When a shipping company agrees to haul your freight, they sign off that they 'own' it until they deliver it. Think of it this way. You give me a crystal vase to take to your customer. I drop it. Is that your fault? Yes and no. You should have taken resonable care to package it so that if I DID drop it then it would'nt break. Fair enough.
Let's say I LOSE the vase. All the packaging in the world won't prevent that. You're only fault here was choosing me to carry it for you. Who's responsible?? Me of course, but, the whole purpose is to provide customer service . And your customer just wants his vase. Shipper's and carriers must work together, yet the poor customer is usually the one that gets screwed.