<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-13</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097216</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEREX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192692</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILKERSON ROBERT R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TEREX CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 POST RD EAST STE 320</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres. TerexAerialWorkPlatform</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.685</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>811567</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.3005</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>791567</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sold pursuant to written plans entered into August 7, 2003 and amended October 2, 2003 for trading securities under Rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Sold at various prices ranging from $23.49 to $23.78 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 200 @ $23.49; 1,300 @ $23.50; 400 @ $23.51; 200 @ $23.60; 800 @ $23.64; 3,800 @ $23.65; 600 @ $23.66; 100 @ $23.67; 1,600 @ $23.68; 700 @ $23.69; 1,100 @ $23.70; 1,400 @ $23.71; 800 @ $23.72; 900 @ $23.73; 3,300 @ $23.75; 1,900 @ $23.76; 600 @ $23.77 and 300 @ $23.78.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 13, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 66,502 shares held by Wilkerson Limited Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Sold at various prices ranging from $24.01 to $24.50 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 3,600 @ $24.01; 900 @ $24.13; 300 @ $24.20; 200 @ $24.21; 1,100 @ $24.25; 600 @ $24.26; 200 @ $24.28; 500 @ $24.29; 200 @ $24.30; 1,000 @ $24.31; 600 @ $24.32; 2,400 @ $24.33; 1,500 @ $24.34; 100 @ $24.35; 400 @ $24.36; 700 @ $24.41; 100 @ $24.45; 1,000 @ $24.46; 200 @ $24.47; 700 @ $24.49 and 3,700 @ $24.50.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 14, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  ROBERT R. WILKERSON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-13
0
0000097216
TEREX CORP
TEX
0001192692
WILKERSON ROBERT R
C/O TEREX CORP
500 POST RD EAST STE 320
WESTPORT
CT
06880
0
1
0
0
Pres. TerexAerialWorkPlatform
Common Stock, par value $.01
2003-11-13
4
S
0
20000
23.685
D
811567
D
Common Stock, par value $.01
2003-11-14
4
S
0
20000
24.3005
D
791567
D
Sold pursuant to written plans entered into August 7, 2003 and amended October 2, 2003 for trading securities under Rule 10b5-1.
Sold at various prices ranging from $23.49 to $23.78 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 200 @ $23.49; 1,300 @ $23.50; 400 @ $23.51; 200 @ $23.60; 800 @ $23.64; 3,800 @ $23.65; 600 @ $23.66; 100 @ $23.67; 1,600 @ $23.68; 700 @ $23.69; 1,100 @ $23.70; 1,400 @ $23.71; 800 @ $23.72; 900 @ $23.73; 3,300 @ $23.75; 1,900 @ $23.76; 600 @ $23.77 and 300 @ $23.78.
Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 13, 2003.
Includes 66,502 shares held by Wilkerson Limited Partnership.
Sold at various prices ranging from $24.01 to $24.50 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 3,600 @ $24.01; 900 @ $24.13; 300 @ $24.20; 200 @ $24.21; 1,100 @ $24.25; 600 @ $24.26; 200 @ $24.28; 500 @ $24.29; 200 @ $24.30; 1,000 @ $24.31; 600 @ $24.32; 2,400 @ $24.33; 1,500 @ $24.34; 100 @ $24.35; 400 @ $24.36; 700 @ $24.41; 100 @ $24.45; 1,000 @ $24.46; 200 @ $24.47; 700 @ $24.49 and 3,700 @ $24.50.
Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 14, 2003.
/s/  ROBERT R. WILKERSON
2003-11-14