Researchers in Moncton are calling a new study of truckers and their driving habits the largest review its kind in the world.

Truckers normally spend the bulk of their time on the road. But over the next few years, many of those truckers will be spending time in front of a simulator at the University of Moncton.

The University of Moncton and Community College of New Brunswick will spend the next three years studying truckers and their driving habits. The study will look at everything from health concerns to work and home life to figure out how to improve the industry.

"We know that in the general population as we age, we have more collisions and their driving performances are diminishing. In the truckers, they maintain a phenomenal driving record and we have master drivers well into their 70s," said Michel Johnson, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Moncton.

Johnson said there are lessons to be learned from truckers and says other universities around the world are showing interest in the project.

About a thousand truck drivers will take part in the multi-year study.

Jean-Marc Picard, the executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, said the industry wants to find ways to improve the job and attract new drivers.

"The average age is 52 years old, the recruitment is not full speed ahead so it is important we investigate how we can improve the job and how we can keep our older ones in good health," said Picard.