diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fb1e8f4..0a762dd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ add_executable(secsgem_tests
   tests/test_exceptions.cpp
   tests/test_carrier_state.cpp
   tests/test_carriers.cpp
+  tests/test_carrier_persistence.cpp
   tests/test_substrates.cpp
   tests/test_ept.cpp
   tests/test_cem_objects.cpp
diff --git a/include/secsgem/gem/carrier_state.hpp b/include/secsgem/gem/carrier_state.hpp
index 55c0864..47ec708 100644
--- a/include/secsgem/gem/carrier_state.hpp
+++ b/include/secsgem/gem/carrier_state.hpp
@@ -144,6 +144,17 @@ class CarrierStateMachine {
   bool on_slot_map_event(SlotMapEvent e);
   bool on_access_event(CarrierAccessEvent e);
 
+  // Direct state-restore (persistence replay only).  Bypasses the
+  // transition tables and does NOT fire change handlers — a restored
+  // state isn't a transition, it's a checkpoint.  Callers must ensure
+  // the (id, sm, acc) triple was a legal state at write time.
+  void restore_state(CarrierIDStatus id, SlotMapStatus sm,
+                     CarrierAccessStatus acc) {
+    id_state_  = id;
+    sm_state_  = sm;
+    acc_state_ = acc;
+  }
+
  private:
   CarrierIDTable     id_table_;
   SlotMapTable       sm_table_;
diff --git a/include/secsgem/gem/load_port_state.hpp b/include/secsgem/gem/load_port_state.hpp
index 68ad12f..57121cb 100644
--- a/include/secsgem/gem/load_port_state.hpp
+++ b/include/secsgem/gem/load_port_state.hpp
@@ -104,6 +104,14 @@ class LoadPortStateMachine {
   bool on_reservation_event(LoadPortReservationEvent e);
   bool on_association_event(LoadPortAssociationEvent e);
 
+  // Direct state-restore (persistence replay only).  See carrier_state.hpp.
+  void restore_state(LoadPortTransferState tx, LoadPortReservationStatus rs,
+                     LoadPortAssociationStatus as) {
+    tx_state_ = tx;
+    rs_state_ = rs;
+    as_state_ = as;
+  }
+
  private:
   LoadPortTransferTable    tx_table_;
   LoadPortReservationTable rs_table_;
diff --git a/include/secsgem/gem/store/carriers.hpp b/include/secsgem/gem/store/carriers.hpp
index 071b7ea..6a8f96d 100644
--- a/include/secsgem/gem/store/carriers.hpp
+++ b/include/secsgem/gem/store/carriers.hpp
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
 #include <functional>
 #include <map>
 #include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 #include <string>
+#include <system_error>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -27,12 +32,14 @@ struct Carrier {
   uint8_t port_id = 0;             // 0 = unbound; ports are 1-based
   std::vector<CarrierSlot> slots;  // length == capacity (typ. 25)
   std::unique_ptr<CarrierStateMachine> fsm;
+  std::filesystem::path journal_path;  // empty when persistence disabled
 };
 
 struct LoadPort {
   uint8_t port_id;
   std::string carrierid;  // empty when nothing associated
   std::unique_ptr<LoadPortStateMachine> fsm;
+  std::filesystem::path journal_path;  // empty when persistence disabled
 };
 
 // Both stores are non-movable for the same reason ProcessJobStore is —
@@ -64,23 +71,9 @@ class CarrierStore {
   CreateResult create(std::string carrierid, uint8_t port_id = 0,
                       std::size_t capacity = 25) {
     if (carriers_.count(carrierid)) return CreateResult::Denied_AlreadyExists;
-    auto fsm = std::make_unique<CarrierStateMachine>();
-    const std::string id = carrierid;
