-----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,
 MBfyvZmbFlrPZd7am4jSxdRXC5dCl2qTaHCxKUnpCEmVkBtCnwO0On+NRwDOThT4
 pt09086FYncqZNTQjDCo6w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000881791-03-000066.txt : 20031008
<SEC-HEADER>0000881791-03-000066.hdr.sgml : 20031008
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031008180932
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000881791-03-000066
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031006
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031008

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOFFMAN MORLEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210759

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19791
		FILM NUMBER:		03933937

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8550 W BRYN MAWR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60631
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7738241000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			USF CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000881791
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TRUCKING (NO LOCAL) [4213]
		IRS NUMBER:				363790696
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8550 W BRYN MAWR AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60631
		BUSINESS PHONE:		773.824-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8550 W. BRYN MAWR AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60631

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	USFREIGHTWAYS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970410

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TNT FREIGHTWAYS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-06</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000881791</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>USF CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>usfc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210759</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOFFMAN MORLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.11</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1.9494</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-10-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1.9494</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1.9494</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Quarterly Dividend acquired on 10/6/2003</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard C. Pagano/Dora Travaglio-Attorny-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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