<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-07</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>2003-11-07</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>23.6502</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>891567</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>2003-11-10</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>23.2312</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>871567</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 $23.52 to $23.81 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 1,300 @ $23.52; 1,400 @ $23.53; 2,400 @ $23.54; 900 @ $23.55; 100 @ $23.58; 500 @ $23.59; 1,000 @ $23.60; 800 @ $23.61; 2,000 @ $23.62; 600 @ $23.63; 900 @ $23.64; 200 @ $23.65; 300 @ $23.66; 400 @ $23.68; 2,100 @ $23.69; 2,000 @ $23.80; and 3,100 @ $23.81.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represent shares beneficially owned as of November 7, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 66,502 shares held by Wilkerson Limited Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Sold at various prices ranging from $23.09 to $23.49 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 300 @ $23.09; 400 @ $21.10; 600 @ $23.11; 200 @ $23.12; 3,200 @ $23.14; 5,200 @ $23.15; 1,500 @ $23.17; 400 @ $23.18; 700 @ $23.19; 500 @ $23.20; 100 @ $23.21; 100 @ $23.23; 400 @ $23.31; 600 @ $23.33; 700 @ $23.35; 1,400 @ $23.36; 100 @ $23.37; 300 @ $23.38; 1,900 @ $23.40; 600 @ $23.44; 400 @ $23.48; and 400 @ $23.49.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represent shares beneficially owned as of November 10, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  ROBERT R. WILKERSON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-07
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
2003-11-07
4
S
0
20000
23.6502
D
891567
D
Common Stock, par value $.01
2003-11-10
4
S
0
20000
23.2312
D
871567
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 $23.52 to $23.81 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 1,300 @ $23.52; 1,400 @ $23.53; 2,400 @ $23.54; 900 @ $23.55; 100 @ $23.58; 500 @ $23.59; 1,000 @ $23.60; 800 @ $23.61; 2,000 @ $23.62; 600 @ $23.63; 900 @ $23.64; 200 @ $23.65; 300 @ $23.66; 400 @ $23.68; 2,100 @ $23.69; 2,000 @ $23.80; and 3,100 @ $23.81.
Represent shares beneficially owned as of November 7, 2003.
Includes 66,502 shares held by Wilkerson Limited Partnership.
Sold at various prices ranging from $23.09 to $23.49 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 300 @ $23.09; 400 @ $21.10; 600 @ $23.11; 200 @ $23.12; 3,200 @ $23.14; 5,200 @ $23.15; 1,500 @ $23.17; 400 @ $23.18; 700 @ $23.19; 500 @ $23.20; 100 @ $23.21; 100 @ $23.23; 400 @ $23.31; 600 @ $23.33; 700 @ $23.35; 1,400 @ $23.36; 100 @ $23.37; 300 @ $23.38; 1,900 @ $23.40; 600 @ $23.44; 400 @ $23.48; and 400 @ $23.49.
Represent shares beneficially owned as of November 10, 2003.
/s/  ROBERT R. WILKERSON
2003-11-10