Research into crashes involving trucks showed 76% of those killed were other road users, rather than truck drivers.
New Zealand and Australian police launched a joint campaign this week targeting heavy vehicles.
They warned all road users to allow more space and time around heavy vehicles, which had slower braking and manoeuvring ability.
''In a collision with a heavy vehicle, there is a much higher probability of death or serious injury than in a collision involving only light vehicles,'' national road policing manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths said.
''We need road users to become much more aware of the risks involved in sharing the road with heavy vehicles, especially around stopping times and distances.''
Police were working with road, transport and safety agencies throughout Australia and New Zealand on the campaign.
Speed and vehicle compliance, as well as fatigue, would be monitored by officers.
Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency chief executive Jon White said heavy vehicle drivers contributed to about 40% of crashes in which they were involved, but the risk of death or serious injury in those crashes was higher.
''Heavy vehicles can weigh up to 65 tonnes and when they collide with another smaller vehicle, such as a car or motorbike, the results can be catastrophic,'' Mr White said.
Deaths from crashes involving trucks made up about 15% of the road toll, but only about 6% of the distance travelled throughout the country was in trucks.
''Abrupt lane changes, tailgating, speeding and unsafe overtaking around heavy vehicles brings a higher chance of tragic consequences,'' Mr White said.
A logging truck driver was killed and another seriously injured when their rigs collided head-on inland from Tolaga Bay on the East Coast yesterday, the Gisborne Herald reported.
Both drivers had to be cut from the wreckage and one died at the scene, police said.
The second driver, who is in his mid-20s, suffered serious multiple injuries in the crash, which happened just after noon.
