That's pretty normal in most parts of the US, in my experience (though I've only lived in a half dozen different regions).
E.g. Every Tuesday we get a visit from four different garbage trucks. The first guy (who just came by a couple minutes ago, coincidentally) is the only one that does manual lifting. He picks up the glass bins (and incidentals like motor oil). He's just driving a superduty. Then a few hours from now the other three trucks will swing by pretty close together, one for yard, one for recycling, one for garbage. Not a one of those guys ever gets out of the truck (though they might have to on occasion -- there's a mention in the garbage service rate sheet about placing out an extra bag for a fee). But normally it's just wheelie bins, a robotic arm does all the lifting.
I can totally see, though, certain situations in a dense urban environment where wheelie bins are more trouble than they're worth. Maybe it makes sense for those guys to use the old-school truck where they pick up the can and dump it in the back.
E.g. Every Tuesday we get a visit from four different garbage trucks. The first guy (who just came by a couple minutes ago, coincidentally) is the only one that does manual lifting. He picks up the glass bins (and incidentals like motor oil). He's just driving a superduty. Then a few hours from now the other three trucks will swing by pretty close together, one for yard, one for recycling, one for garbage. Not a one of those guys ever gets out of the truck (though they might have to on occasion -- there's a mention in the garbage service rate sheet about placing out an extra bag for a fee). But normally it's just wheelie bins, a robotic arm does all the lifting.
I can totally see, though, certain situations in a dense urban environment where wheelie bins are more trouble than they're worth. Maybe it makes sense for those guys to use the old-school truck where they pick up the can and dump it in the back.