-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OLyg0sD2UxyA1dGwumt/jvl21KolF6zfN5TSR0lZcEtuSeb2WWGq7BAFNm1HUfY8
 Oe0fwvpqUrLr7nDKaXzwsw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001202812-04-000010.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0001202812-04-000010.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107101533
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001202812-04-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COEL KEVIN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202812

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05046
		FILM NUMBER:		04511972

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CNF INC
		STREET 2:		3240 HILLVIEW AVE.
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CNF INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000023675
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				941444798
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3240 HILLVIEW AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504942900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 NW 21ST AVE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97209

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CNF TRANSPORTATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970509

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CONSOLIDATED FREIGHTWAYS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000023675</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CNF INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202812</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COEL KEVIN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CNF INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1717 N.W. 21ST AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97209-1797</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-12-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-12-15</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>91.7250</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1190.0730</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option-Right to Buy</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>32.96</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-12-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-12-15</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>6500.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>32.96</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-12-15</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>6500.0000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>6500.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Series B Preferred Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-12-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-12-15</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>7.9400</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Convertible to Common</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>7.9400</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>85.2690</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired under the CNF Thrift and Stock Plan during the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2003 at prices ranging from $25.38 to $33.9247 per share, in transactions that were exempt from Section 16(b) by virtue of Rule 16(b)-3.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">The option vests in four (4) equal annual installments beginning on January 1, 2005.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Column 1 and 6 = Each Series B share converts (1) to 4.708 shares of common stock at the option of the Trustee; or (2) upon termination of plan participation by a participant credited with Series B preferred shares, for each such Series B preferred share, as many common shares as equal in their market value $152.10, but in no event less that 4.708 shares.  Column 7 = These shares were acquired under the CNF Thrift and Stock Plan as matching contributions and in lieu of cash dividends on other Series B preferred.  Series B preferred shares are issued to and held only by an ESOP trustee.  </footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Gary S. Cullen, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----