Abstract: A cable reel or cable reel assembly for use in transporting and storing cable of length, diameter and weight up to a predetermined reel capacity. The cable reel, or cable reel assembly when assembled, includes a generally cylindrical cable-receiving drum, which in the case of the cable reel assembly is assembled from a plurality of drum components, and a pair of opposed flanges that are fixed to the ends of the drum and retain wound cable in place on the drum. The drum is made of a material, and has dimensions, that enable it to resist bending under the load of the cable wound on the drum and to resist cable loading and unloading stresses. The opposed flanges resist the lateral load applied to the cable reel by the wound cable. The flanges are made from a selected blended rubber-plastics composition and have dimensions selected to resist bending due to the lateral load of the cable wound on the drum, and due to the stress applied to the flanges by the drum bearing the cable.