-    fsm->set_id_handler([this, id](CarrierIDStatus f, CarrierIDStatus t,
-                                   CarrierIDEvent e) {
-      if (on_id_) on_id_(id, f, t, e);
-    });
-    fsm->set_slot_map_handler([this, id](SlotMapStatus f, SlotMapStatus t,
-                                         SlotMapEvent e) {
-      if (on_sm_) on_sm_(id, f, t, e);
-    });
-    fsm->set_access_handler([this, id](CarrierAccessStatus f, CarrierAccessStatus t,
-                                       CarrierAccessEvent e) {
-      if (on_acc_) on_acc_(id, f, t, e);
-    });
-    carriers_.emplace(carrierid, Carrier{carrierid, port_id,
-                                         std::vector<CarrierSlot>(capacity),
-                                         std::move(fsm)});
+    install_(carrierid, port_id, std::vector<CarrierSlot>(capacity),
+             /*restore_id=*/std::nullopt, std::nullopt, std::nullopt);
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(carrierid);
     return CreateResult::Created;
   }
 
@@ -96,18 +89,43 @@ class CarrierStore {
 
   bool fire_id_event(const std::string& cid, CarrierIDEvent e) {
     auto* c = get(cid);
-    return c && c->fsm->on_id_event(e);
+    if (!(c && c->fsm->on_id_event(e))) return false;
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(cid);
+    return true;
   }
   bool fire_slot_map_event(const std::string& cid, SlotMapEvent e) {
     auto* c = get(cid);
-    return c && c->fsm->on_slot_map_event(e);
+    if (!(c && c->fsm->on_slot_map_event(e))) return false;
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(cid);
+    return true;
   }
   bool fire_access_event(const std::string& cid, CarrierAccessEvent e) {
     auto* c = get(cid);
-    return c && c->fsm->on_access_event(e);
+    if (!(c && c->fsm->on_access_event(e))) return false;
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(cid);
+    return true;
   }
 
-  bool remove(const std::string& cid) { return carriers_.erase(cid) > 0; }
+  // Application sets slots[i].state directly; persistence sync is opt-in
+  // through this helper so the journal records the new slot map.
+  void set_slot_state(const std::string& cid, std::size_t slot_idx,
+                      uint8_t state) {
+    auto* c = get(cid);
+    if (!c || slot_idx >= c->slots.size()) return;
+    c->slots[slot_idx].state = state;
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(cid);
+  }
+
+  bool remove(const std::string& cid) {
+    auto it = carriers_.find(cid);
+    if (it == carriers_.end()) return false;
+    if (persistent_ && !it->second.journal_path.empty()) {
+      std::error_code ec;
+      std::filesystem::remove(it->second.journal_path, ec);
+    }
+    carriers_.erase(it);
+    return true;
+  }
   std::size_t size() const { return carriers_.size(); }
   std::vector<std::string> ids() const {
     std::vector<std::string> out;
@@ -116,11 +134,174 @@ class CarrierStore {
     return out;
   }
 
+  // ---- Persistence ----------------------------------------------------
+  // Mirrors SpoolStore::enable_persistence: scan `dir` for *.car records,
+  // replay them into the in-memory map, then keep the directory in sync
+  // on subsequent create / fire_* / remove calls.  Atomic writes via
+  // .tmp + rename.  Records that fail magic/version are silently dropped
+  // so a single bad file can't poison the whole store.
