<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-11</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. TerexAerialWork Platform</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-11</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>22.6788</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>851567</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>2003-11-12</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>22.5118</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>831567</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 $22.53 to $22.93 as follows (shares at dollar price per share):  100 @ $22.53; 2,200 @ $22.55; 1,200 @ $22.56; 200 @ $22.57; 200 @ $22.58; 3,700 @ $22.59; 2,600 @ $22.60; 2,300 @ $22.65; 200 @ $22.66; 200 @ $22.67; 500 @ $22.76; 2,300 @ $22.80; 100 @ $22.81; 300 @ $22.82; 2,900 @ $22.85; 400 @ $22.86; 200 @ $22.89 and 400 @ $22.93.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 11, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 66,502 shares held by Wilkerson Limited Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Sold at various prices ranging from $22.50 to $22.55 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 13,300 @ $22.50; 900 @ $22.51; 2,700 @ $22.53; 1,000 @ $22.54 and 2,100 @ $22.55.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 12, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  ROBERT R. WILKERSON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-11
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. TerexAerialWork Platform
Common Stock, par value $.01
2003-11-11
4
S
0
20000
22.6788
D
851567
D
Common Stock, par value $.01
2003-11-12
4
S
0
20000
22.5118
D
831567
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 $22.53 to $22.93 as follows (shares at dollar price per share):  100 @ $22.53; 2,200 @ $22.55; 1,200 @ $22.56; 200 @ $22.57; 200 @ $22.58; 3,700 @ $22.59; 2,600 @ $22.60; 2,300 @ $22.65; 200 @ $22.66; 200 @ $22.67; 500 @ $22.76; 2,300 @ $22.80; 100 @ $22.81; 300 @ $22.82; 2,900 @ $22.85; 400 @ $22.86; 200 @ $22.89 and 400 @ $22.93.
Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 11, 2003.
Includes 66,502 shares held by Wilkerson Limited Partnership.
Sold at various prices ranging from $22.50 to $22.55 as follows (shares at dollar price per share): 13,300 @ $22.50; 900 @ $22.51; 2,700 @ $22.53; 1,000 @ $22.54 and 2,100 @ $22.55.
Represents shares beneficially owned as of November 12, 2003.
/s/  ROBERT R. WILKERSON
2003-11-12