I've noticed that the default path for root on my of my vm's and servers do not include /usr/local/binsudo -s  echo $PATH/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/binWhereas normal users on the server do have /usr/local/bin/usr/local/bin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/home/sowen/binWhy would root not need /usr/local in the path? Where is the default path for a user defined? 
Why does root not have /usr/local in path?
root;path
Because it isn't set up in the relevant shell startup files for root.Traditionally, /usr/local has been used for unofficial, locally installed software (often to override buggy/broken/limited official versions; a friend quipped that the first step when a new Sun arrived was GNU > /usr/local). As root is all-powerful, any mistake or misdesign in the programs it runs can be fatal. It stands to reason that running e.g. a local, experimental version of make by root should be treated with caution. Better have it go the extra step of giving an explicit path.