Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011		Oct. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 593,983		$ 547,237
Initial Payments for Acquisitions	156,134	[1]	43,266	[2]
Contingent Amounts and Other	756	[3]	3,480
Ending Balance	750,872		593,983
Janitorial
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	471,328		459,068
Initial Payments for Acquisitions			11,140	[2]
Contingent Amounts and Other	(2,096)	[3]	1,120
Ending Balance	469,232		471,328
Engineering
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	3,549		3,356
Initial Payments for Acquisitions	156,134	[1]
Contingent Amounts and Other	2,852	[3]	193
Ending Balance	162,535		3,549
Parking
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			36,841
Initial Payments for Acquisitions			30,160	[2]
Contingent Amounts and Other			2,167
Ending Balance	69,168		69,168
Security
Goodwill [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			47,972
Initial Payments for Acquisitions			1,966	[2]
Ending Balance	$ 49,938		$ 49,938

[1] Refer to Note 3, "Acquisitions" for additional discussions regarding acquisitions the Company made in the year ended October 31, 2011.

[2] Refer to Note 3, "Acquisitions" for additional discussions regarding acquisitions the Company made in the year ended October 31, 2010

[3] Effective November 1, 2010, the Company changed the management reporting responsibility for a subsidiary from the Janitorial segment to the Engineering segment. As a result of the organizational change, the Company reclassified the goodwill associated with this subsidiary from the Janitorial segment to the Engineering segment which amounted to $2.9 million.