+  void enable_persistence(std::filesystem::path dir) {
+    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+    journal_dir_ = std::move(dir);
+    persistent_ = true;
+    std::error_code ec;
+    fs::create_directories(journal_dir_, ec);
+
+    std::vector<std::pair<uint64_t, fs::path>> existing;
+    for (auto& entry : fs::directory_iterator(journal_dir_, ec)) {
+      if (!entry.is_regular_file()) continue;
+      const auto& p = entry.path();
+      if (p.extension() != ".car") continue;
+      uint64_t seq = 0;
+      try { seq = std::stoull(p.stem().string()); }
+      catch (...) { continue; }
+      existing.emplace_back(seq, p);
+    }
+    std::sort(existing.begin(), existing.end(),
+              [](const auto& a, const auto& b) { return a.first < b.first; });
+
+    for (auto& [seq, path] : existing) {
+      auto rec = load_record_(path);
+      if (!rec) { fs::remove(path, ec); continue; }
+      install_(rec->carrierid, rec->port_id, std::move(rec->slots),
+               rec->id_state, rec->sm_state, rec->acc_state);
+      auto* c = get(rec->carrierid);
+      if (c) c->journal_path = path;
+      if (seq >= next_seq_) next_seq_ = seq + 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  bool persistence_enabled() const { return persistent_; }
+  std::filesystem::path journal_dir() const { return journal_dir_; }
+
  private:
+  struct Record {
+    std::string carrierid;
+    uint8_t port_id;
+    std::vector<CarrierSlot> slots;
+    CarrierIDStatus     id_state;
+    SlotMapStatus       sm_state;
+    CarrierAccessStatus acc_state;
+  };
+
+  // Carrier record layout, big-endian throughout:
+  //   [u8 magic = 0xC4][u8 version = 1]
+  //   [u8 id_state][u8 sm_state][u8 acc_state][u8 port_id]
+  //   [u16 slot_count][slot_count × u8 slot.state]
+  //   [u16 cid_len][cid_len × u8 carrierid]
+  static constexpr uint8_t kMagic   = 0xC4;
+  static constexpr uint8_t kVersion = 0x01;
+
+  void install_(const std::string& carrierid, uint8_t port_id,
+                std::vector<CarrierSlot> slots,
+                std::optional<CarrierIDStatus> id_state,
+                std::optional<SlotMapStatus> sm_state,
+                std::optional<CarrierAccessStatus> acc_state) {
+    auto fsm = std::make_unique<CarrierStateMachine>();
+    if (id_state || sm_state || acc_state) {
+      fsm->restore_state(id_state.value_or(CarrierIDStatus::NotConfirmed),
+                         sm_state.value_or(SlotMapStatus::NotRead),
+                         acc_state.value_or(CarrierAccessStatus::NotAccessed));
+    }
+    const std::string id = carrierid;
+    fsm->set_id_handler([this, id](CarrierIDStatus f, CarrierIDStatus t,
+                                   CarrierIDEvent e) {
+      if (on_id_) on_id_(id, f, t, e);
+    });
+    fsm->set_slot_map_handler([this, id](SlotMapStatus f, SlotMapStatus t,
+                                         SlotMapEvent e) {
+      if (on_sm_) on_sm_(id, f, t, e);
+    });
+    fsm->set_access_handler([this, id](CarrierAccessStatus f, CarrierAccessStatus t,
+                                       CarrierAccessEvent e) {
+      if (on_acc_) on_acc_(id, f, t, e);
+    });
+    carriers_.emplace(carrierid, Carrier{carrierid, port_id, std::move(slots),
+                                         std::move(fsm), {}});
+  }
+
+  void write_record_(const std::string& carrierid) {
+    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+    auto* c = get(carrierid);
+    if (!c) return;
+    fs::path target = c->journal_path;
+    if (target.empty()) {
+      char namebuf[32];
+      std::snprintf(namebuf, sizeof(namebuf), "%010llu.car",
+                    static_cast<unsigned long long>(next_seq_++));
+      target = journal_dir_ / namebuf;
+      c->journal_path = target;
+    }
+    fs::path tmp = target;
+    tmp += ".tmp";
+    std::ofstream out(tmp, std::ios::binary | std::ios::trunc);
