diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api/placeholders.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api/placeholders.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5fad80e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api/placeholders.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import type {
+	CompletedPayload,
+	DashboardFoldersPayload,
+	DashboardSummaryPayload,
+	HostsPayload,
+	QueueLane
+} from './types';
+
+const emptyQueueLane: QueueLane = {
+	running: [],
+	queued: [],
+	pending_review: [],
+	running_count: 0,
+	queued_count: 0,
+	pending_review_count: 0
+};
+
+export const initialDashboard: DashboardSummaryPayload = {
+	folders_preview: [],
+	library_colors: {},
+	scan_job: null,
+	calibration_queue: {
+		sample: emptyQueueLane,
+		full: emptyQueueLane,
+		active_count: 0
+	},
+	encode_queue: {
+		running_count: 0,
+		queued_count: 0,
+		running: [],
+		queued: [],
+		state: { is_paused: false, stop_requested: false, scheduler_summary: 'loading' }
+	},
+	catalog_empty: false,
+	folder_cache_key: 'loading',
+	metric_support: { vmaf: false, xpsnr: false, ssim: false },
+	metric_status_copy: 'loading'
+};
+
+export const initialFoldersPayload: DashboardFoldersPayload = {
+	folders: [],
+	series_folders: [],
+	folder_cache_key: 'loading',
+	catalog_empty: false
+};
+
+export const initialHosts: HostsPayload = { compact: true, hosts: [] };
+
+export const initialCompleted: CompletedPayload = {
+	folders: [],
+	completed_count: 0,
+	folders_with_backups_count: 0,
+	archive_cleanup: {
+		archive_root: '',
+		file_count: 0,
+		total_size_bytes: 0,
+		has_cleanup: false
+	},
+	history: []
+};
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/workstation/HomeWorkbenchView.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/workstation/HomeWorkbenchView.svelte
index 368244a..7bdfdc0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/workstation/HomeWorkbenchView.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/workstation/HomeWorkbenchView.svelte
@@ -184,20 +184,22 @@
 		isFolderIndex ? `Matching ${folderScopeLabel.toLowerCase()}` : 'Workflow lanes'
 	);
 	const visibleScopeSummary = $derived(
-		foldersPending && !isFolderIndex
-			? 'Loading work folders'
+		foldersPending
+			? isFolderIndex
+				? `Loading ${folderScopeLabel.toLowerCase()}`
+				: 'Loading work folders'
 			: `${visibleFolders.length.toLocaleString('en-US')} / ${folders.length.toLocaleString(
 					'en-US'
 				)} ${isFolderIndex ? folderScopeLabel.toLowerCase() : 'folders'}`
 	);
 	const visibleFoldersCopy = $derived(
-		foldersPending && !isFolderIndex ? 'loading' : visibleFolders.length.toLocaleString('en-US')
+		foldersPending ? 'loading' : visibleFolders.length.toLocaleString('en-US')
 	);
 	const visiblePendingCopy = $derived(
-		foldersPending && !isFolderIndex ? 'loading' : visiblePendingItems.toLocaleString('en-US')
+		foldersPending ? 'loading' : visiblePendingItems.toLocaleString('en-US')
 	);
 	const visibleReclaimCopy = $derived(
-		foldersPending && !isFolderIndex ? 'loading' : formatBytes(visibleProjectedReclaim)
+		foldersPending ? 'loading' : formatBytes(visibleProjectedReclaim)
 	);
 
 	type LibraryOption = {
@@ -742,7 +744,9 @@
 										{/each}
 									{:else if foldersPending}
 										<tr>
-											<td colspan="8">Loading folder worklist...</td>
+											<td colspan="8">
+												{isFolderIndex ? 'Loading folder index...' : 'Loading folder worklist...'}
+											</td>
 										</tr>
 									{:else}
 										<tr>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 539e7ef..dae1294 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 	import { fetchJson } from '$lib/api/client';
+	import { initialDashboard, initialFoldersPayload, initialHosts } from '$lib/api/placeholders';
 	import type {
 		DashboardFoldersPayload,
 		DashboardSummaryPayload,
@@ -8,45 +9,6 @@
 	} from '$lib/api/types';
 	import HomeWorkbenchView from '$lib/components/workstation/HomeWorkbenchView.svelte';
 
