Business Segment Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	$ 4,603.9			$ 4,947.8
Net sales	1,761.0		1,875.7
U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales	1,455.5		1,511.4
Other North America
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales	57.5		52.9
Europe, Africa and Middle East
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales	131.8		196.2
Rest of the world
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales	116.2		115.2
Access Equipment
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	2,569.3			2,721.9
Net sales	581.3		627.7
Access Equipment | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	1,634.5			1,754.6
Access Equipment | Europe
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	676.0	[1]		684.2	[1]
Access Equipment | Rest of the world
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	258.8			283.1
Defense
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales	828.7		1,051.0
Defense | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	591.2	[1]		684.5	[1]
Fire and Emergency
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales	193.3		160.1
Fire and Emergency | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	509.1			534.0
Commercial
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	347.4			341.5
Net sales	177.3		171.6
Commercial | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	313.6			304.5
Commercial | Rest of the world
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	33.8	[1]		37.0	[1]
Corporate
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	586.9			665.9
Corporate | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	581.0	[2]		658.1	[2]
Corporate | Rest of the world
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	$ 5.9			$ 7.8

[1] Includes investments in unconsolidated affiliates.

[2] Primarily includes cash and short-term investments.