked at our aircraft. I applied brakes; stopped and illuminated all landing/taxi lights. The driver didn't slow down or look in our direction. I powered up again with all lights illuminated. We just started to roll when another baggage tug approached from the left. The drivers never looked in our direction. Brakes were applied and the aircraft stopped to avoid a second collision. The service road has a T intersection that approaches from under the terminal; off to our immediate left. A baggage tug was stopped waiting for the previous tug to pass. The orientation of the third tug was facing our aircraft. Power was applied a third time; after the second tug passed. As we began to roll; the tug holding at the T intersection made a left turn directly into and passed directly in front of us. Brakes were applied and the aircraft stopped to avoid a collision. All landing; taxi and turnoff lights were illuminated for all three events.we were then able to clear the gate area. I made a radio call to operations advising them of the safety hazard and to notify the station manager to help avoid possible future injury or equipment damage. I am submitting this report; as I feel there is a strong likelihood for serious bodily injury. All three vehicles approached from my blind side on a required 90 degree turn.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737NG Captain reported careless operation by several ground tug operators resulted in an unsafe environment as he began his taxi.

Narrative: After tug release from pushback; the Before Taxi Checklist was accomplished and clearance to taxi was received from Ramp Control. The initial taxi requires a hard 90 degree left or right turn. I turned on the taxi light; applied power. Just as the aircraft started to roll; I noticed movement off to my left. I was attempting to make a hard 90 right turn. The movement was a baggage tug moving along the painted vehicle road directly in front of the aircraft. I turned on the Runway Turnoff lights; but the tug driver never even looked at our aircraft. I applied brakes; stopped and illuminated all landing/taxi lights. The driver didn't slow down or look in our direction. I powered up again with all lights illuminated. We just started to roll when another baggage tug approached from the left. The drivers never looked in our direction. Brakes were applied and the aircraft stopped to avoid a second collision. The service road has a T intersection that approaches from under the terminal; off to our immediate left. A baggage tug was stopped waiting for the previous tug to pass. The orientation of the third tug was facing our aircraft. Power was applied a third time; after the second tug passed. As we began to roll; the tug holding at the T intersection made a left turn directly into and passed directly in front of us. Brakes were applied and the aircraft stopped to avoid a collision. All landing; taxi and turnoff lights were illuminated for all three events.We were then able to clear the gate area. I made a radio call to Operations advising them of the safety hazard and to notify the Station Manager to help avoid possible future injury or equipment damage. I am submitting this report; as I feel there is a strong likelihood for serious bodily injury. All three vehicles approached from my blind side on a required 90 degree turn.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.