It is believed the 20-year-old man was on his way to work at Bindaree Beef but never made it after colliding with a B-double truck just outside the plant on the Gwydir Highway.

The Bundarra man - the sole occupant of the vehicle - was trapped in the Toyota hatchback and died at the scene while the prime mover, which was laden with cattle, managed to stop just up the road. Debris from the vehicles was strewn across the road as emergency services raced to the scene, about five kilometres west of Inverell, just after 7am.

The truck driver was not injured in the crash but was taken to Inverell Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police have confirmed the truck was not connected to Bindaree Beef but in fact was headed to Glen Innes.

Investigators are still trying to work out why the westbound car crossed to the wrong side of the road.

"For reasons under investigation it appears the sedan has crossed onto the eastbound lane and into path of the prime mover B-double fully loaded with cattle," Inverell Inspector Rowan O'Brien said.

"As a result of the collision, a single occupant male of the sedan is deceased, he was trapped in the vehicle."

Forensic investigators spent the day scouring the scene as they try and piece together what happened.

Local detours were put in place to allow motorists around the crash site but heavy vehicles were forced onto the side of the road until the road reopened late yesterday.

Bindaree Beef declined to comment on the incident.

A report will now be prepared for the Coroner.