The Newell Highway south of Coonabarabran in western NSW remains closed this morning after a fatal crash that claimed the lives of two truck drivers.

The men died when their vehicles - a prime mover with a load of steel and a semi-trailer laden with cattle - collided about 20 kilometres south of the town around 11.40pm last night.

Cranes are being brought to the scene to remove the trucks, which caught on fire after the accident. Crews are also being brought in to clear up the large amount of debris still on the roadway.

Officers from the Mudgee Local Area Command, Forensic Services and Crash Investigation Unit remain at the scene trying to piece together what happened.

Police say at this early stage they believe the northbound prime mover crashed into the other truck after veering onto the wrong side of the road as it came around a bend.

Authorities say they expect the Newell Highway to remain closed until at least late this afternoon.
 
Northbound traffic is being diverted at the Mendooran turnoff.

Southbound motorists are being diverted off the highway at Brocklehurst.