"Ice Road Truckers" took it up a gear with its season five premiere Sunday.
The History Channel announced Tuesday that the reality series, which follows truck drivers as they take on the dangerous task of driving across frozen bodies of water, experienced a nearly 30 percent jump in total viewership over last season's premiere and showed significant gains in the crucial adults 18-49 demographic.
The season five premiere, which aired from 9 to 11 p.m. on Sunday, garnered 3.1 million total viewers, a 29 percent gain compared to last year's premiere. The season opener also grew by 15 percent in the adults 18-49 demo compared to the last season's premiere, and by 21 percent n the adults 25-54 demographic.
While the fifth season of the series is off to a roaring start, one participant in season four, Gregory Broadwine, has hit a patch of bumpy road lately.
The 28-year-old was arrested at his Florida home Friday for allegedly beating his wife, grabbing her by the throat and shoving her into a door, during an argument while their 9-year-old son watched.
