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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-13</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000023675</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CNF INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202226</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DETTER GERALD L</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>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-03-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-03-14</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>82.4180</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1545.5040</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.0000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-06-13</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>102.5750</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>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>102.5750</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>29951.9310</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>DCP Plan-Phantom Stock Units</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Series B Preferred Stock</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.0000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-03-14</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-03-14</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>4.2250</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>4.2250</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>250.1420</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired under the CNF Thrift and Stock Plan at a price of $30.45 per share, in a transaction that was exempt f
rom Section 16(b) by virture of Rule 16(b)-3.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">In addition to the 1,545.504 shares of common stock held indirectly in the 401(k) Plan, 91,615.9475 shares of common stock are directly held, 1,100 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, 20 shares of common stock are indirectly held by self for son, 30 shares of common stock are indirectly held by spouse for son and 195 shares of common stocck are indirectly held by spouse with son.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Column 2 = Phantom stock shares have a one for one conversion.  Column 6 = Units of phantom stock are payable in shares of CNF stock following termination of the reporting person's employment with CNF.  Column 7 = Acquired by reinvestment of dividend-equivalents on dividend date pursuant to CNF's deferred compensation plan.  </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>Gerald L. Detter</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Gary S. Cullen, Attorney-in-Fa</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

