When you run new wiring there is no need to run the alternator charge wire from the starter up to the BAT terminal. You can run the wire directly over from the battery positive to the BAT terminal on the alternator, including a fusible link in the wire. This gives you one fewer wire to run up from the starter.
Or what they did on the newer trucks (88+) was to put a terminal strip on the firewall and run a power wire from the battery to the terminal strip. Then there is a charge wire from the terminal strip to the alternator, and various other items are also powered from that terminal strip.
Bruce