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Combined Resources Inc.
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Brokerage & Transportation

We process, broker, and transport. Three roles under one roof, so every load is placed mill-direct against live commodity markets and arrives there on our trucks, not someone else's.

One Partner From Your Dock to the Mill

Most commercial recyclers do one job, processing or hauling. CRI does both, plus the brokerage side, which is where the dollars actually live. We have direct relationships with the paper mills, plastic re-processors, and metal foundries that consume your material, so we can place every load at the destination that pays the most.

Same applies to transportation. Most pickups run on CRI-owned equipment, our 300+ trailers and in-house drivers. Where our own trucks don't reach, we use a vetted carrier network with the same insurance, tracking, and accountability we expect from ourselves. You always know who's behind the wheel and what's on the bill of lading.

The result: one accountable partner from your dock to the end-buyer, no margin-stacking middlemen, mill-direct pricing on every load, and 42 states of coverage when you have multi-site operations.

What That Looks Like Operationally

Six things CRI does in-house that other recyclers outsource (or don't do at all).

Mill-Direct Placement

Direct relationships with paper mills, plastic re-processors, metal foundries, and end-market buyers nationwide. Your material lands where it earns the most

Live Commodity Pricing

Daily commodity tracking on OCC, paper grades, plastic resins, and ferrous/non-ferrous metals. We time loads to favorable markets when it matters

In-House Trucking

300+ trailers and an in-house transportation operation. Most pickups run on CRI-owned equipment, not third-party haulers fighting for slots

Vetted Carrier Network

Where our own trucks don't reach, we use a vetted carrier network with insurance, tracking, and SLA-backed schedules

Multi-Facility Programs

Customers in 42 states. We coordinate the freight, the consolidation, and the mill placement so multi-site operators get one invoice and one contact

Documented Chain of Custody

Bills of lading, scale tickets, and grade reports on every load. You know what shipped, what it weighed, and where it went

Brokerage & Transportation FAQ

Common questions about CRI's brokerage and transportation operations.

What's the difference between a recycler and a broker?+
A recycler processes material, sorts, bales, prepares it for the next stage. A broker places material with the end-buyer who actually consumes it (mill, foundry, re-processor). Most companies are one or the other, which means a third party sits between you and the mill, taking margin. CRI does both, so you get mill-direct economics without managing two relationships.
Does CRI own its trucks or use third-party haulers?+
Both, scoped to the route. CRI owns 300+ trailers and runs an in-house transportation operation, which handles most of our pickup and delivery. For lanes outside our core service area, we use a vetted carrier network with the same insurance, tracking, and accountability standards. You always know who's behind the truck.
What's mill-direct shipping and why does it matter?+
Mill-direct means your material ships from CRI's facility (or your dock) to the actual paper mill, plastic re-processor, or metal foundry that will consume it. No middleman warehouse, no extra handling, no margin stacking. The price you get reflects the real end-market value minus our processing and logistics, not minus another broker's cut.
How does CRI time the commodity market?+
Commodity prices for OCC, paper, plastic, and metal move daily based on supply, demand, mill capacity, and import/export pressure. CRI's brokers track these markets and time loads when economics support it, holding when prices are soft, shipping when they recover. You get the upside without having to watch the market yourself.
What documentation do I get for each load?+
Every load comes with a bill of lading, scale ticket, grade report, and final settlement. Loads processed at our Addison facility are weighed on Illinois state-certified scales. Partner-network loads are weighed at certified scales at their locations. You see the tonnage, the grade, the rate, and the destination, every time.

Want to know what your waste is worth?

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