I don't think I've ever gotten a shipment in that the fish hadn't been doped. It's called Bag Buddies, and it really just chills the fish out from the shipping and helps them not be so stressed. This can cause the fish to look dead, or close to dead, and the best thing to do is get them out of the bag water ASAP and into clean, fresh water. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with what happened to your shippment, but this is the first thing that popped into my head.
I also agree that's generally best to try to plan your day around the fish when they are coming. And it's a good idea to see what the upcoming weather is going to be like in the area where the fish are leaving, and around you so you can at least have and idea of what to expect the fish to go though, and if it's bad enough don't be afraid to call it off and wait for the weather to get better.