A professor at the University of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick is launching a study of the health habits of 1,000 truck drivers.


According to Canada's CBC News, Michel Johnson notes that the average age of truckers in Atlantic Canada is the mid-50s, and they are showing higher than expected incidences of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The study will use a combination of interviews and mobile simulators to look at questions such as sleep problems, stress issues, nutrition and physical activity, and whether those types of problems affect reaction times.

Johnson plans to develop a commercial software application called the Health Driver Toolkit, CBC reports, which will provide an evaluation and intervention approach designed for the working conditions of the professional driver.

The three-year study is being funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association.