Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011 USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2010 USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2009 USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2011 EUR (€)	Oct. 31, 2011 Truck [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2010 Truck [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2009 Truck [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2011 Engine [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2010 Engine [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2009 Engine [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2011 Parts [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2010 Parts [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2009 Parts [Member] USD ($)		Oct. 31, 2011 Dealer franchise rights [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Dealer franchise rights [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 Customer base and relationships [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Customer base and relationships [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 Supply agreements [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Supply agreements [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 Other [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2010 Other [Member] USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 324		$ 318		$ 297			$ 81		$ 74		$ 84		$ 205		$ 206		$ 175		$ 38		$ 38		$ 38
Impairments	0				(2)			0				(2)						0						0
Currency Translation	2		5		36			0		0		0		2		5		36		0		0		0
Adjustments	(7)	[1]	(6)	[1]	(12)	[1]		0	[1]	0	[1]	(7)	[1]	(7)	[1]	(6)	[1]	(5)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Dispositions					(1)							(1)						0						0
Acquisitions	0		7					0		7				0		0				0		0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	319		324		318			81		81		74		200		205		206		38		38		38
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	67		69																							7	10	60	59
Royalty Guarantees, Commitments, Amount							30
Accrued Royalties	13						9
Intangible assets subject to amortization
Gross carrying value	266		317																											135	194	17	59	27	27	87	37
Accumulated amortization	(99)		(124)																											(52)	(69)	(1)	(15)	(27)	(27)	(19)	(13)
Net of amortization	167		193																											83	125	16	44	0	0	68	24
Amortization of Intangible Assets	29		27		27
Estimated amortization expense:
2012	26
2013	25
2014	24
2015	19
2016	$ 18

[1] Adjustments to goodwill primarily result from the tax benefit attributable to the amortization of tax deductible goodwill in excess of goodwill recorded for financial statement purposes as measured in the MWM International (“MWM”) balance sheet immediately after its acquisition in 2005. Goodwill was also reduced in 2008 due to the favorable tax settlement of a Brazilian court case. Goodwill in the Truck segment was reduced in 2009 as a result of an adjustment to our purchase price for WCC as a result of receipt of escrow payments for settlement of a dispute.