The motion of flux line dislocation (FLD) dipoles is shown to be a more important mechanism for flux transport than the motion of individual FLDs. The electric field generated by FLD dipoles moving at a terminal velocityvisE=(Bbys)&Lgr;v,whereBis the magnetic induction,bis the magnitude of the Burgers vector,ysis the separation between the individual FLDs in each dipole, and A is the density of moving FLD dipoles. The terminal velocity is found to be proportional to (J‐Jc), whereJcis a critical current density. The analogy between the above equation and the corresponding equation for the plastic‐shear strain rate in metals is explored in order to qualitatively explain yield phenomena and time‐dependent hysteresis inE‐Jcurves. Possible FLD dipole sources and the portion of experimentalE‐Jcurves likely to be affected by FLD motion are also discussed.