Transmission system performance is the guarantee of driving safety and mobility of special vehicles,and transmission efficiency is an important index to characterize its comprehensive perfor-mance,which is reduced by internal friction and viscosity.Based on the structural and functional char-acteristics of special vehicles,optimization methods of transmission efficiency in five aspects are sum-marized from the power loss perspective.Evaluation methods of drive system performance are discussed from two perspectives:comprehensive performance of the drive system and transmission efficiency of key components.And it is noted that the comprehensive analysis should be made from three levels:the whole vehicle,the drive system and key components.Thirdly,combined with the shaft breaking mecha-nism analysis,the importance of transmission shaft monitoring to the transmission system performance analysis is explained.Then the special vehicle transmission system performance analysis and evaluation research ideas are put forward.In the end,it is discussed that optimizing transmission efficiency is the key to improve drive system performance,and also an important basis to study its condition monitoring and life prediction.It can also provide support data for chassis system optimization design of vehicles falling into this category.