Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The foregoing consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared from the books and records of Trinity Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Trinity”, “Company”, “we”, or “our”) including the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its partially-owned subsidiaries, TRIP Rail Holdings LLC (“TRIP Holdings”) and RIV 2013 Rail Holdings LLC ("RIV 2013"), in which the Company has a controlling interest. In our opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2014, and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, have been made in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 may not be indicative of expected results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2014. These interim financial statements and notes are condensed as permitted by the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. Stockholders' Equity On May 5, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a 2-for-1 stock split on its common shares. The stock split was issued in the form of a 100% stock dividend. The additional shares were distributed on June 19, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 5, 2014. All share and per share information, including dividends, has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 stock split, except for the statement of stockholders' equity which will reflect the stock split by reclassifying from "Capital in Excess of Par Value" to "Common Stock" in the amount of $78.0 million, which equals the par value of the additional shares issued to effect the stock split. In March 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $250 million share repurchase program that expires on December 31, 2015 and replaced the Company's previously authorized $200 million share repurchase program. Under the new program, 63,600 shares and 340,146 shares, respectively, were repurchased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, at a cost of approximately $2.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company repurchased 2,588,496 shares under the prior program at a cost of approximately $49.9 million. Certain shares of stock repurchased during June 2013, totaling $9.7 million, were cash settled in July 2013 in accordance with normal settlement practices. Revenue Recognition Revenues for contracts providing for a large number of units and few deliveries are recorded as the individual units are produced, inspected, and accepted by the customer as the risk of loss passes to the customer upon delivery acceptance on these contracts. This occurs primarily in the Rail and Inland Barge Groups. Revenue from rentals and operating leases, including contracts which contain non-level fixed rental payments, is recognized monthly on a straight-line basis. Revenue is recognized from the sales of railcars from the lease fleet on a gross basis in leasing revenues and cost of revenues if the railcar has been owned for one year or less at the time of sale. Sales of railcars from the lease fleet that have been owned for more than one year are recognized as a net gain or loss from the disposal of a long-term asset. Fees for shipping and handling are recorded as revenue. For all other products, we recognize revenue when products are shipped or services are provided. Financial Instruments The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments to be either cash and cash equivalents if purchased with a maturity of three months or less, or short-term marketable securities if purchased with a maturity of more than three months and less than one year. The Company intends to hold its short-term marketable securities until they are redeemed at their maturity date and believes that under the "more likely than not" criteria, the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk are primarily cash investments including restricted cash, short-term marketable securities, and receivables. The Company places its cash investments and short-term marketable securities in bank deposits and investment grade, short-term debt instruments and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one commercial issuer. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are limited due to control procedures that monitor the credit worthiness of customers, the large number of customers in the Company's customer base, and their dispersion across different industries and geographic areas. As receivables are generally unsecured, the Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectibility of all receivables. Receivable balances determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. The carrying values of cash, short-term marketable securities, receivables, and accounts payable are considered to be representative of their respective fair values. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," ("ASU 2014-09") providing common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP. Under ASU 2014-09, an entity recognizes revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires additional detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 will become effective for public companies during interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. Reclassifications Certain prior year balances have been reclassified in the consolidated statements of cash flows to conform to the 2014 presentation.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The foregoing consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared from the books and records of Trinity Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Trinity”, “Company”, “we”, or “our”) including the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its partially-owned subsidiaries, TRIP Rail Holdings LLC (“TRIP Holdings”) and RIV 2013 Rail Holdings LLC ("RIV 2013"), in which the Company has a controlling interest. In our opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2014, and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, have been made in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014 may not be indicative of expected results of operations for the year ending December 31, 2014. These interim financial statements and notes are condensed as permitted by the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Stockholders' Equity

On May 5, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a 2-for-1 stock split on its common shares. The stock split was issued in the form of a 100% stock dividend. The additional shares were distributed on June 19, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 5, 2014. All share and per share information, including dividends, has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 stock split, except for the statement of stockholders' equity which will reflect the stock split by reclassifying from "Capital in Excess of Par Value" to "Common Stock" in the amount of $78.0 million, which equals the par value of the additional shares issued to effect the stock split.

In March 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $250 million share repurchase program that expires on December 31, 2015 and replaced the Company's previously authorized $200 million share repurchase program. Under the new program, 63,600 shares and 340,146 shares, respectively, were repurchased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, at a cost of approximately $2.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company repurchased 2,588,496 shares under the prior program at a cost of approximately $49.9 million. Certain shares of stock repurchased during June 2013, totaling $9.7 million, were cash settled in July 2013 in accordance with normal settlement practices.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues for contracts providing for a large number of units and few deliveries are recorded as the individual units are produced, inspected, and accepted by the customer as the risk of loss passes to the customer upon delivery acceptance on these contracts. This occurs primarily in the Rail and Inland Barge Groups. Revenue from rentals and operating leases, including contracts which contain non-level fixed rental payments, is recognized monthly on a straight-line basis. Revenue is recognized from the sales of railcars from the lease fleet on a gross basis in leasing revenues and cost of revenues if the railcar has been owned for one year or less at the time of sale. Sales of railcars from the lease fleet that have been owned for more than one year are recognized as a net gain or loss from the disposal of a long-term asset. Fees for shipping and handling are recorded as revenue. For all other products, we recognize revenue when products are shipped or services are provided.

Financial Instruments

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments to be either cash and cash equivalents if purchased with a maturity of three months or less, or short-term marketable securities if purchased with a maturity of more than three months and less than one year. The Company intends to hold its short-term marketable securities until they are redeemed at their maturity date and believes that under the "more likely than not" criteria, the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk are primarily cash investments including restricted cash, short-term marketable securities, and receivables. The Company places its cash investments and short-term marketable securities in bank deposits and investment grade, short-term debt instruments and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one commercial issuer. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are limited due to control procedures that monitor the credit worthiness of customers, the large number of customers in the Company's customer base, and their dispersion across different industries and geographic areas. As receivables are generally unsecured, the Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectibility of all receivables. Receivable balances determined to be uncollectible are charged against the allowance. The carrying values of cash, short-term marketable securities, receivables, and accounts payable are considered to be representative of their respective fair values.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," ("ASU 2014-09") providing common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP. Under ASU 2014-09, an entity recognizes revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires additional detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 will become effective for public companies during interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year balances have been reclassified in the consolidated statements of cash flows to conform to the 2014 presentation.