Reconciliations of capital expenditures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	$ 679	$ 504
Operating Segments | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	472	360
Operating Segments | Reportable Segments | Construction Industries
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	32	28
Operating Segments | Reportable Segments | Resource Industries
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	22	23
Operating Segments | Reportable Segments | Energy & Transportation
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	177	81
Operating Segments | Reportable Segments | Financial Products Segment
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	241	228
Intersegment Eliminations | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	16	15
Intersegment Eliminations | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	9	19
Intersegment Eliminations | Timing
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	192	124
Intersegment Eliminations | Other
Reconciliation of Capital expenditures
Segment Reporting Information, Expenditure for Additions Long-Lived Assets	$ (10)	$ (14)