+    if (!out) return;
+    uint8_t header[6] = {
+        kMagic, kVersion,
+        static_cast<uint8_t>(c->fsm->id_status()),
+        static_cast<uint8_t>(c->fsm->slot_map_status()),
+        static_cast<uint8_t>(c->fsm->access_status()),
+        c->port_id};
+    out.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(header), sizeof(header));
+    auto write_be16 = [&](uint16_t v) {
+      uint8_t b[2] = {static_cast<uint8_t>(v >> 8), static_cast<uint8_t>(v)};
+      out.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(b), 2);
+    };
+    write_be16(static_cast<uint16_t>(c->slots.size()));
+    for (const auto& s : c->slots) {
+      out.put(static_cast<char>(s.state));
+    }
+    write_be16(static_cast<uint16_t>(c->carrierid.size()));
+    out.write(c->carrierid.data(),
+              static_cast<std::streamsize>(c->carrierid.size()));
+    out.flush();
+    out.close();
+    std::error_code ec;
+    fs::rename(tmp, target, ec);
+    if (ec) fs::remove(tmp, ec);
+  }
+
+  static std::optional<Record> load_record_(const std::filesystem::path& p) {
+    std::ifstream in(p, std::ios::binary);
+    if (!in) return std::nullopt;
+    uint8_t header[6];
+    in.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(header), sizeof(header));
+    if (!in || header[0] != kMagic || header[1] != kVersion) return std::nullopt;
+    Record r;
+    r.id_state  = static_cast<CarrierIDStatus>(header[2]);
+    r.sm_state  = static_cast<SlotMapStatus>(header[3]);
+    r.acc_state = static_cast<CarrierAccessStatus>(header[4]);
+    r.port_id   = header[5];
+    auto read_be16 = [&](uint16_t& v) {
+      uint8_t b[2];
+      in.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(b), 2);
+      if (!in) return false;
+      v = static_cast<uint16_t>((uint16_t(b[0]) << 8) | b[1]);
+      return true;
+    };
+    uint16_t slot_count = 0;
+    if (!read_be16(slot_count)) return std::nullopt;
+    r.slots.resize(slot_count);
+    for (auto& s : r.slots) {
+      int c = in.get();
+      if (c == std::char_traits<char>::eof()) return std::nullopt;
+      s.state = static_cast<uint8_t>(c);
+    }
+    uint16_t cid_len = 0;
+    if (!read_be16(cid_len)) return std::nullopt;
+    r.carrierid.resize(cid_len);
+    in.read(r.carrierid.data(), cid_len);
+    if (!in) return std::nullopt;
+    return r;
+  }
+
   std::map<std::string, Carrier> carriers_;
   IDChangeHandler      on_id_;
   SlotMapChangeHandler on_sm_;
   AccessChangeHandler  on_acc_;
+  bool persistent_ = false;
+  std::filesystem::path journal_dir_;
+  uint64_t next_seq_ = 0;
 };
 
 class LoadPortStore {
@@ -148,24 +329,8 @@ class LoadPortStore {
   // Idempotent: re-create a port_id is a no-op.
   bool create(uint8_t port_id) {
     if (ports_.count(port_id)) return false;
-    auto fsm = std::make_unique<LoadPortStateMachine>();
-    const uint8_t pid = port_id;
-    fsm->set_transfer_handler([this, pid](LoadPortTransferState f,
-                                          LoadPortTransferState t,
-                                          LoadPortTransferEvent e) {
-      if (on_tx_) on_tx_(pid, f, t, e);
-    });
-    fsm->set_reservation_handler([this, pid](LoadPortReservationStatus f,
-                                             LoadPortReservationStatus t,
-                                             LoadPortReservationEvent e) {
-      if (on_rs_) on_rs_(pid, f, t, e);
-    });
-    fsm->set_association_handler([this, pid](LoadPortAssociationStatus f,
-                                             LoadPortAssociationStatus t,
-                                             LoadPortAssociationEvent e) {
-      if (on_as_) on_as_(pid, f, t, e);
-    });
-    ports_.emplace(port_id, LoadPort{port_id, "", std::move(fsm)});
+    install_(port_id, "", std::nullopt, std::nullopt, std::nullopt);
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(port_id);
