<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950172-06-000371
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061006
<FILING-DATE>20061020
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061020
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CENTRAL FREIGHT LINES INC
<CIK>0001085636
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4213
<IRS-NUMBER>742914331
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NV
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5601 WEST WACO DRIVE
<CITY>WACO
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>767022638
<PHONE>2547722120
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5601 WEST WACO DRIVE
<CITY>WACO
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>767022638
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CENTRAL FREIGHT LINES INC/TX
<DATE-CHANGED>19990503
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MOYES JERRY
<CIK>0000901736
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-50485
<FILM-NUMBER>061155264
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO INC
<STREET2>P.O. BOX 29243
<CITY>PHOENIX
<STATE>AZ
<ZIP>85043
<PHONE>6022699700
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO INC
<STREET2>P.O. BOX 29243
<CITY>PHOENIX
<STATE>AZ
<ZIP>85038
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2006-10-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001085636</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL FREIGHT LINES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901736</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOYES JERRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 29243</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85038</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>2006-10-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1016268</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1032269</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>230227</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1276229</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares held by Jerry and Vickie Moyes as trustees of the Jerry and Vickie Moyes Family Trust.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jerry Moyes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
