Across the nation and in Middle Tennessee, pallet trucks are posing dangers to drivers.

In many cases, the pallets are improperly tied down, stacked too high and according to police, are accidents waiting to happen.

Andy Elkins, Metro Police, said, "We find pallets on the highway, it is extremely dangerous.  Like a missile."

John Pennington has been with Metro Nashville Police Department for 42 years and has written many citations to pallet truck drivers for transporting unsafe loads.

He said, "I answered a call one time where pallets fell on two people and hurt them, sending them to the hospital."
According to state law, a pallet truck cannot stack pallets higher than 13 feet, six inches.

Elkins said, "The pallets weigh 25 pounds.  It comes through your windshield could cause death and that is messed up."

News 2 found a pallet truck driver who admitted his load was not properly secured.

News 2: "Your stuff looks like it is going to fall off.  Do you have any rope?"
Driver: "No."
News 2:  "I was just letting you know.  It looks like it's going to bounce over those railroad tracks."
Driver:  "Thank you."

While mostdon't think pallets as valuable, they are.

A pallet company manager who spoke with News 2 under the condition he remained anonymous said pallet companies will give anywhere from $2 to $4 for each pallet.

The manager, a 21-year veteran in the business, said that is the seedy side to the pallet business.

News 2: "When a guy comes in with a pick up truck full of pallets and a rubber band tying it down, what does that tell you?"
Manager: "It's stolen."

According to Metro Police, a large number of pallets are stolen from the rear of businesses.

"Going behind a man's business and stealingpallets is no different than going into his store and stealing stuff," said Elkins.

Not only can pallet loads be dangerous to motorists, they can be expensive to consumers.

Everything consumers buy in a store is shipped on a pallet.  Stolen pallets, drive up prices.

The higher prices are eventually passed on to you.

Industry experts suggest marking pallets to make them more identifiable so recyclers are less apt to take them.