Guides
One question per guide, with worked examples. General information only, not professional advice.
Trucking
- GuideHow do I work out my real cost per mile as an owner operator?Your real cost per mile is your total operating costs for a period divided by the total miles you drove in that period, including empty miles.
- GuideHow does IFTA work, and what do I do each quarter?IFTA, the International Fuel Tax Agreement, is an agreement among the member U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
- GuideIs this load worth taking once deadhead, fuel and waiting time are included?A load is generally worth considering when what you keep per mile, after deadhead, fuel and unpaid waiting time, still covers your costs and leaves the…
- GuideHow does per diem work for truck drivers?Per diem for truck drivers is a flat daily amount used in place of tracking every meal and incidental cost.
- GuideHow much should an owner operator set aside for quarterly estimated taxes?An owner-operator often sets aside part of every settlement to cover two things: self-employment tax and income tax.
- GuideHow should an owner operator track expenses and receipts so tax time is easy?An owner-operator may find it helpful to keep business receipts, log them within a week of the purchase, and pay business costs from a separate…
Network and homelab
- GuideWhat is the 3-2-1 backup rule and how do I apply it to a homelab?The 3-2-1 backup rule means keeping three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored offsite.
- GuideHow do I subnet a home or small office network?Subnetting means cutting one block of IP addresses into smaller blocks, each one a separate network.
- GuideHow do I plan a PoE power budget for access points, phones and cameras?Plan a PoE power budget by adding up the maximum power each device can draw, comparing that total to the switch's overall PoE budget, checking each…
- GuideHow do I size a UPS for my homelab?You size a UPS for a homelab by measuring how many watts your gear actually draws and choosing a UPS whose watt rating comfortably exceeds that load.
- GuideHow should I split a homelab or home network into VLANs?Split your network by trust level: put untrusted or noisy devices (smart-home gadgets, guests) on their own VLANs, keep servers on another, and reserve…
- GuideWhat does it cost to run my homelab each month?Your homelab's monthly cost is its average power draw in watts, times the hours it runs, divided by 1,000, times your electricity price per kWh.