-	const emptyQueueLane = {
-		running: [],
-		queued: [],
-		pending_review: [],
-		running_count: 0,
-		queued_count: 0,
-		pending_review_count: 0
-	};
-
-	const initialDashboard: DashboardSummaryPayload = {
-		folders_preview: [],
-		library_colors: {},
-		scan_job: null,
-		calibration_queue: {
-			sample: emptyQueueLane,
-			full: emptyQueueLane,
-			active_count: 0
-		},
-		encode_queue: {
-			running_count: 0,
-			queued_count: 0,
-			running: [],
-			queued: [],
-			state: { is_paused: false, stop_requested: false, scheduler_summary: 'loading' }
-		},
-		catalog_empty: false,
-		folder_cache_key: 'loading',
-		metric_support: { vmaf: false, xpsnr: false, ssim: false },
-		metric_status_copy: 'loading'
-	};
-
-	const initialFoldersPayload: DashboardFoldersPayload = {
-		folders: [],
-		folder_cache_key: 'loading',
-		catalog_empty: false
-	};
-
-	const initialHosts: HostsPayload = { compact: true, hosts: [] };
-
 	let dashboard = $state<DashboardSummaryPayload>(initialDashboard);
 	let foldersPayload = $state<DashboardFoldersPayload>(initialFoldersPayload);
 	let hosts = $state<HostsPayload>(initialHosts);
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/completed/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/completed/+page.svelte
index f599605..14b607e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/completed/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/completed/+page.svelte
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 	import { fetchJson } from '$lib/api/client';
 	import type { CompletedPayload } from '$lib/api/types';
 	import CompletedWorkstationView from '$lib/components/workstation/CompletedWorkstationView.svelte';
-	import RouteLoadingView from '$lib/components/workstation/RouteLoadingView.svelte';
 
 	let completed = $state<CompletedPayload | null>(null);
 	let loadError = $state('');
@@ -21,8 +20,4 @@
 	<title>Mediaforce Completed</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
-{#if completed}
-	<CompletedWorkstationView {completed} loadError={null} />
-{:else}
-	<RouteLoadingView route="completed" subject="Completed" crumb="/completed" error={loadError} />
-{/if}
+<CompletedWorkstationView {completed} loadError={loadError || null} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/folders/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/folders/+page.svelte
index bf07a7d..578d887 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/folders/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/folders/+page.svelte
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 	import { fetchJson } from '$lib/api/client';
+	import { initialDashboard, initialFoldersPayload, initialHosts } from '$lib/api/placeholders';
 	import type {
 		DashboardFoldersPayload,
 		DashboardSummaryPayload,
 		HostsPayload
 	} from '$lib/api/types';
 	import HomeWorkbenchView from '$lib/components/workstation/HomeWorkbenchView.svelte';
-	import RouteLoadingView from '$lib/components/workstation/RouteLoadingView.svelte';
 
-	let dashboard = $state<DashboardSummaryPayload | null>(null);
-	let foldersPayload = $state<DashboardFoldersPayload | null>(null);
-	let hosts = $state<HostsPayload | null>(null);
+	let dashboard = $state<DashboardSummaryPayload>(initialDashboard);
+	let foldersPayload = $state<DashboardFoldersPayload>(initialFoldersPayload);
+	let hosts = $state<HostsPayload>(initialHosts);
 	let loadError = $state('');
+	let foldersPending = $state(true);
 
