Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues:
Manufacturing	$ 2,523.7	$ 1,691.0	$ 2,050.7
Leasing	551.4	464.5	370.2
Total Revenues	3,075.1	2,155.5	2,420.9
Cost of revenues:
Manufacturing	2,164.7	1,434.7	1,712.5
Leasing	290.3	244.0	226.7
Other	27.9	10.9	25.7
Total cost of revenues	2,482.9	1,689.6	1,964.9
Selling, engineering, and administrative expenses:
Manufacturing	142.2	132.3	142.5
Leasing	23.4	20.1	12.9
Other	43.5	33.9	30.7
Total selling, engineering, and administrative expenses	209.1	186.3	186.1
Goodwill impairment			325.0
Gain on disposition of property, plant, and equipment:
Net gains on lease fleet sales	16.2	6.6	18.4
Disposition of flood-damaged property, plant, and equipment	17.6	9.7
Other	8.4	7.9	5.8
Total gain on disposition of property, plant, and equipment	42.2	24.2	24.2
Total operating profit (loss)	425.3	303.8	(30.9)
Other (income) expense:
Interest income	(1.5)	(1.4)	(1.7)
Interest expense	185.3	182.1	123.2
Other, net	4.0	6.8	(5.3)
Nonoperating income (expense), total	187.8	187.5	116.2
Income (loss) before income taxes	237.5	116.3	(147.1)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Current	30.9	(19.2)	14.4
Deferred	60.9	60.1	(23.8)
Provision for income taxes	91.8	40.9	(9.4)
Net income (loss)	145.7	75.4	(137.7)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3.5	8.0
Net income (loss) attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc.	$ 142.2	$ 67.4	$ (137.7)
Net income (loss) attributable to Trinity Industries, Inc. per common share:
Basic	$ 1.77	$ 0.85	$ (1.81)
Diluted	$ 1.77	$ 0.85	$ (1.81)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	77.5	76.8	76.4
Diluted	77.8	77.0	76.4
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.35	$ 0.32	$ 0.32