Monday morning quarterback here. Not directed at the OP !!
General info: In cases like these when you deal with an LTL it’s likely an appointment type delivery. Regardless of whether there’s notation from the shipper anywhere on the delivery receipt (DR) or on the actual freight about “customer must inspect before signing the delivery receipt” or similar, it must be opened up and inspected before signing. When you sign the delivery receipt with no notation you set yourself up for a scenario like this. Nobody wants to honor a claim. The driver protests the inspection? Insist or Refuse the shipment no matter what the driver says. Call the shipper, demand a replacement or refund.
If you open and there’s damage, either make a determination and if you accept it (intending on fixing and filing claims) notate it on the DR. Or flat refuse due to damage.
Either way your money and item will be tied up for a while as the carrier tries to return it to the shipper. And it goes downhill from there. Return Authorizations, etc All bullshit. That companies customer service sucks, the carrier is to blame for the damage, they try to blame the shipper because their OS&D inspectors determines that the original packaging was insufficient. Back and forth, the customer gets jack hammered. Inspect first sign or deny (no signing anything) afterwards
