Shipping advice for Esoteric

No matter what shipper I use I put the address of final destination shipping terminal labeled hold for pick up, its allowed if you call and ask, I call the people at the terminal and set it up. I’ll do this certainly if I’m nervous for sensitive gear. My son worked for FedEx loading trucks while he was out for Xmas break said boxes fly off and drop 10 feet, he said everything is pretty brutal. I was told by the FedEx guy at the store they need to pack the box for you to even have a chance to get paid for damage even then slim chance or small percent of claimed value. You pack it yourself you get nothing. Not sure if that’s true but I wouldn’t doubt it, I’ve been told that by more than one counter guy. I would think pallet is best odds. All these years shipping turntables, tube amps never a problem guess I’ve been lucky. Heavy dense stuff is tricky, I hate the shipping process, nerve racking. I’ve had best luck with wood crates but then high shipping cost or nice heavy dense foam skeleton type inserts  double and triple boxed.