Business Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Net sales:
External Customers									$ 7,584.7	$ 9,842.4	$ 5,253.1
Net sales	2,115.4	2,022.9	1,745.6	1,700.8	2,105.1	2,439.0	2,864.2	2,434.1	7,584.7	9,842.4	5,253.1
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)	73.8	126.0	132.4	168.7	233.6	340.5	494.3	325.7	500.9	1,394.1	(979.5)
Interest expense, net of interest income									(86.0)	(183.6)	(207.5)
Miscellaneous, net									1.6	1.0	8.8
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates									416.5	1,211.5	(1,178.2)
Non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges									4.8	25.6	1,190.2
Depreciation and amortization:									144.4	172.9	152.0
Capital expenditures:									86.2	89.5	61.6
Depreciation and amortization related to discontinued operations											1.2
Write-off of deferred financing fees due to early extinguishment of related debt									0.1	20.4	5.0
Defense [Member]
Net sales:
External Customers									4,359.9	7,151.3	2,585.9
Inter-segment									5.3	10.4	8.9
Net sales									4,365.2	7,161.7	2,594.8
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)									543.0	1,320.7	403.3
Depreciation and amortization:									26.7	17.6	12.5
Capital expenditures:									36.4	48.0	13.0
Access Equipment [Member]
Net sales:
External Customers									1,944.1	1,266.8	1,131.6
Inter-segment									108.0	1,745.1	93.9
Net sales									2,052.1	3,011.9	1,225.5
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)									65.3	97.3	(1,159.1)
Non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges											941.7
Depreciation and amortization:									84.1	95.4	91.7
Capital expenditures:									26.0	24.7	36.7
Access Equipment [Member] | Aerial work platforms
Net sales:
External Customers									978.5	561.1	470.2
Net sales									978.5	561.1	470.2
Access Equipment [Member] | Telehandlers
Net sales:
External Customers									552.4	342.8	289.8
Net sales									552.4	342.8	289.8
Access Equipment [Member] | Other (access equipment)
Net sales:
External Customers									413.2	362.9	371.6
Inter-segment									108.0	1,745.1	93.9
Net sales									521.2	2,108.0	465.5
Fire and Emergency [Member]
Net sales:
External Customers									782.3	892.9	1,017.0
Inter-segment									18.0	23.1	25.3
Net sales									800.3	916.0	1,042.3
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)									(8.2)	57.6	51.2
Non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges									4.8	23.3	64.2
Depreciation and amortization:									13.0	16.2	14.4
Capital expenditures:									17.7	10.0	6.5
Commercial [Member]
Net sales:
External Customers									498.4	531.4	518.6
Inter-segment									66.5	90.7	71.4
Net sales									564.9	622.1	590.0
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)									3.9	19.4	(183.7)
Non-cash goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges										2.3	184.3
Depreciation and amortization:									15.4	15.1	19.9
Capital expenditures:									5.9	6.8	5.4
Commercial [Member] | Concrete placement
Net sales:
External Customers									169.6	174.1	144.9
Inter-segment											1.1
Net sales									169.6	174.1	146.0
Commercial [Member] | Refuse collection
Net sales:
External Customers									249.6	305.7	317.6
Inter-segment											9.0
Net sales									249.6	305.7	326.6
Commercial [Member] | Other (commercial)
Net sales:
External Customers									79.2	51.6	56.1
Inter-segment									66.5	90.7	61.3
Net sales									145.7	142.3	117.4
Corporate
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)									(107.1)	(99.0)	(89.6)
Depreciation and amortization:									5.2	28.6	13.5
Capital expenditures:									0.2
Write-off of deferred financing fees due to early extinguishment of related debt										20.4	5.0
Intersegment eliminations
Net sales:
Inter-segment									(197.8)	(1,869.3)	(199.5)
Net sales									(197.8)	(1,869.3)	(199.5)
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating income (loss)									$ 4.0	$ 1.9	$ (1.6)