One of the fastest growing applications of sheet molding compound (SMC) compression molding is the manufacture of truck body panels. The trucking industry requires parts with high strength and stiffness, but the surface quality is also important. In this study, the effect of reinforcement type and length on physical properties, surface quality, and cycle time are evaluated. In particular, the effect of different lengths of carbon fibers and glass fibers with different sizing are studied. It was found that for the same volume percent, carbon fibers greatly improve the stiffness of the SMC at the sacrifice of strength and surface quality and also require larger fill times for the same molding force, as compared to glass fibers. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.