If you don't already have a box, see if you can get a Trek box from your LBS. Those boxes are great!!! They have tie downs inside the box so you can secure the bike in 6 or 7 different places. I used one to ship the bike that I just sold and it made packing it so much easier. It was kind of like one of those bicycle cases. I had to remove both wheels, the handlebars and the seat/post. Everything fit into this box neatly and I was able to secure everything by using the tie downs. The box also has handles so it is easier to handle which might make the loaders and unloaders handle it with greater care since they will have someplace to actually grab the rather large box.