diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/wagon-plan-flex.util.spec.ts b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/wagon-plan-flex.util.spec.ts
index 778dc70dd..a1775b7d6 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/wagon-plan-flex.util.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-api/src/modules/train-scheduling/wagon-plan-flex.util.spec.ts
@@ -162,25 +162,36 @@ describe('applyWagonOrderReversal', () => {
     expect(applyWagonOrderReversal(plan, null)).toBe(plan);
   });
 
-  it('flips the order and renumbers sequenceNo 1..N when the flag is true', () => {
+  it('flips the position numbers when the flag is true', () => {
     const reversed = applyWagonOrderReversal(plan, true);
-    // Physically-last wagon (was seq 3, wt-c) is now position 1.
-    expect(reversed.map((s) => s.wagonTypeId)).toEqual(['wt-c', 'wt-b', 'wt-a']);
-    expect(reversed.map((s) => s.sequenceNo)).toEqual([1, 2, 3]);
+    // Physically-last wagon (wt-c) is now position 1.
+    expect(reversed.map((s) => s.sequenceNo)).toEqual([3, 2, 1]);
   });
 
   it('keeps each booking with its own wagon — only the position changes', () => {
     const reversed = applyWagonOrderReversal(plan, true);
     // The booking that was in the last wagon now sits at sequenceNo 1.
-    expect(reversed[0].sequenceNo).toBe(1);
+    const atPosition1 = reversed.find((s) => s.sequenceNo === 1);
     expect(
-      (reversed[0].allocations as { bookingId: string }[])[0].bookingId,
+      (atPosition1?.allocations as { bookingId: string }[])[0].bookingId,
     ).toBe('BKG-C');
+    const atPosition3 = reversed.find((s) => s.sequenceNo === 3);
     expect(
-      (reversed[2].allocations as { bookingId: string }[])[0].bookingId,
+      (atPosition3?.allocations as { bookingId: string }[])[0].bookingId,
     ).toBe('BKG-A');
   });
 
+  // The regression that emptied every reversed train's container items: the
+  // placement generators pair unit k (booking order) with slot k of this array,
+  // and persistAllocationsAndLoads matches that sequenceNo against the
+  // allocation's booking. Array order must stay packing order.
+  it('keeps array order aligned with booking order so placements still match', () => {
+    const reversed = applyWagonOrderReversal(plan, true);
+    expect(
+      reversed.map((s) => (s.allocations as { bookingId: string }[])[0].bookingId),
+    ).toEqual(['BKG-A', 'BKG-B', 'BKG-C']);
+  });
+
   it('does not mutate the input plan', () => {
     applyWagonOrderReversal(plan, true);
     expect(plan.map((s) => s.sequenceNo)).toEqual([1, 2, 3]);
diff --git a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/warehouses/ContainerReturnsPage.tsx b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/warehouses/ContainerReturnsPage.tsx
index 85dba2850..01cfa423f 100644
--- a/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/warehouses/ContainerReturnsPage.tsx
+++ b/apps/edr-freight-web/backoffice/src/pages/warehouses/ContainerReturnsPage.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   Stack,
   Table,
   Text,
+  TextInput,
   Textarea,
   Select,
   Checkbox,
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ export default function ContainerReturnsPage() {
   const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [filterType, setFilterType] = useState<ReturnType>("all");
   const [returnModalOpen, setReturnModalOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [standaloneModalOpen, setStandaloneModalOpen] = useState(false);
   const [activeKey, setActiveKey] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
   const { data: unloadedQueue = [], isLoading: queueLoading } = useQuery({
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ export default function ContainerReturnsPage() {
       for (const item of unloadedQueue) {
         if (!item.bookingId) continue;
 
-        // EDR returns
+        // EDR last-mile returns: same EDR truck that delivered will return with empty containers
         const edrTrucks = await warehouseService.getLastMileTrucks(item.bookingId).catch(() => []);
         if (edrTrucks.length > 0) {
           const inventory = await api.warehouses.listInventory
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ export default function ContainerReturnsPage() {
           }
         }
 
-        // Customer returns
+        // Customer self-haul last-mile returns: same customer truck that delivered will return with empty containers
         const customerTrucks = await warehouseService.getCustomerTrucks(item.bookingId).catch(() => []);
         if (customerTrucks.length > 0) {
           const inventory = await api.warehouses.listInventory
@@ -229,19 +231,22 @@ export default function ContainerReturnsPage() {
     <PageContainer>
       <PageHeader
         title="Container Returns"
-        subtitle="Track empty container returns by EDR or customer"
+        subtitle="Empty containers returned by last-mile trucks (EDR or customer self-haul)"
       />
 
-      <Group mb="lg">
+      <Group mb="lg" justify="space-between">
         <SegmentedControl
           value={filterType}
           onChange={(val) => setFilterType(val as ReturnType)}
           data={[
             { label: "All", value: "all" },
-            { label: "EDR Returns", value: "edr" },
-            { label: "Customer Returns", value: "customer" },
+            { label: "EDR Last Mile", value: "edr" },
+            { label: "Customer Self-Haul", value: "customer" },
           ]}
         />
+        <Button onClick={() => setStandaloneModalOpen(true)}>
+          Record Return
+        </Button>
       </Group>
 
