diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/train-scheduling.service.ts b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/train-scheduling.service.ts
index 86e37451e..be6a8ea10 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/train-scheduling.service.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/train-scheduling.service.ts
@@ -1207,8 +1207,10 @@ export class TrainSchedulingService {
     const schedule = await this.getImportDjiboutiSchedule(scheduleId);
     const operation = await this.getOrCreateImportDjiboutiOperation(scheduleId);
     this.assertImportDjiboutiGatepassGranted(operation);
-    if (!operation.loadedOnTrainAt) {
-      throw new BadRequestException('Import train cannot depart Djibouti before loading is confirmed');
+    if (!operation.loadedOnTrainAt && !(await this.hasLoadedBooking(schedule.id))) {
+      throw new BadRequestException(
+        'Import train cannot depart Djibouti before at least one booking is loaded',
+      );
     }
 
     if (schedule.status === TrainScheduleStatusEnum.Scheduled) {
@@ -1586,11 +1588,28 @@ export class TrainSchedulingService {
       where: { trainScheduleId: schedule.id },
     });
     this.assertImportDjiboutiGatepassGranted(operation);
-    if (!operation?.loadedOnTrainAt) {
-      throw new BadRequestException('Import train cannot depart Djibouti before loading is confirmed');
+    // A train dispatches once loading is confirmed at the train level OR at least
+    // one booking on it is marked LOADED — it never waits for every booking.
+    if (!operation?.loadedOnTrainAt && !(await this.hasLoadedBooking(schedule.id))) {
+      throw new BadRequestException(
+        'Import train cannot depart Djibouti before at least one booking is loaded',
+      );
     }
   }
 
+  /** True when at least one booking on the schedule is confirmed LOADED. */
+  private async hasLoadedBooking(scheduleId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    const [row]: Array<{ loaded: string }> = await this.dataSource.query(
+      `SELECT COUNT(*) AS loaded
+         FROM freight.train_schedule_bookings
+        WHERE train_schedule_id = $1
+          AND loading_status = $2
+          AND deleted_at IS NULL`,
+      [scheduleId, LoadingStatus.Loaded],
+    );
+    return Number(row?.loaded ?? 0) > 0;
+  }
+
   private async getImportDjiboutiSchedule(scheduleId: string): Promise<TrainSchedule> {
     const schedule = await this.getDjiboutiGatepassSchedule(scheduleId);
     if (!this.isImportDjiboutiSchedule(schedule)) {