     return true;
   }
 
@@ -183,23 +348,31 @@ class LoadPortStore {
     auto* p = get(pid);
     if (!p) return false;
     p->carrierid = std::move(carrierid);
-    return p->fsm->on_association_event(LoadPortAssociationEvent::Associate);
+    bool ok = p->fsm->on_association_event(LoadPortAssociationEvent::Associate);
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(pid);
+    return ok;
   }
 
   bool disassociate(uint8_t pid) {
     auto* p = get(pid);
     if (!p) return false;
     p->carrierid.clear();
-    return p->fsm->on_association_event(LoadPortAssociationEvent::Disassociate);
+    bool ok = p->fsm->on_association_event(LoadPortAssociationEvent::Disassociate);
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(pid);
+    return ok;
   }
 
   bool fire_transfer_event(uint8_t pid, LoadPortTransferEvent e) {
     auto* p = get(pid);
-    return p && p->fsm->on_transfer_event(e);
+    if (!(p && p->fsm->on_transfer_event(e))) return false;
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(pid);
+    return true;
   }
   bool fire_reservation_event(uint8_t pid, LoadPortReservationEvent e) {
     auto* p = get(pid);
-    return p && p->fsm->on_reservation_event(e);
+    if (!(p && p->fsm->on_reservation_event(e))) return false;
+    if (persistent_) write_record_(pid);
+    return true;
   }
 
   std::size_t size() const { return ports_.size(); }
@@ -210,11 +383,137 @@ class LoadPortStore {
     return out;
   }
 
+  // ---- Persistence ----------------------------------------------------
+  // One file per port: `<port_id 0-padded>.lp`.  Port IDs are 1–255 so
+  // we can use the port id directly as the filename stem.
+  void enable_persistence(std::filesystem::path dir) {
+    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+    journal_dir_ = std::move(dir);
+    persistent_ = true;
+    std::error_code ec;
+    fs::create_directories(journal_dir_, ec);
+
+    for (auto& entry : fs::directory_iterator(journal_dir_, ec)) {
+      if (!entry.is_regular_file()) continue;
+      const auto& p = entry.path();
+      if (p.extension() != ".lp") continue;
+      auto rec = load_record_(p);
+      if (!rec) { fs::remove(p, ec); continue; }
+      install_(rec->port_id, rec->carrierid, rec->tx_state, rec->rs_state,
+               rec->as_state);
+      auto* lp = get(rec->port_id);
+      if (lp) lp->journal_path = p;
+    }
+  }
+
+  bool persistence_enabled() const { return persistent_; }
+  std::filesystem::path journal_dir() const { return journal_dir_; }
+
  private:
+  struct Record {
+    uint8_t port_id;
+    std::string carrierid;
+    LoadPortTransferState     tx_state;
+    LoadPortReservationStatus rs_state;
+    LoadPortAssociationStatus as_state;
+  };
+
+  // Load-port record:
+  //   [u8 magic = 0xC5][u8 version = 1]
+  //   [u8 port_id][u8 tx_state][u8 rs_state][u8 as_state]
+  //   [u16 cid_len][cid_len × u8 carrierid]
+  static constexpr uint8_t kMagic   = 0xC5;
+  static constexpr uint8_t kVersion = 0x01;
+
+  void install_(uint8_t port_id, std::string carrierid,
+                std::optional<LoadPortTransferState> tx,
+                std::optional<LoadPortReservationStatus> rs,
+                std::optional<LoadPortAssociationStatus> as) {
+    auto fsm = std::make_unique<LoadPortStateMachine>();
+    if (tx || rs || as) {
+      fsm->restore_state(tx.value_or(LoadPortTransferState::InService),
+                         rs.value_or(LoadPortReservationStatus::NotReserved),
+                         as.value_or(LoadPortAssociationStatus::NotAssociated));
+    }
+    const uint8_t pid = port_id;
+    fsm->set_transfer_handler([this, pid](LoadPortTransferState f,
+                                          LoadPortTransferState t,
+                                          LoadPortTransferEvent e) {
+      if (on_tx_) on_tx_(pid, f, t, e);
+    });