       {filteredGroups.length === 0 ? (
@@ -282,7 +287,7 @@ export default function ContainerReturnsPage() {
                         <Table.Td>{group.companyName ?? "—"}</Table.Td>
                         <Table.Td>
                           <Badge color={group.returnType === "EDR" ? "edr-green" : "blue"}>
-                            {group.returnType}
+                            {group.returnType === "EDR" ? "EDR Last Mile" : "Customer Self-Haul"}
                           </Badge>
                         </Table.Td>
                         <Table.Td>
@@ -348,6 +353,13 @@ export default function ContainerReturnsPage() {
         onSubmit={(payload) => createReturnsMutation.mutate(payload)}
         loading={createReturnsMutation.isPending}
       />
+
+      <StandaloneReturnModal
+        opened={standaloneModalOpen}
+        onClose={() => setStandaloneModalOpen(false)}
+        onSubmit={(payload) => createReturnsMutation.mutate(payload)}
+        loading={createReturnsMutation.isPending}
+      />
     </PageContainer>
   );
 }
@@ -416,7 +428,7 @@ function ContainerReturnModal({ opened, onClose, group, onSubmit, loading }: Con
           <Group>
             <Text fw={600}>{group.bookingRef}</Text>
             <Badge color={group.returnType === "EDR" ? "edr-green" : "blue"}>
-              {group.returnType}
+              {group.returnType === "EDR" ? "EDR Last Mile" : "Customer Self-Haul"}
             </Badge>
           </Group>
 
@@ -493,3 +505,130 @@ function ContainerReturnModal({ opened, onClose, group, onSubmit, loading }: Con
     </Modal>
   );
 }
+
+interface StandaloneReturnModalProps {
+  opened: boolean;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  onSubmit: (payload: any) => void;
+  loading: boolean;
+}
+
+function StandaloneReturnModal({ opened, onClose, onSubmit, loading }: StandaloneReturnModalProps) {
+  const [containerNumber, setContainerNumber] = useState<string>("");
+  const [returnDate, setReturnDate] = useState<string>(new Date().toISOString().split("T")[0]);
+  const [warehouse, setWarehouse] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [condition, setCondition] = useState<string>("");
+  const [handoverNote, setHandoverNote] = useState<string>("");
+
+  const { data: warehousesResponse } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ["warehouses-list"],
+    queryFn: async () => {
+      return await warehouseService.list({});
+    },
+  });
+
+  const warehouses = (warehousesResponse as any)?.data ?? warehousesResponse ?? [];
+  const warehouseOptions = Array.isArray(warehouses)
+    ? warehouses.map((wh: any) => ({
+        value: wh.id,
+        label: `${wh.name} ${wh.code ? `(${wh.code})` : ""}`,
+      }))
+    : [];
+
+  const handleSubmit = () => {
+    if (!containerNumber || !warehouse) return;
+
+    const selectedWarehouse = Array.isArray(warehouses) ? warehouses.find((wh: any) => wh.id === warehouse) : null;
+
+    onSubmit({
+      trucks: [
+        {
+          bookingId: null,
+          customerId: null,
+          returnType: "CUSTOMER",
+          containers: [
+            {
+              containerNumber,
+              returnDate,
+              warehouse: selectedWarehouse?.name || warehouse,
+              condition: condition || undefined,
+              handoverNote: handoverNote || undefined,
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    setContainerNumber("");
+    setReturnDate(new Date().toISOString().split("T")[0]);
+    setWarehouse(null);
+    setCondition("");
+    setHandoverNote("");
+    onClose();
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Modal opened={opened} onClose={onClose} title="Record Container Return (Standalone)" size="lg">
+      <Stack gap="md">
+        <Text size="sm" c="dimmed">
+          Record container return without booking association
+        </Text>
+
+        <TextInput
+          label="Container Number"
+          placeholder="e.g., TEMU1234567"
+          value={containerNumber}
+          onChange={(e) => setContainerNumber(e.currentTarget.value)}
+          required
+        />
+
+        <Select
+          label="Return Warehouse"
+          placeholder="Select warehouse for container return"
+          value={warehouse}
+          onChange={setWarehouse}
+          data={warehouseOptions}
+          required
+          searchable
+        />
+
+        <input
+          type="date"
+          value={returnDate}
+          onChange={(e) => setReturnDate(e.target.value)}
+          style={{ padding: "8px", borderRadius: "4px", border: "1px solid #ccc" }}
+          required
+        />
+
+        <Textarea
+          label="Condition"
+          placeholder="Damage, residue, or cleanliness notes"
+          value={condition}
+          onChange={(e) => setCondition(e.currentTarget.value)}
+          rows={3}
+        />
+
+        <Textarea
+          label="Handover Note"
+          placeholder="Consignee, trucker, or authorization notes"
+          value={handoverNote}
+          onChange={(e) => setHandoverNote(e.currentTarget.value)}
+          rows={3}
+        />
+
+        <Group justify="flex-end" gap="sm">
+          <Button variant="default" onClick={onClose} disabled={loading}>
+            Cancel
+          </Button>
+          <Button
+            onClick={handleSubmit}
+            disabled={!containerNumber || !warehouse}
+            loading={loading}
+          >
+            Record Return
+          </Button>
+        </Group>
+      </Stack>
+    </Modal>
+  );
+}