-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IEFmHvNa+sTIhZlq0+GGVlxeFRlQ4r6Skze4EbRTLujLlM2loh/QWW/j6Q3RT9OK
 ylRD3B5NdCFf94C3oHtDBA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897485-03-000022.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0000897485-03-000022.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103160042
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897485-03-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRC COMPANIES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103096
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT [4955]
		IRS NUMBER:				060853807
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 WATERSIDE CROSSING
		CITY:			WINDSOR
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06095
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2032898631

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 WATERSIDE CROSSING
		CITY:			WINDSOR
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06095

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VAST INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19761201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KELLOGG PETER R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000897485

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09947
		FILM NUMBER:		03973118

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SPEAR LEEDS & KELLOGG
		STREET 2:		120 BROADWAY
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10271
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124337070

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 BROADWAY
		STREET 2:		C/O SPEAR LEEDS & KELLOGG
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10271
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000103096</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRC COMPANIES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>trr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000897485</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLOGG PETER R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>120 BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O SPEAR LEEDS &amp; KELLOGG</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10271</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1102800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>IAT Reinsurance Co.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1278415</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr Kellogg disclaims beneficial ownership of 1,102,800 shares owned by IAT Reinsurance Co Ltd.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter R Kellogg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----