+    fsm->set_reservation_handler([this, pid](LoadPortReservationStatus f,
+                                             LoadPortReservationStatus t,
+                                             LoadPortReservationEvent e) {
+      if (on_rs_) on_rs_(pid, f, t, e);
+    });
+    fsm->set_association_handler([this, pid](LoadPortAssociationStatus f,
+                                             LoadPortAssociationStatus t,
+                                             LoadPortAssociationEvent e) {
+      if (on_as_) on_as_(pid, f, t, e);
+    });
+    ports_.emplace(port_id, LoadPort{port_id, std::move(carrierid),
+                                     std::move(fsm), {}});
+  }
+
+  void write_record_(uint8_t pid) {
+    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+    auto* lp = get(pid);
+    if (!lp) return;
+    if (lp->journal_path.empty()) {
+      char namebuf[16];
+      std::snprintf(namebuf, sizeof(namebuf), "%03u.lp", unsigned(pid));
+      lp->journal_path = journal_dir_ / namebuf;
+    }
+    fs::path tmp = lp->journal_path;
+    tmp += ".tmp";
+    std::ofstream out(tmp, std::ios::binary | std::ios::trunc);
+    if (!out) return;
+    uint8_t header[6] = {
+        kMagic, kVersion, pid,
+        static_cast<uint8_t>(lp->fsm->transfer_state()),
+        static_cast<uint8_t>(lp->fsm->reservation_state()),
+        static_cast<uint8_t>(lp->fsm->association_state())};
+    out.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(header), sizeof(header));
+    uint16_t cid_len = static_cast<uint16_t>(lp->carrierid.size());
+    uint8_t lb[2] = {static_cast<uint8_t>(cid_len >> 8),
+                     static_cast<uint8_t>(cid_len)};
+    out.write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(lb), 2);
+    out.write(lp->carrierid.data(),
+              static_cast<std::streamsize>(lp->carrierid.size()));
+    out.flush();
+    out.close();
+    std::error_code ec;
+    fs::rename(tmp, lp->journal_path, ec);
+    if (ec) fs::remove(tmp, ec);
+  }
+
+  static std::optional<Record> load_record_(const std::filesystem::path& p) {
+    std::ifstream in(p, std::ios::binary);
+    if (!in) return std::nullopt;
+    uint8_t header[6];
+    in.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(header), sizeof(header));
+    if (!in || header[0] != kMagic || header[1] != kVersion) return std::nullopt;
+    Record r;
+    r.port_id  = header[2];
+    r.tx_state = static_cast<LoadPortTransferState>(header[3]);
+    r.rs_state = static_cast<LoadPortReservationStatus>(header[4]);
+    r.as_state = static_cast<LoadPortAssociationStatus>(header[5]);
+    uint8_t lb[2];
+    in.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(lb), 2);
+    if (!in) return std::nullopt;
+    uint16_t cid_len = static_cast<uint16_t>((uint16_t(lb[0]) << 8) | lb[1]);
+    r.carrierid.resize(cid_len);
+    in.read(r.carrierid.data(), cid_len);
+    if (cid_len && !in) return std::nullopt;
+    return r;
+  }
+
   std::map<uint8_t, LoadPort> ports_;
   TransferChangeHandler    on_tx_;
   ReservationChangeHandler on_rs_;
   AssociationChangeHandler on_as_;
+  bool persistent_ = false;
+  std::filesystem::path journal_dir_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace secsgem::gem
diff --git a/tests/test_carrier_persistence.cpp b/tests/test_carrier_persistence.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..319cad4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_carrier_persistence.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+// Persistence tests for CarrierStore + LoadPortStore.
+//
+// Mirrors the pattern from test_data_model.cpp:spool-persistence: enable
+// a journal directory, mutate state, "restart" by constructing a fresh
+// store pointed at the same directory, and assert replay reproduces the
+// in-memory state.  Plus negative paths: partial-write files are
+// dropped, remove deletes the file, persistence-disabled is a no-op.
