Employee Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Components of Net Retirement Cost
Service cost	$ 0.1us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost	$ 0.1us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
Interest	5.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost	5.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
Expected return on plan assets	(7.6)	(7.7)
Amortization of actuarial loss	1.3	0.3
Defined benefit expense	(1.2)	(2.3)
Profit sharing	5.3	3.7
Multiemployer plan	0.6trn_MultiemployerPlanPeriodExpense	0trn_MultiemployerPlanPeriodExpense
Net retirement cost	$ 4.7us-gaap_PensionExpense	$ 1.4us-gaap_PensionExpense

Multiemployer Plan, Period Expense

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of gains or losses recognized in net periodic benefit cost.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

An amount calculated as a basis for determining the extent of delayed recognition of the effects of changes in the fair value of assets. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512136

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512171

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments.

+ References

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- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Service Cost (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525008

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

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- Definition

The amount of pension benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans and (2) defined contribution plans. For defined benefit plans, pension expense includes the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss) on plan assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments. For defined contribution plans, the pension expense generally equals the firm's contribution to employees' accounts (if the firm contributes) during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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-Subparagraph (h)

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