How do otr drivers cope with these situations?

Park until they clean it up. It's all you can do

 

If you have an area that is clear and can pull off the road, then that’s the first thing. Then get on google maps or similar and look at the area. If a reasonable work around is available, take that. If not. Sit it out and go when it clears up.

 

I usually cuss whoever caused the detour, then try to check my map on my phone or tablet to see if there's a simple route around. If not, I'll pull over and take a few min to figure it out. I might even do a u-turn!

 

Depends whether I am loaded or not. If I am empty I will risk running
small back roads......loaded heavy not so much. Also depends where it is. If
I am in flat country and the fields are dry I might try a gravel road.....just had
lots of rain I will stay on bigger hard roads.

Check the map and if no good options I will park it and wait. GPS combined
with a little common-sense goes a long way. Tablet with google earth can be a life
saver.

Also depends on the road closure. Single car crash will likely be cleared fairly quick.....
multi-car/multi-fatality, road will be closed for a while.

 

In the situation you described I follow the milk tanker lol.. IF that don’t work I ask a local if possible or whoever closed the road

 

which is why i fully appreciated in my earlier years, running the highways, rather than state/county, back roads. you can always take an exit (almost always you are pushed off to an exit) and follow back to the highways.

now, fast forward to my latter years, and running dedicated......many times i had to get off the main road due to an accident...NO GPS available......rand Mc Nally at times, was not any more of a help then sticking my finger out the window to feel which way the breeze was.

no detour signs, no people, and no one on the cb radio......now what to do..????

i'd take an exit, and by sense of direction, find a way back to the main road....not always at great success however..lol...but never caught in a tight spot, low overpass, etc....

 

Listen to the CB. Check the GPS. If there’s a cop nearby ask them.

 

Dig into that Rand McNally for bridge heights and length/weight restrictions on alternate route.

I always check.. especially the bridge height section.