+
+#include <doctest/doctest.h>
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <random>
+#include <string>
+
+#include "secsgem/gem/store/carriers.hpp"
+
+using namespace secsgem::gem;
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+
+namespace {
+
+fs::path scratch_dir(const char* tag) {
+  std::random_device rd;
+  auto p = fs::temp_directory_path() /
+           (std::string("secsgem-carrier-") + tag + "-" +
+            std::to_string(rd()));
+  fs::remove_all(p);
+  fs::create_directories(p);
+  return p;
+}
+
+std::size_t count_with_ext(const fs::path& dir, const std::string& ext) {
+  std::size_t n = 0;
+  std::error_code ec;
+  for (auto& e : fs::directory_iterator(dir, ec)) {
+    if (e.is_regular_file() && e.path().extension() == ext) ++n;
+  }
+  return n;
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+TEST_CASE("CarrierStore persistence: write + restart + replay") {
+  auto dir = scratch_dir("write-replay");
+  {
+    CarrierStore s;
+    s.enable_persistence(dir);
+    REQUIRE(s.create("CAR-1", /*port=*/2, /*capacity=*/4) ==
+            CarrierStore::CreateResult::Created);
+    REQUIRE(s.create("CAR-2", /*port=*/3, /*capacity=*/4) ==
+            CarrierStore::CreateResult::Created);
+
+    // Drive each FSM axis through a transition so we can prove every
+    // byte makes it through the journal.
+    REQUIRE(s.fire_id_event("CAR-1", CarrierIDEvent::ProceedWithCarrier));
+    REQUIRE(s.fire_slot_map_event("CAR-1", SlotMapEvent::Read));
+    REQUIRE(s.fire_access_event("CAR-1", CarrierAccessEvent::BeginAccess));
+    s.set_slot_state("CAR-1", 0, 1);  // slot 1 occupied
+    s.set_slot_state("CAR-1", 1, 0);  // slot 2 empty
+
+    CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".car") == 2);
+  }
+
+  // Restart: fresh store, same dir.
+  {
+    CarrierStore s;
+    s.enable_persistence(dir);
+    REQUIRE(s.has("CAR-1"));
+    REQUIRE(s.has("CAR-2"));
+
+    const auto* c1 = s.get("CAR-1");
+    REQUIRE(c1);
+    CHECK(c1->port_id == 2);
+    CHECK(c1->slots.size() == 4);
+    CHECK(c1->slots[0].state == 1);
+    CHECK(c1->slots[1].state == 0);
+    CHECK(c1->fsm->id_status() == CarrierIDStatus::Confirmed);
+    CHECK(c1->fsm->slot_map_status() == SlotMapStatus::Read);
+    CHECK(c1->fsm->access_status() == CarrierAccessStatus::InAccess);
+
+    const auto* c2 = s.get("CAR-2");
+    REQUIRE(c2);
+    CHECK(c2->port_id == 3);
+    CHECK(c2->fsm->id_status() == CarrierIDStatus::NotConfirmed);
+
+    // Continued mutation after replay still writes through.
+    REQUIRE(s.fire_id_event("CAR-2", CarrierIDEvent::Bind));
+  }
+
+  // Second restart shows the post-replay mutation is durable.
+  {
+    CarrierStore s;
+    s.enable_persistence(dir);
+    REQUIRE(s.has("CAR-2"));
+    CHECK(s.get("CAR-2")->fsm->id_status() == CarrierIDStatus::Confirmed);
+  }
+  fs::remove_all(dir);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("CarrierStore persistence: remove deletes the journal file") {
+  auto dir = scratch_dir("remove");
+  CarrierStore s;
+  s.enable_persistence(dir);
+  REQUIRE(s.create("CAR-A") == CarrierStore::CreateResult::Created);
+  REQUIRE(s.create("CAR-B") == CarrierStore::CreateResult::Created);
+  CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".car") == 2);
+
+  REQUIRE(s.remove("CAR-A"));
+  CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".car") == 1);
+
+  // Restart and confirm CAR-A is gone, CAR-B remains.
