January 21, 2015: SOTU speech starts transpo funding debate; trucking CEO admits to wire fraud; new lasers may make metal water-repellant.

Here is a look at what is happening in the world of transportation this morning:

• President Obama’s State of the Union speech and the Republican party’s response to it seem to indicate agreement on the need to fix U.S. transportation infrastructure, reports the McClatchy Washington Bureau; just not how to come up with the necessary funds.
• The former CEO of USA Dry Van Logistics admits in a court case to $25 million in wire fraud, according to The Monitor, and may face up to 20 years in jail and $250,000 in fines.
• A New York City-based technology startup aims to become the Uber of the trucking industry, reports Re/code magazine.
• Lower diesel prices apparently aren’t enough to convince some shippers to switch from intermodal service back to trucking, notes the Journal of Commerce.
• Truckers continue to face a nationwide parking space shortage, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Questions abound over whether President Obama truly supports the natural gas industry or is looking to hinder it with more regulations, reports The Hill.
• Radiant Logistics is buying a Canadian rival for $57 million, notes the Puget Sound Business Journal.
• The number of logistics-sector insolvencies jumped last year in the United Kingdom, reports the Financial Times; a trend driven in part by the rapid growth of e-commerce activity.
• New laser technology is touted to make metal water-repellant, according to Pioneer News; might that one day help extend the life of commercial trucks?