One of the least liked parts of the funeral planning process is arranging transport. The deceased’s body could be at their home, a hospital or the medical examiner’s office. Wherever the deceased is, the body will need to be transported to the funeral home so that the next stage in the process can begin, whether that’s preparing the body for a viewing, burial or cremation.
To make things a little easier, we’ve created a Q&A about interacting with transport providers. Use it to get a better idea of what to expect and how to interact so that the pickup and transport goes smoothly.
Are the Transport Providers the One I Spoke With to Arrange Services?
Most likely not. Today, the funeral director that the family speaks with to arrange services won’t be handling the transport as well unless you live in a small town.
Many funeral homes have a transportation specialist who does the pickup and transport. In some cases, the funeral home partners with a business that does nothing but transport services 24/7. It’s an option that some funeral homes use for late night services.
Do You Have to Be There When the Transport Providers Arrive and Talk to Them?
No. As long as you provide a release form to the hospital, hospice or medical examiner’s office saying the funeral home will be handling the transport, then you don’t have to be present. However, if the person died at home someone will need to be present to provide access into the home.
Do Transport Providers Interact With Family Members?
They will interact with you as much as you want to interact with them. That said, they are there to do a job, and will need to focus while moving the body. However, most transport specialists are professionals that understand the gravity of the situation. At the very least, they will likely offer their condolences.
Can I Ask the Transport Providers Questions?
You are completely free to ask the transport providers related questions. Many people want to verify that they’ll be contacted once their loved one’s body arrives at the funeral home. And some people may want to know if other bodies are in the transport vehicle or will be picked up with their loved one.
If you have questions, definitely ask them.
*Note: Often only one body is transported at a time, however, some larger vehicles may be able to hold multiple bodies for transport.
What If I Prefer to Handle the Transport to the Funeral Home?
It depends on state law, but typically the family can choose to transport the body of their loved one themselves if they don’t want to interact with transport providers or have someone else handle the process.
For example, in Texas it’s legal for the family to transport the body, however, a transit permit may be needed and the body must be securely contained.
Do you have other questions about transport prior to cremation? Give Direct Cremate a call or text at 512-607-4075 for answers.
