diff --git a/luxonis_ml/data/datasets/luxonis_dataset.py b/luxonis_ml/data/datasets/luxonis_dataset.py
index 09bf8ad6..47895b6a 100644
--- a/luxonis_ml/data/datasets/luxonis_dataset.py
+++ b/luxonis_ml/data/datasets/luxonis_dataset.py
@@ -135,7 +135,13 @@ def __init__(
         else:
             self.fs = LuxonisFileSystem(self.path)
 
-        self.metadata = cast(Metadata, defaultdict(dict, self._get_metadata()))
+        _lock_metadata = self.base_path / ".metadata.lock"
+        with FileLock(
+            str(_lock_metadata)
+        ):  # DDP GCS training - multiple processes
+            self.metadata = cast(
+                Metadata, defaultdict(dict, self._get_metadata())
+            )
 
         if self.version != LDF_VERSION:
             logger.warning(
@@ -228,6 +234,8 @@ def _load_df_offline(
     def _load_df_offline(
         self, lazy: bool = False
     ) -> Optional[Union[pl.DataFrame, pl.LazyFrame]]:
+        """Loads the dataset DataFrame **always** from the local
+        storage."""
         path = (
             self.base_path
             / "data"
@@ -287,14 +295,13 @@ def _get_file_index(
     def _get_file_index(
         self, lazy: bool = False
     ) -> Optional[Union[pl.DataFrame, pl.LazyFrame]]:
-        path = (
-            self.base_path
-            / "data"
-            / self.team_id
-            / "datasets"
-            / self.dataset_name
-            / "metadata"
-            / "file_index.parquet"
+        """Loads the file index DataFrame from the local storage or the
+        cloud.
+
+        If loads from cloud it always downloads before loading.
+        """
+        path = get_file(
+            self.fs, "metadata/file_index.parquet", self.metadata_path
         )
         if path is not None and path.exists():
             if not lazy:
@@ -342,6 +349,11 @@ def _init_credentials(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         return {}
 
     def _get_metadata(self) -> Metadata:
+        """Loads metadata from local storage or cloud, depending on the
+        BucketStorage type.
+
+        If loads from cloud it always downloads before loading.
+        """
         if self.fs.exists("metadata/metadata.json"):
             path = get_file(
                 self.fs,
@@ -456,7 +468,7 @@ def sync_from_cloud(
 
         lock_path = local_dir / ".sync.lock"
 
-        with FileLock(str(lock_path)):
+        with FileLock(str(lock_path)):  # DDP GCS training - multiple processes
             any_subfolder_empty = any(
                 subfolder.is_dir() and not any(subfolder.iterdir())
                 for subfolder in (local_dir / self.dataset_name).iterdir()