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Vehicle tracking systems were installed on four military vehicles (M813 cargo truck, M998 utility vehicle, M548A cargo carrier, M1025 utility vehicle) at Camp Atterbury, Indiana to assess the impact of tracking by these vehicle types on vegetation loss. Study data were used to estimate parameters for models previously reported in the literature and to validate model results. Instrumented vehicles were driven through courses of varying velocities and turning radii. Vegetation loss was recorded immediately after tracking. The tracked M548A cargo carrier caused the most site damage. The wheeled M813 cargo truck caused more vegetation loss than either of the other wheeled vehicles (M998 utility vehicle or M 1025 utility vehicle). Power equations using vehicle type and turning radius as the independent variables predicted vegetation loss with an R2 value of 0.845. Using only straight-line tracking data from our study to estimate parameters of a model proposed in an earlier reported study, we were able to predict vegetation loss for a range of turning radii almost as effectively as using the complete data set (R2 = 0.843). Using vehicle weights combined with impact models proposed in an earlier study, we were able to predict vegetation loss for untested vehicles almost as well as with field data (R2 = 0.810). Results from our study indicate that vehicle impact data and models can be applied to untested vehicles and reasonably estimate vegetation loss at Camp Atterbury. The ability to estimate site impacts of untested vehicles allows installation natural resources personnel to more accurately assess proposed land management actions in a timely and economical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]