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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 5orQ9OH+Je0+JsBOeDJddA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001204982-05-000005.txt : 20050127
<SEC-HEADER>0001204982-05-000005.hdr.sgml : 20050127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050127193216
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001204982-05-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050127
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POPE JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192499

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05046
		FILM NUMBER:		05555358

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477357230

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		810 S. RIDGE RD
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

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>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000023675</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CNF INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POPE JOHN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CNF INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3240 HILLVIEW AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94306</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>499</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3892</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>50.1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option and restricted stock grants cancelled upon mutual agreement in connection with change in Company's director compensation policy. No consideration was received at the time of cancellation, although directors serving on the Company's Board of Directors in April 2005 will receive grants of restricted stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each option granted under the Plan shall vest and become exercisable as to 1/12 of the shares covered thereby on a monthly basis such that the option will be fully exercisable one year after its date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gary S. Cullen, Attorney-in-Fact, John C. Pope</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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