+  CarrierStore s2;
+  s2.enable_persistence(dir);
+  CHECK_FALSE(s2.has("CAR-A"));
+  CHECK(s2.has("CAR-B"));
+  fs::remove_all(dir);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("CarrierStore persistence: malformed file is dropped, not poisonous") {
+  auto dir = scratch_dir("malformed");
+  {
+    CarrierStore s;
+    s.enable_persistence(dir);
+    REQUIRE(s.create("CAR-OK") == CarrierStore::CreateResult::Created);
+  }
+
+  // Inject a corrupt record (wrong magic byte at offset 0).
+  {
+    std::ofstream f(dir / "9999999999.car", std::ios::binary);
+    const char garbage[] = {0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03};
+    f.write(garbage, sizeof(garbage));
+  }
+  // And a truncated record (magic+version only).
+  {
+    std::ofstream f(dir / "9999999998.car", std::ios::binary);
+    const char hdr[] = {static_cast<char>(0xC4), 0x01};
+    f.write(hdr, sizeof(hdr));
+  }
+
+  CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".car") == 3);
+
+  CarrierStore s;
+  s.enable_persistence(dir);
+  CHECK(s.has("CAR-OK"));
+  CHECK(s.size() == 1);
+  // The two malformed files were removed during replay.
+  CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".car") == 1);
+  fs::remove_all(dir);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("CarrierStore: persistence disabled is a no-op") {
+  auto dir = scratch_dir("disabled");
+  CarrierStore s;
+  // Note: enable_persistence NOT called.
+  REQUIRE(s.create("CAR-X") == CarrierStore::CreateResult::Created);
+  REQUIRE(s.fire_id_event("CAR-X", CarrierIDEvent::ProceedWithCarrier));
+  CHECK_FALSE(s.persistence_enabled());
+
+  // No journal file should exist anywhere — but to be safe also check
+  // that pointing a fresh store at `dir` doesn't see CAR-X (since we
+  // never wrote it).
+  CarrierStore s2;
+  s2.enable_persistence(dir);
+  CHECK_FALSE(s2.has("CAR-X"));
+  CHECK(s2.size() == 0);
+  fs::remove_all(dir);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("LoadPortStore persistence: write + restart + replay") {
+  auto dir = scratch_dir("lp-write-replay");
+  {
+    LoadPortStore lp;
+    lp.enable_persistence(dir);
+    REQUIRE(lp.create(1));
+    REQUIRE(lp.create(2));
+    REQUIRE(lp.associate(1, "CAR-1"));
+    REQUIRE(lp.fire_transfer_event(1, LoadPortTransferEvent::StartLoading));
+    REQUIRE(lp.fire_reservation_event(2, LoadPortReservationEvent::Reserve));
+    CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".lp") == 2);
+  }
+  {
+    LoadPortStore lp;
+    lp.enable_persistence(dir);
+    REQUIRE(lp.has(1));
+    REQUIRE(lp.has(2));
+    const auto* p1 = lp.get(1);
+    CHECK(p1->carrierid == "CAR-1");
+    CHECK(p1->fsm->transfer_state() == LoadPortTransferState::Loading);
+    CHECK(p1->fsm->association_state() == LoadPortAssociationStatus::Associated);
+    const auto* p2 = lp.get(2);
+    CHECK(p2->fsm->reservation_state() == LoadPortReservationStatus::Reserved);
+  }
+  fs::remove_all(dir);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("LoadPortStore persistence: malformed file dropped") {
+  auto dir = scratch_dir("lp-malformed");
+  {
+    std::ofstream f(dir / "001.lp", std::ios::binary);
+    const char junk[] = {0x00, 0x01, 0x02};
+    f.write(junk, sizeof(junk));
+  }
+  LoadPortStore lp;
+  lp.enable_persistence(dir);
+  CHECK(lp.size() == 0);
+  CHECK(count_with_ext(dir, ".lp") == 0);
+  fs::remove_all(dir);
+}