Is your heater connected? If the hoses are routed properly, coolant should be circulating from just under the thermostat back to the water pump inlet and the hot spot that naturally forms under the thermostat shouldn't happen. There's also a modification that can be done to the lower thermostat housing to create an independent bypass circuit which will positively eliminate the temporary high temp situation that's common while some engines are operating with the thermostat closed.
Jerry
My truck doesn't have (nor never had) a heater, Jerry...
