About PistonCMS

Built by Someone Who Works in the Industry

PistonCMS was built by someone who understands how repair shops actually work.

My name is Ed Grimm, and I’ve spent most of my career working in the automotive and heavy-duty truck parts industry. Over the years I’ve worked directly with technicians, shop owners, and fleet operators helping them find the right parts and solve real problems.

During that time, I saw a common issue over and over again:

Small shops and independent mechanics were stuck using complicated, expensive shop software, spreadsheets, or even paper invoices just to manage customers and send quotes.

Most software in the industry is built for large dealerships or multi-location repair shops, not the independent mechanics and small businesses that make up a huge part of the industry.

So I decided to build something simpler.

Why I Built PistonCMS

PistonCMS started as a project to create a tool that mechanics could actually use without needing hours of training or expensive software contracts.

The goal was simple:

  • Manage customers and vehicles
  • Create quotes and invoices quickly
  • Track payments and jobs
  • Keep everything organized in one place

All without the complexity that comes with traditional shop management systems.

My Background

Before building PistonCMS, I spent years working in different roles across the automotive and truck parts industry.

I currently work as Lead Technical Support for a major online heavy-duty truck parts retailer, helping customers and repair shops identify the correct parts and troubleshoot technical issues.

My previous experience includes working in parts counter sales at a Kenworth dealership, where I helped technicians, owner-operators, and shop owners with parts lookup and ordering.

Earlier in my career I managed teams and operations in the travel center industry, overseeing staff, inventory, and daily operations.

I also hold the following certifications:

  • ASE P1 – Medium/Heavy Truck Parts Specialist
  • ASE P2 – Automotive Parts Specialist

Built for Independent Mechanics

PistonCMS is designed for:

  • Mobile mechanics
  • Independent repair shops
  • Roadside service providers
  • Side-hustle mechanics

The focus is on keeping things simple and practical, so you can spend less time dealing with software and more time getting work done.

Still Being Built — With Your Feedback

PistonCMS is actively being developed, and feedback from real mechanics is extremely important.

If you’re interested in testing the platform or helping shape the future of the software, I’d love to hear from you.

Contact us here:
https://pistoncms.com/contact/