<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-07-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000352825</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOSTER L B CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001560207</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001595909</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners, L.P. I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001618783</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners, L.P. II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001661189</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001682390</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001682389</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Legion Partners Holdings, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001432744</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kiper Christopher S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001682494</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>White Raymond T.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9401 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 705</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>108</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.2815</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2018-07-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>639</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners, L.P. I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.2815</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2018-07-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners, L.P. II</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.2815</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2018-07-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>187</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Legion Partners Special Opportunities L.P. II</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed jointly by Legion Partners, L.P. I (&quot;Legion Partners I&quot;), Legion Partners, L.P. II (&quot;Legion Partners II&quot;), Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. II (&quot;Legion Partners Special II&quot;), Legion Partners, LLC (&quot;General Partner&quot;), Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC (&quot;Legion Partners Asset Management&quot;), Legion Partners Holdings, LLC (&quot;Legion Partners Holdings&quot;), Christopher S. Kiper and Raymond T. White (collectively, the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;). Each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the Issuer's outstanding shares of Common Stock. Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that any Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Legion Partners I bought to cover these call options that were previously sold short.  The balance of the short call options that Legion Partners I continues to hold create the obligation to sell shares of common stock (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) of LB Foster Company (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) subject to the option. General Partner is the general partner of Legion Partners I, Legion Partners Asset Management is the investment advisor of Legion Partners I, Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing member of General Partner, and each of Messrs. Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings. As a result of these relationships, General Partner, Legion Partners Asset Management, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners I.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Legion Partners II bought to cover these call options that were previously sold short.  The balance of the short call options that Legion Partners II continues to hold create the obligation to sell shares of common stock of LB Foster Company subject to the option. General Partner is the general partner of Legion Partners II, Legion Partners Asset Management is the investment advisor of Legion Partners II, Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing managing member of General Partner, and each of Messrs. Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings. As a result of these relationships,General Partner, Legion Partners Asset Management, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners II.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Legion Partners Special II bought to cover these call options that were previously sold short.  The balance of the short call options that Legion Partners Special II continues to hold create the obligation to sell shares of common stock of LB Foster Company subject to the option. General Partner is the general partner of Legion Partners Special II, Legion Partners Asset Management is the investment advisor of Legion Partners Special II, Legion Partners Holdings is the sole member of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing member of General Partner, and each of Messrs. Kiper and White are managing directors of Legion Partners Asset Management and managing members of Legion Partners Holdings. As a result of these relationships, General Partner, Legion Partners Asset Management, Legion Partners Holdings and Messrs. Kiper and White may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock owned by Legion Partners Special II.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners, L.P. I</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners, L.P. II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners Special Opportunities, L.P. II</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Legion Partners Holdings, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Christopher S. Kiper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Raymond T. White</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
