<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-04</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000046653</issuerCik><issuerName>ABLEST INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AIH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001235905</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HALL VICTORIA HEIST</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>391 DUNCAN LOOP WEST</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>APARTMENT 104</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>DUNEDIN</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>34698-1317</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>5.56</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>131315</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>182965</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>as Trustee</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>William Appleton, Power-of-Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

