A wear pad for a telescoping boom assembly includes a wear pad body having a first surface and a second surface oppositely positioned from the first surface and spaced from the first surface by a height of the wear pad body, a groove formed in one of the first surface and the second surface, the groove extending along a length of the wear pad body, and an insert positioned in the groove such that a portion of the insert projects outwardly from the groove. The telescoping boom assembly includes an inner boom section and an immediately adjacent outer boom section. The wear pad is configured to be installed between the inner and outer boom sections.