Factory-direct pricing. No distributor. No markup. Call 1-888-792-9315 or browse below.
This collection contains everything a funeral home needs for first call removal — mortuary cots, first call stretchers, bariatric cots, and transfer equipment, all manufactured and sold factory-direct by American Mortuary Equipment. Whether you are equipping a new funeral home or replacing aging removal equipment, you are buying directly from the source with no distributor in between and no added markup. Every piece of first call removal equipment we offer is built to the demands of daily professional use and ships directly from our facility.
First Call Removal Equipment for Funeral Homes
What Is First Call Removal Equipment?
In the funeral profession, "first call" refers to the initial removal of a decedent from the place of death — a residence, hospital, nursing facility, or accident scene. First call removal equipment is the category of products a funeral home uses to perform that transport safely, efficiently, and with dignity. It is the first piece of equipment put into service after a death call, and its reliability is not optional. The right mortuary removal equipment protects the decedent, protects your staff from injury, and allows your team to move professionally in any environment.
The first call equipment category covers a range of products: mortuary cots and removal cots in standard and bariatric capacities, funeral home stretchers for tight residential hallways and narrow doorways, transfer van floor hardware, pouching supplies, and lifting aids. A well-equipped funeral home removal team carries equipment suited to varied conditions — a hydraulic mortuary cot for routine hospital calls, a bariatric removal cot for heavy-duty capacity needs, and a lightweight aluminum funeral home stretcher for locations where a full-size cot cannot maneuver. First call stretchers and cots are the core of this category, and they are what every funeral home director evaluates first when building or upgrading a removal fleet.
Our First Call Equipment
American Mortuary Equipment offers a focused collection of mortuary cots and first call stretchers in both standard and bariatric configurations, available in manual and hydraulic lift mechanisms, and built in aluminum and steel frames to match the weight, durability, and budget requirements of your operation. Our mortuary cots are manufactured under the American Mortuary Equipment name and sold directly to funeral homes — there is no distributor layer, no regional markup, and no middleman between our production floor and your removal van. Equipment ships from our facility, and our team is available at 1-888-792-9315 to help you spec the right cot for your call volume and geographic needs. View our complete mortuary cot collection to see all available models, weight capacities, and configurations.
Why Buy First Call Equipment Factory Direct?
When you purchase first call removal equipment through a traditional distributor, you are paying an additional 20 to 40 percent above the manufacturer's cost — every time, on every order. Distributors add their margin on top of the manufacturer's price, and that markup compounds across your entire removal fleet. American Mortuary Equipment eliminates that layer entirely: we manufacture our own line of mortuary cots and first call stretchers and sell them directly to funeral homes at factory pricing. That means the price you see is the price from the source, not a reseller's inflated catalog rate. Call us at 1-888-792-9315 to discuss volume pricing, fleet replacement, or custom specifications — conversations that a distributor's sales rep simply cannot offer because they do not build the equipment.
First Call Equipment Categories
Browse by equipment type or use case to find exactly what your funeral home needs for first call operations:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is first call removal equipment?
First call removal equipment refers to the tools and products a funeral home uses to perform the initial removal of a decedent from the place of death. This includes mortuary cots, first call stretchers, bariatric removal cots, body pouches, transfer van hardware, and lifting aids. The term "first call" comes from the industry practice of the first call to the funeral home following a death — the removal that initiates the entire funeral service process. This equipment must be durable, dependable, and suited to a wide range of physical environments, from private residences to hospital wards to nursing facilities. Visit our FAQ page or our First Call Equipment Guide for a detailed overview of the category.
What is the difference between a mortuary cot and a first call stretcher?
The terms are often used interchangeably in the funeral profession, but there are functional distinctions worth understanding. A mortuary cot typically refers to a wheeled transport cot designed for professional mortuary use, with a collapsible undercarriage that allows the cot to be loaded into a removal van. Mortuary cots are the standard equipment for first call removals and come in manual and hydraulic height-adjustment configurations. A first call stretcher is a broader term that can include flat stretchers used in confined spaces where a full-size cot cannot maneuver — narrow residential hallways, tight staircases, or multi-story buildings without elevator access. In practice, most funeral homes use the two terms to mean the same thing: the primary wheeled device used to transport a decedent during first call. Our mortuary cot collection covers both configurations.
Do you carry bariatric first call cots?
Yes. American Mortuary Equipment manufactures bariatric mortuary cots designed for higher weight capacities than standard removal cots. Bariatric first call cots feature reinforced frames, wider deck widths, and enhanced lifting mechanisms to allow safe removal and transport of larger decedents. As bariatric cases become more common across the funeral profession, having the right equipment is both a dignity issue and a staff safety issue — attempting a bariatric removal with an undersized cot creates injury risk for your team and is not appropriate practice. Call us at 1-888-792-9315 to discuss specific weight capacity requirements, and our team can help you identify the right bariatric cot for your call volume and vehicle setup. We sell bariatric equipment factory-direct with no distributor markup.
Can I buy removal equipment direct without a distributor?
Yes — and that is exactly what American Mortuary Equipment offers. We manufacture our own line of mortuary cots and first call stretchers and sell them directly to funeral homes. You do not need to go through a funeral supply distributor, a regional dealer, or a catalog reseller. Buying factory-direct means you pay the manufacturer's price, not a price that has been marked up 20 to 40 percent by a distribution layer. It also means you have direct access to the people who build the equipment when you have questions about specifications, replacement parts, or custom configurations. Call us at 1-888-792-9315 or visit our contact page to speak with our team directly.
Do you offer financing on first call equipment?
Yes. American Mortuary Equipment offers financing options for funeral homes purchasing removal equipment, including mortuary cots, bariatric cots, and full first call equipment packages. Financing allows you to equip or re-equip your removal fleet without a large upfront capital outlay — particularly useful for new funeral home operators or established operations replacing multiple units at once. Visit our financing page for current terms and application information, or call 1-888-792-9315 to discuss financing alongside your equipment selection. Our team can walk you through the process from equipment spec to financing approval in a single conversation.
What brands of first call equipment do you carry?
We manufacture our own line of mortuary cots and first call stretchers under the American Mortuary Equipment name. We are not a distributor for Ferno, Junkin, or Mobi — we build and sell our own factory-direct equipment. This means no markup, no middleman, and direct factory support when you need service, parts, or guidance on your equipment. When you buy from American Mortuary Equipment, you are buying from the manufacturer. That is a fundamental difference from purchasing through a distributor that resells other brands at a margin — and it is why our pricing is consistently lower than catalog reseller prices. Call 1-888-792-9315 to speak with our team about our current first call equipment line.
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