diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/first-mile/first-mile.service.ts b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/first-mile/first-mile.service.ts
index a00e54fff..ba06604ce 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/first-mile/first-mile.service.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/first-mile/first-mile.service.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ export class FirstMileService {
   async create(dto: CreateFirstMileDto): Promise<FirstMile> {
     return this.firstMileRepository.create({
       bookingId: dto.bookingId,
-      status: dto.status ?? 'PAYMENT_PENDING',
+      status: dto.status ?? 'READY_TO_TRANSIT',
       advancedPayment: dto.advancedPayment ?? 0,
       remainingPayment: dto.remainingPayment ?? 0,
       estimatedKm: dto.estimatedKm ?? null,
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/last-mile/last-mile.service.ts b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/last-mile/last-mile.service.ts
index 55d5d2965..22b96a344 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/last-mile/last-mile.service.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/last-mile/last-mile.service.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { BadRequestException, Injectable, Logger, NotFoundException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, Logger, NotFoundException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { FindOptionsWhere } from 'typeorm';
 
 import { BookingsRepository } from '../bookings/bookings.repository';
@@ -39,52 +39,15 @@ export class LastMileService {
     private readonly notificationsService: NotificationsService,
   ) {}
 
-  async acceptBooking(bookingReference: string): Promise<LastMile> {
+  async acceptBooking(bookingReference: string): Promise<LastMile | null> {
     const booking = await this.bookingsRepository.findByReference(bookingReference);
 
     if (!booking) {
-      throw new NotFoundException(`Booking ${bookingReference} not found`);
+      return null;
     }
 
     if (booking.paymentStatus !== 'PAID') {
-      throw new BadRequestException(
-        `Booking ${bookingReference} is not paid (payment status: ${booking.paymentStatus})`,
-      );
-    }
-
-    if ((booking.tradeDirection ?? '').toUpperCase() !== 'IMPORT') {
-      throw new BadRequestException(`Booking ${bookingReference} is not an import booking`);
-    }
-
-    if (!booking.lastMileDeliveryAddress?.trim()) {
-      throw new BadRequestException(`Booking ${bookingReference} has no last-mile delivery address`);
-    }
-
-    const [eligibleInventory] = await this.dataSource.query(
-      `SELECT inv.id
-         FROM freight.warehouse_inventory inv
-        WHERE inv.booking_id = $1
-          AND inv.deleted_at IS NULL
-          AND inv.status = 'READY_FOR_PICKUP'
-          AND inv.inspection_status = 'PASSED'
-        LIMIT 1`,
-      [booking.id],
-    );
-    if (!eligibleInventory) {
-      throw new BadRequestException(
-        `Booking ${bookingReference} is not eligible for last mile. Import inventory must pass inspection and be READY_FOR_PICKUP.`,
-      );
-    }
-
-    const [existing] = await this.dataSource.query(
-      `SELECT id
-         FROM freight.last_mile
-        WHERE booking_id = $1 AND deleted_at IS NULL
-        LIMIT 1`,
-      [booking.id],
-    );
-    if (existing) {
-      return this.findById(existing.id);
+       return null;
     }
 
     return this.create({
@@ -93,17 +56,15 @@ export class LastMileService {
     });
   }
 
-    async acceptBookingByReference(bookingReference: string): Promise<LastMile> {
+    async acceptBookingByReference(bookingReference: string): Promise<LastMile | null> {
     const booking = await this.bookingsRepository.findByReference(bookingReference);
 
     if (!booking) {
-      throw new NotFoundException(`Booking ${bookingReference} not found`);
+      return null;
     }
 
     if (booking.paymentStatus !== 'PAID') {
-      throw new BadRequestException(
-        `Booking ${bookingReference} is not paid (payment status: ${booking.paymentStatus})`,
-      );
+            return null;
     }
 
     return this.create({
@@ -168,7 +129,7 @@ export class LastMileService {
   async create(dto: CreateLastMileDto): Promise<LastMile> {
     return this.lastMileRepository.create({
       bookingId: dto.bookingId,
-      status: dto.status ?? 'PAYMENT_PENDING',
+      status: dto.status ?? 'READY_TO_TRANSIT',
       advancedPayment: dto.advancedPayment ?? 0,
       remainingPayment: dto.remainingPayment ?? 0,
       estimatedKm: dto.estimatedKm ?? null,