 	onMount(async () => {
 		try {
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@
 			hosts = hostsPayload;
 		} catch (error) {
 			loadError = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Folders route failed to load.';
+		} finally {
+			foldersPending = false;
 		}
 	});
 </script>
@@ -34,8 +37,12 @@
 	<title>Mediaforce Folders</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
-{#if dashboard && foldersPayload && hosts}
-	<HomeWorkbenchView crumb="/folders" {dashboard} {foldersPayload} {hosts} mode="folders" />
-{:else}
-	<RouteLoadingView route="folders" subject="Folders" crumb="/folders" error={loadError} />
-{/if}
+<HomeWorkbenchView
+	crumb="/folders"
+	{dashboard}
+	{foldersPayload}
+	{hosts}
+	{foldersPending}
+	{loadError}
+	mode="folders"
+/>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/ops/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/ops/+page.svelte
index c901b23..de9ddf8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/ops/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/ops/+page.svelte
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 	import { fetchJson } from '$lib/api/client';
+	import { initialDashboard, initialHosts } from '$lib/api/placeholders';
 	import type { DashboardSummaryPayload, HostsPayload } from '$lib/api/types';
 	import OpsWorkstationView from '$lib/components/workstation/OpsWorkstationView.svelte';
-	import RouteLoadingView from '$lib/components/workstation/RouteLoadingView.svelte';
 
-	let dashboard = $state<DashboardSummaryPayload | null>(null);
-	let hosts = $state<HostsPayload | null>(null);
+	let dashboard = $state<DashboardSummaryPayload | null>(initialDashboard);
+	let hosts = $state<HostsPayload | null>(initialHosts);
 	let loadError = $state('');
 
 	onMount(async () => {
@@ -27,8 +27,4 @@
 	<title>Mediaforce Ops</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
-{#if dashboard && hosts}
-	<OpsWorkstationView {dashboard} {hosts} loadError={null} />
-{:else}
-	<RouteLoadingView route="ops" subject="Ops" crumb="/ops" error={loadError} />
-{/if}
+<OpsWorkstationView {dashboard} {hosts} loadError={loadError || null} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
index 60ad8e6..f5f6d90 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
@@ -1,11 +1,40 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
+	import { fetchJson } from '$lib/api/client';
+	import type { HostsPayload, SettingsPayload } from '$lib/api/types';
 	import SettingsEditor from '$lib/components/settings/SettingsEditor.svelte';
 
-	let { data } = $props();
+	type SettledPayload<T> = { data: T; error: null } | { data: null; error: string };
+
+	let settings = $state<SettingsPayload | null>(null);
+	let hosts = $state<HostsPayload | null>(null);
+	let loadError = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+	function errorMessage(error: unknown): string {
+		return error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Request failed.';
+	}
+
+	async function settle<T>(promise: Promise<T>): Promise<SettledPayload<T>> {
+		try {
+			return { data: await promise, error: null };
+		} catch (error) {
+			return { data: null, error: errorMessage(error) };
+		}
+	}
+
+	onMount(async () => {
+		const [settingsPayload, hostsPayload] = await Promise.all([
+			settle(fetchJson<SettingsPayload>('/api/settings?include_archive_cleanup=0')),
+			settle(fetchJson<HostsPayload>('/api/hosts?compact=1'))
+		]);
+		settings = settingsPayload.data;
+		hosts = hostsPayload.data;
+		loadError = [settingsPayload.error, hostsPayload.error].filter(Boolean).join(' · ') || null;
+	});
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
 	<title>Mediaforce Settings</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
-<SettingsEditor settings={data.settings} hosts={data.hosts} loadError={data.loadError} />
+<SettingsEditor {settings} {hosts} {loadError} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.ts b/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 454b68a..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-import { fetchJson } from '$lib/api/client';
-import type { HostsPayload, SettingsPayload } from '$lib/api/types';
-
-type SettledPayload<T> = { data: T; error: null } | { data: null; error: string };
-
-function errorMessage(error: unknown): string {
-	return error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Request failed.';
-}
-
-async function settle<T>(promise: Promise<T>): Promise<SettledPayload<T>> {
-	try {
-		return { data: await promise, error: null };
-	} catch (error) {
-		return { data: null, error: errorMessage(error) };
-	}
-}
-
-export async function load({ fetch }: { fetch: typeof window.fetch }) {
-	const [settings, hosts] = await Promise.all([
-		settle(fetchJson<SettingsPayload>('/api/settings?include_archive_cleanup=0', fetch)),
-		settle(fetchJson<HostsPayload>('/api/hosts?compact=1', fetch))
-	]);
-	const loadError = [settings.error, hosts.error].filter(Boolean).join(' · ') || null;
-
-	return {
-		settings: settings.data,
-		hosts: hosts.data,
-		loadError
-	};
-}