Laravel Uploading File - Creating default object from empty value

I seem to be getting an error in what I assume is in relation to me uploading a file.

Here is my controller:

    public function scannerUpload(Request $request){
        $requestFile = request('RemoteFile');
        $path = Storage::putFile('public/shipments', new File(request('RemoteFile')));
            Shipment_Attachment::create([
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentPath = $path,
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentBody = request('Description'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentVisibility = request('Visibility'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentDate = request('Date'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentType = request('Type'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentLong = request('Longitude'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentLat = request('Latitude'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->shipment_id = request('ShipmentID'),
                             $Shipment_Attachment->user_id =>  Auth::id()
                        ]);  
        return response()->json($request);
        }

Now I get an error at this line: $Shipment_Attachment->attachmentPath = $path, with the following: Creating default object from empty value.

But I'm wondering if maybe I'm not uploading and requesting the file correctly. When I post the file, this is what the parameters look like after I click my upload button:

    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="Date"
    
    2018-01-02
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="Visibility"
    
    1
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="Type"
    
    1
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="Description"
    
    This is a Description
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="Latitude"
    
    39.777541
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="Longitude"
    
    -104.94250199999999
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="shipmentID"
    
    32109829
    -----------------------------54701348911009
    Content-Disposition: form-data; name="RemoteFile"; filename="test-pod.pdf"
    Content-Type: application/octet-stream
    
    %PDF-1.5
    1 0 obj
    <<
    /Creator ()
    /CreationDate (20180102192642)
    /ModDate (20180102192642)
    /Author ()
    /Producer () and so on and so on for another hundred lines

So am I correct in how I am handling the upload of the file or should it be handled differently?

Thanks! Matt