<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-09</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000023675</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CNF INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHMOLLER EBERHARD G H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Gen Counsel and Sec</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-07-09</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-07-09</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>2334.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>10714.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-06-13</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>86.8720</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1407.5480</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Series B Preferred Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.0000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-07-01</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-07-01</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>12.8200</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <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>12.8200</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>210.8250</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Forfeiture of performance restricted shares (original grant date 7/1/1997) because performance criteria not met.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">These shares were acquired under the CNF Thrift and Stock Plan at a price of $25.38 per shares, in a transaction that was exempt
from Section 16(b) by virtue of Rule 16(b)-3.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">In addition to the 10,714 shares held directly and the 1,407.5480 shares of common stock held indirectly in the 401(k) Plan, 4,737 shares of common stock are held indirectly in a trust account in which the reporting person and his spouse are the settlors, trustees and beneficiaries.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">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 </footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Eberhard G. H. Schmoller</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Gary S. Cullen, Attorney-in-Fa</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

